Top VALORANT Players to Watch in 2023
2023 is shaping up to be a monumental year for VALORANT and its booming esports scene. The new partnership model in place for VALORANT esports features three international leagues at the top of the VCT hierarchy, with 10 teams each in the Americas, EMEA, and Pacific leagues.
Amidst this new era of partnerships and top-tier leagues, there exists a vast talent pool that competing teams can tap into. While there is no shortage of skilled players to choose from across all regions, there are a select few who truly stand out from the rest.
Looking ahead to the 2023 VCT campaign, here are some of the standout VALORANT players to keep an eye on:
Yay
Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker, currently with Cloud9, is arguably the best player in the world. He dominates as Chamber in the current meta and consistently delivers impactful plays. In 2022, yay finished in the top five for average combat score (ACS) at both Masters events and Champions. Even with upcoming Chamber nerfs, yay’s reign is expected to continue.
Cryocells
Matthew “Cryocells” Panganiban, recently acquired by 100 Thieves, has proven to be a valuable addition to the team’s roster. His exceptional performances on Chamber/duelist characters during Masters Copenhagen and Champions with XSET earned him recognition among the elite players. Fans are eagerly anticipating Cryocells’ continued growth and improvement in 2023.
Derke
Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev is a crucial player for Fnatic, as demonstrated by the team’s struggle at Masters Reykjavík in his absence. Derke’s exceptional performances on Chamber/Jett at both Copenhagen and Champions highlight his ability to deal damage and secure opening kills. He is expected to thrive in an enhanced Fnatic lineup next year.
ScreaM
Adil “ScreaM” Benrlitom stands out from the rest with his proficiency in playing Raze and leading a resurgence of Phoenix players. Despite his background in top-level CS:GO, ScreaM continues to impress with incredible stats and highlights at an elite level. As he joins Karmine Corp, fans are excited to see his impact in the upcoming season.
BuZz
Byung-chul “BuZz” Yu, the star duelist of DRX and the Pacific region, made a breakthrough towards the end of the 2022 season. BuZz excelled in playoffs, leading DRX with the highest number of opening kills per round. With this remarkable performance, he is poised for continued success in 2023.
MaKo
Kim “MaKo” Myeong-kwan of DRX serves as the backbone of the team, especially in high-pressure situations. As an exceptional back line defender, MaKo consistently performs when DRX is facing elimination in Champions playoffs. His ability to secure crucial kills and protect his team’s position makes him one of the most valuable players in the world.
You can catch all of these outstanding players and more in action at the VCT 2023 Kickoff tournament, taking place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in February.
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