2023: The Year of VALORANT Esports
The year 2023 holds great promise for the rapidly growing esports scene of VALORANT. There are exciting changes in store as VALORANT esports transitions to a partnership model, characterized by three international leagues at the top of VCT. Each league will consist of 10 teams representing the Americas, EMEA, and Pacific regions.
Top VALORANT Players to Watch in 2023
Yay: The Consistent Playmaker
Meet Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker, who is arguably the best player in the world right now. Playing for Cloud9 after a successful stint with OpTic, yay is known for his deadly skills with Chamber in the current meta. He consistently performs at a high level, finishing in the top five for average combat score (ACS) in both Masters events and Champions in 2022. Despite upcoming Chamber nerfs, yay is expected to maintain his dominance.
Cryocells: Rising Star in the NA Scene
Matthew “Cryocells” Panganiban is a valuable addition to the 100 Thieves roster. After the team’s initial struggles in the 2022 season, Cryocells helped lead them to an NA LCQ win and a strong performance at Champions. His exceptional play as a Chamber/duelist player at Masters Copenhagen and Champions caught the attention of fans worldwide. It’ll be exciting to see if Cryocells continues to ascend in 2023.
Derke: Fnatic’s Key Player
Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev’s absence from Fnatic’s lineup during Masters Reykjavík highlighted his value to the team’s success. He demonstrated impressive skills as a Chamber/Jett player at both Copenhagen and Champions. Derke’s ability to deal damage and secure opening kills sets him apart as a reliable playmaker. With a re-tooled Fnatic team in 2023, Derke is expected to shine even brighter.
ScreaM: The Headshot Machine
Adil “ScreaM” Benrlitom defies the norm by excelling with Raze rather than Jett or Chamber. With years of experience playing at the top level in CS:GO, ScreaM is known for his incredible stats and highlight-worthy plays. He’s now part of Karmine Corp, and fans are excited to see him bring his headshot prowess to the new team.
BuZz: The Electric Duelist
Byung-chul “BuZz” Yu has emerged as a star duelist in the Pacific region, representing DRX. His breakout performances towards the end of the 2022 season have set the stage for continued success in 2023. During the playoffs, where DRX had often struggled, BuZz stood out with the highest number of opening kills per round. Keep an eye on this electric player.
MaKo: The Ultimate Defender
Kim “MaKo” Myeong-kwan plays a crucial role as the anchor and back line defender for DRX. He complements BuZz’s aggressive playstyle by holding down the fort and preventing opening deaths. Some of MaKo’s standout performances came when DRX fought their way through the lower bracket of Champions playoffs. He is undoubtedly one of the most valuable players in his position.
You can look forward to watching these incredible players, along with many others, at the VCT 2023 Kickoff tournament in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in February.
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