Misfortune for VALORANT Players Valyn and neT as The Guard Misses Out on Americas Partnership League
Today, VALORANT players Jacob “valyn” Batio and Michael “neT” Bernet found themselves without a team after The Guard failed to secure a spot in the Americas partnership league.
Valyn, who wants to lead a partnered squad, aims to bring a winning culture to any team. Similarly, neT wants to join one of the partnered teams to prove himself as a top sentinel player in the world with the new meta changes. Valyn prefers playing smokes or initiator, while neT is open to in-game leading and playing as an initiator if necessary.
The disappointing news was announced by The Guard on Twitter:
Unfortunately, The Guard was not included in the Americas franchised league, alongside OpTic Gaming and TSM. The league spots were secured by Sentinels, Cloud9, 100 Thieves, Evil Geniuses, and NRG, as announced by Riot. The lineup of all 30 partnered teams across the world was also revealed.
NeT and valyn had been playing for The Guard since November 2021 when the organization entered the Riot FPS scene. Although they helped The Guard win VCT NA Challengers One over OpTic in March 2022, their performance at VCT Masters One Reykjavík in April, their first international tournament, was less impressive. The Guard’s hopes of competing at VALORANT Champions 2022 were dashed after losing to 100 Thieves in the grand finals of the NA Last Chance Qualifier.
The future of Ha “Sayaplayer” Jung-woo, Jonah “JonahP” Pulice, and Trent “trent” Cairns, the other players on The Guard, remains uncertain. It is unclear whether they will stick together and sign with one of the partnered teams or pursue individual offers. The organization has yet to reveal its plans for 2023 as well.
The Americas partnership league will include LOUD, MIBR, FURIA, Leviatán, and KRÜ, in addition to the five NA teams. The inaugural tournament of the franchised circuit will commence on February 14 at VCT São Paulo and will feature all 30 partnered teams.
The Guard, VALORANT, free agents, Americas partnership league, in-game lead, winning culture, partnered teams, meta changes, smokes, initiator, Riot Partnership, VCT NA Challengers, OpTic Gaming, TSM, Sentinels, Cloud9, 100 Thieves, Evil Geniuses, NRG, VCT Masters, VALORANT Champions, Sayaplayer, JonahP, trent, LOUD, MIBR, FURIA, Leviatán, KRÜ, VCT São Paulo.