Disguised (DSG) Withdraws from VALORANT Challengers SEA and Releases Team

In a surprising move, Disguised (DSG) has announced its withdrawal from the VALORANT Challengers SEA tournament and the release of its entire roster. This decision comes on the heels of Riot Games’ recent exclusivity deal with the streaming platform SOOP.

Reasons Behind the Withdrawal

DSG cited the exclusivity deal between Riot Games and SOOP as the primary reason for their withdrawal. This deal has significant implications for teams participating in the VALORANT Challengers SEA, as it restricts their streaming and content creation options. For DSG, this restriction was untenable, leading to their decision to pull out of the competition.

Impact on the Team and Players

The release of DSG’s roster means that the players are now free to explore other opportunities. This can be both an opportunity and a challenge for the players, as they will need to find new teams or consider other career paths within the esports industry. The VALORANT scene in Southeast Asia is highly competitive, and talented players are often in demand, so it is likely that these players will find new teams quickly.

VALORANT Challengers SEA: An Overview

The VALORANT Challengers SEA tournament is part of the larger VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) organized by Riot Games and SOOP. The tournament is set to begin on January 16, 2025, and will run until February 16, 2025. Here is a brief overview of the tournament format:

Group Stage

• The tournament features two single round-robin format groups, each with six teams.
• All matches are best-of-three (Bo3).
• The top three teams from each group advance to the playoffs.

Playoffs

• The playoffs will follow a hybrid-elimination bracket format.
• The knockout round is single-elimination, while the upper bracket semifinals onwards are double-elimination.
• All matches, except the lower bracket final and grand final, are Bo3. The lower bracket final and grand final are best-of-five (Bo5).

Tournament Structure and Schedule

The VALORANT Challengers SEA: Split 1 will start with the group stage from January 16 to February 11, 2025. The playoffs will take place from February 12 to February 16, 2025. Here is a detailed breakdown of the schedule:

Group Stage

• January 16 – February 11, 2025: Two single round-robin format groups, with each group having six teams.
• Each team plays every other team in their group once, with all matches being Bo3.

Playoffs

• February 12 – February 16, 2025: Hybrid-elimination bracket.
• The winners from each group have a bye into the upper bracket semifinals.
• The second and third-place teams from each group advance to the knockout round.

Country Representation and Team Dynamics

The VALORANT Challengers SEA features a diverse range of teams from various countries in Southeast Asia. Here is a snapshot of the country representation:

• Thailand: 15 players out of 38, representing teams like TALON Academy and Oblivion Force.
• Indonesia: 10 players out of 38, with teams such as Alter Ego and ZOL Esports.
• Philippines: 9 players out of 38, including teams like Team Secret Academy.
• Singapore: 3 players out of 38, with teams such as FULL SENSE.
• Vietnam: 1 player out of 38, representing teams like RRQ Academy.

Future Implications

DSG’s withdrawal highlights the complexities and challenges faced by esports teams in navigating exclusive deals and streaming restrictions. As the esports landscape continues to evolve, teams will need to be adaptable and strategic in their decisions to ensure sustainability and success.

The release of DSG’s roster also opens up opportunities for other teams to recruit talented players, potentially reshaping the competitive dynamics of the VALORANT Challengers SEA. Fans and followers of the tournament will be keen to see how these changes impact the competition and which teams emerge as new contenders.