Riot Games’ LOUD to Miss First International VCT Tournament in Franchise History
It’s a disappointing turn of events for the Brazilian Valorant powerhouse LOUD, as they have failed to qualify for their first-ever international VCT tournament. This came after their surprising loss to 100 Thieves in the VCT Americas Stage 1 playoffs. LOUD had been widely tipped as one of the favorites to represent the Americas region at the upcoming VCT Masters event, but their early postseason exit has dashed those hopes.
The opening stage of the VCT Americas circuit has already been full of heartbreak, as the North American titans Sentinels also found themselves unable to advance from their group, meaning they too will miss out on the chance to compete in Shanghai. This is a particularly tough blow for Sentinels, who were the champions of the previous international VCT LAN in Madrid. This is a crushing disappointment for both LOUD and Sentinels, two of Valorant’s most celebrated and successful organizations. Fans were no doubt hoping to see these elite squads battle it out against the best teams from around the world at VCT Masters. But alas, the brutally competitive regional qualifiers proved too challenging, and now they’ll have to wait until the next international LAN event to showcase their skills on the global stage. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but these titans will surely be hungrier than ever to earn their spots at the next major international Valorant tournament.
LOUD’s Shocking Masters Qualification Failure Ends Dominant Run
It’s a crushing disappointment for fans of the Brazilian Valorant powerhouse LOUD, as they have failed to qualify for the upcoming VCT Masters tournament – the first time they’ve missed an international LAN event in the organization’s history. This marks the end of LOUD’s incredible run of consecutive international tournament appearances, which had made them one of the most dominant forces in global Valorant. LOUD were widely tipped as one of the favorites to represent the Americas region at VCT Masters, having established themselves as one of the top teams in the world over the past year. Their surprise loss to 100 Thieves in the VCT Americas Stage 1 playoffs, however, has dashed those hopes and left their legions of supporters feeling devastated. LOUD were forced to compete in a do-or-die playoff match against 100 Thieves after barely securing their spot in the VCT Americas Stage 1 group stage. While 100 Thieves may not have topped their group, they put in a stellar performance, only losing to the reigning Madrid Masters champions Sentinels and the in-form KRÜ Esports. In a closely contested series, 100 Thieves ultimately outclassed LOUD, cruising to 13-6 and 13-4 victories on Bind and Icebox respectively. This crushing defeat means 100 Thieves will get their chance to compete at an international VCT LAN for the first time since Champions 2022, while LOUD are left to pick up the pieces. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for the LOUD faithful, who have grown accustomed to seeing their team compete at the highest levels of international Valorant. Since bursting onto the scene in 2022, LOUD had qualified for every single VCT Masters and Champions event, even winning a championship along the way. Their incredible run of seven straight international LAN appearances has now come to an end, with Paper Rex taking over the mantle as the team with the longest active streak at eight consecutive tournaments. LOUD’s failure to qualify for VCT Masters is made all the more painful by the fact that another Valorant powerhouse, Sentinels, also fell short in their quest to reach the tournament. The North American titans, who were the champions of the previous international VCT LAN in Madrid, were also unable to advance from their group in the VCT Americas Stage 1 playoffs. This means that two of Valorant’s most celebrated and successful organizations will be watching the upcoming Masters event from the sidelines, much to the disappointment of their legions of fans.
The opening stage of the VCT Americas circuit has already been full of heartbreak, as the titans of the region have been humbled in dramatic fashion. For both LOUD and Sentinels, this is a crushing blow to their aspirations of cementing their status as the premier teams in global Valorant. Fans were no doubt hoping to see these elite squads battle it out against the best teams from around the world at VCT Masters, but alas, the brutally competitive regional qualifiers proved too challenging. LOUD’s failure to qualify for their first-ever international VCT tournament is particularly surprising, given their consistent excellence over the past year. The Brazilian squad has been a dominant force on the global stage, winning multiple championships and cementing their reputation as one of the most formidable teams in the game. Their early postseason exit has left many in the Valorant community scratching their heads, as they struggle to comprehend how such a talented and accomplished roster could falter at this crucial juncture. For the LOUD organization, this setback is a harsh reality check. After enjoying such sustained success, they now find themselves facing the prospect of a lengthy wait until they can once again compete on the international stage. The team will need to engage in a rigorous period of self-reflection, analyzing where they went wrong and how they can bounce back stronger than ever. The road ahead will not be an easy one for LOUD, as they look to regain their place among the Valorant elite. They will need to regroup, refocus, and rediscover the form that has made them such a dominant force in the past. The pressure will be on, as they will be eager to prove that their failure to qualify for VCT Masters was a mere blip on the radar, and not a sign of a more sustained decline. As the VCT Americas circuit moves forward, all eyes will be on LOUD and Sentinels, as they look to bounce back and reclaim their rightful place at the top of the global Valorant hierarchy. Their legions of fans will be hoping that this shock early exit will only serve to motivate the teams to come back even stronger, ready to battle it out against the best that the world has to offer. The road to redemption will not be an easy one, but LOUD and Sentinels have proven time and time again that they have the skill, the resilience, and the determination to overcome even the greatest of challenges. As they lick their wounds and prepare for the next stage of the VCT, the Valorant community will be watching with bated breath, eager to see if these titans of the scene can once again rise to the occasion and reclaim their rightful place at the top of the global rankings.
