G2 Esports has introduced a new, North America-based Valorant roster for the 2023 season. Led with the aid of Shahzeb ‘ShahZaM’ Khan and coached via Ian ‘Immi’ Harding. VCT North American Challengers continues to appear greater and greater aggressive as agencies bring together rosters for the 2023 season. On December 12, G2 Esports threw their hat into the ring with the announcement of a beautiful roster headlined by former Sentinels duo ShahZaM and Michael ‘dapr’ Gulino.
The group will be coached with the aid of ex-Version1 coach Immi. Who reunites with two of his players. Erik ‘penny’ Penny and Maxim ‘wippie’ Shepelev. That crew highly attended the first worldwide Valorant LAN, VCT 2021 Stage 2 Masters Reykjavík, ending 5th-6th. G2 became to VCT Challengers after failing to impenetrable a slot in the Americas VCT partnership league. According to a record via The Washington Post, G2’s bid for a slot was once rejected at the remaining minute following the controversy involving then-CEO Carlos Rodríguez and Andrew Tate.
Teams Ready for Ascension League
Other high-profile organizations, like Shopify Rebellion, M80, The Guard, and FaZe Clan, are additionally placing collectively bold Challengers rosters as they hope to invulnerable promoting to the partnership league. “It virtually may be greater fascinating to watch the Challengers league than the genuine franchise league,” Immi said. “But I suppose with the journey we have, with the brain we have, we must be pinnacle two, we ought to be prevailing Challengers Ascension, and we have to be going up to the franchise league.”
Immi stated that he rejected procedures from EMEA accomplice groups as he wished to proceed with his profession in North America. There was once additionally a provide from Cloud9, however, a go failed to materialize. “Then G2 got here in and I determined to take their provide due to the fact they’re my dream org,” the British coach said.
G2 Esports Roster Remake
Immi stated that his philosophy around developing his new roster was once flexibility. Which intended to get gamers that ought to slot into more than one role. He additionally desired to have a committed in-game leader. Pointing to Version1’s struggles after the group misplaced Anthony ‘vanity’ Malaspina to Cloud9.
“We didn’t understand the place the marketers have been going to be, or what the meta was once going to be. So I desired very bendy players,” he explained. “Penny is virtually now not going to be taking part in a duelist role. This is going to be very new. However, I will be aware of how excellent he is on each agent due to the fact his goal is insane so he’s going to be in the flex role.
“So dapr will go lower back onto the Sentinel function and then every person else is simply so flexible. The philosophy is to be capable to construct and create something we prefer to do.”
G2 tried out a few one-of-a-kind younger gamers to fill their fifth spot as Immi commenced searching for the subsequent younger star. In the end, the group settled on ‘OXY’, who has bounced around newbie groups and stuffed in for some tier-two squads.
“OXY regarded like the man that used to be ready, he had a lot of excellent comms and he had a true agent pool,” Immi said. “It made experience to go with him.”
G2’s crew has no plans to compete in any tournaments beforehand of the Challenger’s open qualifiers on January 9. According to Immi, everybody is laser-focused on breaking into the partnership league via the promoting match at the quit of the season.
“I don’t assume Challengers now not to work out. If it doesn’t, then it’s a big failure on my part, and I’ll take duty for that. I count on it to work out,” Immi said.
G2 Esports Valorant roster:
- Shahzeb ‘ShahZaM’ Khan
- Michael ‘dapr’ Gulino
- Erik ‘penny’ Penny
- Maxim ‘wippie’ Shepelev
- ‘OXY’
- Ian ‘Immi’ Harding (coach)
Also Read: Cloud9 White Roster to Exit Cloud9 Organization Banner
