Global Esports vs Team Vitality at VCT LOCK//IN 2023: A Match Four Years in the Making
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In 2022, Riot Games revealed the 30 teams that made it into the three Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) 2023 leagues as part of the new franchising system. The selection process for the VCT 2023 season was incredibly competitive and it spanned months altogether. Amidst the franchising talk last year, Indian organization Global Esports (GE) saw itself bask in the spotlight and soon rose to fame worldwide, thanks to the passion of its fanbase and the talented roster it boasts.
VCT LOCK//IN is the first big tournament of the year and Global Esports will be going up against famed organization Team Vitality in a do-or-die series on 23rd February.
While the single-elimination bracket is exciting and thrilling, the history that is shared between Global Esports and Vitality is what makes the matchup even spicier.
Here’s everything you need to know about Global Esports and its enthused fandom!
Life comes full circle for Global Esports and Team Vitality
Global Esports CEO Dr Rushindra Sinha opened up about the history between GE and Team Vitality for the first time on 18th January, making it loud and clear that this matchup is more than just two teams facing off against each other on an international stage.
While Global Esports is India’s oldest esports organization, it is one of the youngest ones to participate in VCT LOCK//IN 2023. Sinha recollected a story from 2019 when GE was hustling to raise funds for the organization. He stated that they were hustling to meet with a lot of investors in London and that they were excited to meet an Indian investor.
Sinha added that the investor patiently listened to the entire pitch and said that they had already invested in Team Vitality, after commending Global Esports for its efforts. The investor added that Nicolas Maurer was a great founder and that Team Vitality already had the necessary resources and backing to become one of the greatest esports organizations in the world.
According to Sinha, the investor went on to add, “With due respect, you guys are just two Indian kids sitting and playing video games out of a garage and trying to build this company. While what y’all have done so far is great, do you really think you’ll be able to compete against teams like Team Vitality at the international stage and be able to grow with what you have done so far?”
The GE CEO also noted that they were given an offer to “shut shop at Global Esports and work with Team Vitality and help them expand to Vitality India.” Rushindra Sinha noted that they respectfully declined the alternative offer.
Now, four years later, Global Esports is going toe-to-toe against Team Vitality in a single-elimination bracket with everything on the line.
Fans shower love for Global Esports
With Global Esports ascending the VCT LOCK//IN stage in just a day, fans have been showing their support for the organization on social media platforms. In fact, a lot of Valorant personalities stated that they were surprised to see the passion of Global Esports fans. While the press conferences of the VCT LOCK//IN 2023 may be at an inconvenient time for the Indian audience, many of them did not shy away from showing up to support their home team.
Global Esports’ star player Ganesh "SkRossi" Gangadhar tweeted, “Thanks to everyone who tuned into the press conference especially fans from India it's like 4 am in the morning you guys still showed up LOVE YOU ALL.”
Global Esports has a ‘global’ roster
Global Esports lived up to its name with a truly ‘global’ lineup featuring one of the most diverse rosters in VCT 2023. The Valorant team currently has a seven-man roster in the Pacific League with players hailing from Canada, Korea, Australia, India, and Indonesia.
The roster for Global Esports is as follows:
Jordan “AYRIN” He
Michael “WRONSKI” Wronski
Park “Bazzi” Jun-ki
Kim “t3xture” Na-ra
Cahya “Monyet” Nugraha
Ganesh “SkRossi” Gangadhar
Abhirup “Lightningfast” Choudhury
