M80 Disbands VALORANT Roster After Ascension Heartbreak
Just days after their VCT Ascension campaign came to an end, M80 made a disheartening announcement: the organization has decided to part ways with its entire VALORANT roster. This somewhat expected news was revealed through a heartfelt post on X, where M80 thanked the players for their hard work and dedication to the team.
The decision comes after the team narrowly missed out on securing a spot in the VCT Americas League for the second consecutive year.
From Rising Stars to Disappointment
M80 entered the VALORANT scene in late 2022 and quickly became a force to be reckoned with. Though they missed out on franchising in 2023, they dominated the Tier 2 circuit. Managing to win multiple North American tournaments, including the Challengers Playoffs. However, despite their success in the Tier 2 scene, M80 fell short in their bid to qualify for the VCT Americas League, losing to The Guard (now G2 Esports) in the Ascension tournament.
Their 2024 season was more challenging, with inconsistent results leading to 3rd-4th place finishes in several tournaments. Although M80 managed to qualify for Ascension once again after winning the North America Challenger Playoffs, their hopes were dashed by another close defeat in the finals against 2GAME Esports.
Rumors Fueled by Player Free Agency
Speculation about the roster's disbandment had already begun after M80’s loss to 2GAME Esports in the VCT Ascension Americas Finals. This marked the second year that M80 reached the finals but failed to secure promotion to the VCT Americas League.
The rumors gained momentum when almost all players, namely Marc-Andre "NiSMO" Tayar, GianFranco "koalanoob" Potestio, Brendan "BcJ" Jensen and Michael "neT" Bernet, announced on their X accounts that they were now Unrestricted Free Agents and seeking new opportunities.
Despite the team's disbandment, the players have expressed nothing but fond memories of their time with M80. NiSMO, koalanoob, and BcJ shared their gratitude for their teammates and the organization. They stated that while they are moving on, the bond they formed with the team will always remain strong.
“We wrote our own story this year regardless of the results I am proud of what we were able to accomplish together.” -BcJ
Though M80’s VALORANT journey has come to an end, their rise in the North American scene and close brushes with greatness will not be forgotten. The future remains bright for their players, and they are sure to make an impact wherever they go.
There's still plenty of VALORANT action ahead in the OFF//SEASON. So, check in with Strafe to catch all of the latest VALORANT news.
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Featured Image Source: Riot Games/Riot Esports Latinoamérica
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