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The Final Piece: DAMWON Gaming signs final player Estrella to complete 2023 roster.
Powering Up
DAMWON Gaming have completed their 2023 roster with the signing of Park “Estrella” Gun. The South Korean entry specialist primarily played duelists for most of his career prior to joining DAMWON Gaming. He began his career in earnest on South Korean organization F4Q, spending 4 months there before transitioning to On Sla2ers.
On F4Q, he devoted himself as a duelist main, focusing on Neon, Jett, and Raze primarily. However, on On Sla2ers, he showed a great deal of flexibility, demonstrating skills on initiators and controllers as well.
On the 17th of Nov, DAMWON Gaming would announce his signing as the final piece to the puzzle.
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In a different League
One of the more surprising developments from the Pacific scene in recent times has been DAMWON Gaming’s rejection by Riot for partnership. The stories South Korean organization has fielded a League of Legends partnered roster for many years, and it was expected to be the same in Valorant as well.
That said, DAMWON has stated intentions to compete in, and win the Challengers League in the Pacific region, earning the Ascension slot to join their brethren.
What is the Challengers League?
According to Riot, the Challengers League system is designed to encompass more than 20 leagues around the world, ‘ensuring every Valorant player has a path to realize their competitive dreams.’
These leagues will ‘provide highly organized competitions,’ beginning with an open qualifier, following by a selection of the best teams based on performance in two splits of multi-week regular season play.
Separate to that, 2023 will also include a new event series in each of the three main region: EMEA, AMERICAS, and PACIFIC, labelled Ascension tournaments. Winning such an event earns the organization a spot in the following year’s international league.
Newcomer
Thus far, “Estrella’s” experience in Valorant competitive has been limited to 2022. F4Q being the largest organization he joined prior to DAMWON; he has largely been successful. His team, On Sla2ers, placed second behind Edward Gaming in the East Asia Last Chance Qualifier. In other words, he was a series from qualifying for Champions.
Posting an overall ACS of 280 and K:D of 1.39 across 214 rounds (according to vlr.gg), “Estrella’s” Jett promises a treat when watching him. While he has not had the same level or amount of experience as his peers, growing results from his former teams has shown great potential.
Taking on Challengers
On DAMWON Gaming's roster, “Estrella” joins veterans of the scene in Park “allow” Sang-wook and Kim “Lakia” Jong-Min, as well as Park “exy” Geun-cheol and Jeong “Esperanza” Jin-cheol. “allow” is a seasoned veteran of the South Korean Valorant scene, having spent a part of his career on the legendary Nuturn Gaming roster in 2021.
“Lakia” while younger, has spent an even more significant amount of his time between teams. A key part of the Vision Strikers and Nuturn Gaming roster, he joined DRX alongside his teammates, before transferring to IGZIST. Currently on loan to DAMWON Gaming, “Lakia” is one of South Korea’s most promising talents.
Moreover, veteran mainstay of the Korean scene, Bum-gi “peri” Jung, was also signed by organization earlier this month. With that, DAMWON have assembled a team rife with potential and talent. A mix of old and new talent promises to shake up the Pacific arena next year.
DAMWON Gaming’s roster will now look as such:
- Jeong “Esperanza” Jin-cheol
- Park “exy” Geun-cheol
- Park “Estrella” Gun
- Park “allow” Sang-wook
- Kim “Lakia” Jong-min
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Image credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
