Lights Out: TSM Valorant part ways with the Valorant roster

The VCT Challengers circuit for 2023 will be consummating today. After today, we’d find the three teams that’d be promoted to the International League. With only three teams making it out of the pool of atleast 500s, the tier-two Valorant scene is the battle for survival. With no tournaments in sight, and the fiscally rickety atmosphere, a lot of organisations are dropping the Valorant roster. Just a day ago, G2 let go of the entire NA Valorant division. Last night, another esports organisation, TSM dropped the entire roster.

TSM’s VCT NA Challengers 2023 run:

Ahead of the 2023 season, TSM bolstered their roster with hazed. The playing five for the roster was gMd, NaturE, hazed, corey and seven. The roster debuted at the LxT invitational and had an amazing run, defeating Sentinels and losing to Guard in the finals after a strong fight. With the team going toe-to-toe with the best unpartnered teams, things looked bright for the team. The Challengers season started strong for the team, after the loss to M80, hazed left the team. Kanpeki came in as the replacement for the team.

With Kanpeki in the roster, the team defeated The Guard and concluded the split with a 4-1 record. In the playoffs, they lost to Moist Moguls to go to the Lower bracket. They were later knocked out by Oxygen Esports.  The team had a bad Split 2 but managed to qualify for the playoffs with circuit points. In the Split two playoffs, TSM once again lost to Moist Moguls in the starting rounds and were later knocked out by Faze Clan. The loss to Faze Clan concluded TSM’s Challengers run and the season for the year.

TSM’s Valorant future:

With the organisation already facing fiscal troubles, it was obvious that they’d let go of the Valorant squad. Last Night, the organisation announced the departure of the entire squad including Subroza. Subroza hasn’t been part of the active roster since 2022. TSM currently does not field any Valorant roster. Their Game Changers roster is inactive and now with no Valorant roster, the future of TSM Valorant looks bleak. The organisation might rebuilt a roster ahead of 2024 challengers but that might not fare well.

Obviously, amidst the esports winter, the best bet for any organisation, especially without a lot of events in the calendar, is cutting costs by disbanding the team. But the same doesn’t make sense for the players, as the uncertainty costs them. Moreover, creating a roster a month or two ahead of the tournament and pitting them against rosters who have been playing together for months and not years will always lead to a bad season.

Additionally, with little to no infrastructure in place, there is nothing to motivate the pro to stay on the competitive grind (well of course except the passion.) And the best bet for the organisation is to get a good F/A team (how Moist Moguls did.) For now, the players will look to find a new home or compete together and try to get by until the next season comes around. For now, it’s Lights out for TSM and the players.

Credits: TSM Twitter

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