WINNING IN A VALORANT TOURNAMENT LAST YEAR

When you’re playing a game on your computer how does it make you feel? Happy, fun, comfortable, distracted, hyped, etc. all of those I mentioned is a feeling a gamer feels when they are immersed in the game they are playing. Especially me, though I didn’t mention the best feeling I get when I play, it’s the feeling of competitiveness. It gets me going throughout playing any game. Pumped up on defeating the enemy team and succeeding is one of the best feelings for me ever since I held a keyboard and mouse in my hand, I was always grinding to whatever game was popular and get good at it, not to brag but I’d always hit the top ranks in whatever game I played. I always remember back then little me was running to a near internet café to play a game called “counter strike” I think an fps(first-person shooter) gamer will know what this game is right away. So yeah every chance I get I would always scurry along and play counter-strike till my mom realizes I’ve been gone for too long (that hanger hurt).

Now that I have grown up I still play games but no more sneaking around and all that. You thought I’d stop because I’ve become an adult of sorts but no, my passion for gaming now is stronger than ever. I’d play games all day if I can however I do not have the luxury to do so, that’s why I wait till my schedule is free so that I can go and play, I do not own a pc so I have to wait for my free time and go to an internet café.

This early 2020 a game called Valorant was announced, a 5 vs 5 tactical shooting game just like the game I mentioned earlier but with different characters called “agents” that you can choose from that have their unique roles and abilities, not just guns. Currently, the game has 19 different agents to choose from. What’s also amazing about the game characters is that every agent represents their own country like South Korea, Morocco, Brazil and our beloved country the Philippines, and many more. I just love how this game embraces diversity, especially the fact that we have an agent that represents us. It’s pretty awesome. Thought my favorite agent is Omen which doesn’t represent any country, he’s the “mystery guy” of such in the game.

The game was officially released on June 2, 2020. I got so hyped that I ran straight to the internet café and played all day. I placed gold on the first act and went straight to platinum in a week. After a couple of months, I reached the 2nd highest rank of the game “immortal” I was so proud because only 0.5% of Valorant players are in that rank according to statistics, not sure though but I’ll take it lol. I have reached that rank and also a couple of my friends so we decided to create a team of our own because a tournament was announced that was organized by a local esports organization. We wanted to prove to ourselves that we dominated the game in our hometown. Even if it isn’t that much of an achievement to some. It was a big opportunity for us small-town gamers to showcase our skills in the gaming community here and be known.

So my friends and I played together to practice for the big day. They were almost there at the internet café almost every day and they’d wait for me till the afternoon cause that was the only time I was available and we managed even if I was not present to most of our practices but we still created strategies and built up our synergy to defeat every enemy on our way to victory.
The day of the tournament came, on October 9, 2021. I felt so excited and nervous that I wasn’t sure what I felt but one thing I was sure of is that we will win every match in the tournament not lose any of the games. Determined to climb as the champions we won our first game flawlessly after a week our next contenders came, it was a close one but we still prevailed and won. The matches were held every weekend so, in between the weekends we would still practice for the coming matches every Saturday and Sunday.

My teammates and I paved our way to the finals proving in every fight that we are the alpha team and we were going to win the tournament. Finals day and we were ready to claim our trophy. It was best of 3 games, the first to 2 wins is crowned the champions and losing wasn’t an option. The first game was a close call but we won and now to the second game. Also a close call but unfortunately we didn’t get the clean sweep we wanted. The deciding game, winner takes all everybody was on their feet and the game ended.

VICTORY! As I saw the 7-letter word on the screen of the computer, my eyes lit up and my cheeks widen. Shouts and applause surround the room then the realization. WE WON!!! My teammates looked at me also with big smiles on their faces, it was all worth it. To be honest I wasn’t that confident in winning but I held strong and we reaped the rewards. Against 21 teams in our town, we made it on top.

After our flawless victory, the awarding day was set and we were excited to claim our prize. I am so thankful to be able to compete in the tournament with close friends of mine.

Photo of my team and another team that is also friends of ours:

It’s a core memory and I’ll always look back on this day as a day to remember. ❤️

Thanks for reading, I hope you liked it. 😉