VCT EMEA Tier 2 Team Apeks Quit VALORANT Competitive

In a surprising yet expected announcement, Valorant Apeks VCT EMEA tier 2 team have officially decided to leave the competitive scene, ending their three-year journey. This news comes as a disappointment to many fans who have been attached to the team throughout their journey in Riot’s VALORANT esports journey.

While Apeks struggled in recent seasons compared to their success in previous seasons, they were still regarded as one of the more passionate organisations participating in the VCT EMEA ecosystem. In this article, we will delve into the primary reason that saw Apeks withdraw from VALORANT.

Apeks Withdraw From VALORANT Esports: Here is the Reason

Apeks stated that their choice was impacted by Riot's recent change in the structure of the VCL system. They had re-invested in VCL for 2024, thinking they were competing for a two-year spot in VCT. Then, Riot turned it into a one-year opportunity. This change threw Apeks off their long-term plans, leading to drastic cuts in their budget heading into 2025. Therefore, the organisation was unable to justify its spending up to that point to be competitive at the Tier 2 level.

In their statement, Apeks thanked their fans, players, and staff for all joining the journey with them, and extended special thanks to all who supported and stood by them through the ups and downs in Valorant Challengers (VCL) and through the VCT circuit.

While Apeks did not secure major international trophies but at EMEA level, they had shown remarkable progress, especially during the VCT 2024 season. The peak of their story came during VCT Ascension EMEA 2024, where they defeated Pacific Esports 3:2 to clinch the title.

Soon after, however, roster instability began invading the organisation. For instance, star player Kaajak was picked up by Fnatic, where he became one of the best rookies of the year, and as other key players were lost due to instability, Apeks had an even more difficult time staying competitive.

Community Reactions on Valorant Apeks VCT EMEA Tier 2 Withdrawal

Fans on social media expressed their mixed feelings seeing Apeks withdraw from Valorant. While many expressed sadness, most understood the movement, with one comment summing it up perfectly that Tier 2 is just not a worthwhile resource investment for orgs or a worthwhile time investment for players, which unfortunately looks harsh truth at the moment.

The community is still hopeful, as some believe that Riot's supposed open system coming in 2027 will build organisations like Apeks and return them to a stronger Tier 1 system. Meanwhile, check out our recent coverage on how to remake in Valorant.