These are the 11 teams who will be competing at VCT 2024: Pacific Kickoff, taking place in Seoul on February 2024
As the second year of franchised Valornat rolls in, we will once again see the best of the Pacific regions compete to secure a spot in Masters Madrid. In 2024, we will witness the same 10 partnered teams in the Pacific League and the Pacific Ascension winner, BLEED Esports.
Here are all the teams and players you will see compete at this upcoming VCT event, along with a brief discussion of their journey so far.
VCT 2024: Pacific Kickoff Teams
Out of the 11 squads, we will have two teams from Japan, three from South Korea, two from Singapore, and one each representing India, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Global Esports – Asia Pacific
- Abhirup “Lightningfast” Choudhury
- Benedict “Benkai” Tan
- Russel “Russ” Mendes
- Gary “blaZek1ng” Dastin
- Niko “polvi” Polvinen
- Jayanth “skillZ” Ramesh (Substitute)
- Peter “Spin” Bradford (Coach)
2023 was the year this team debuted in Tier 1, and their journey was underwhelming. They couldn’t manage to move past the first game at LOCK//IN, had a 3-6 record in the Regular Season and lost their only chance to get to Champions at LCQ.
Following an uneventful year, the Indian organization has decided to make some changes prior to its 2024 season. The squad has parted ways with most of its members, including Ganesh “SkRossi” Gangadhar and Cahya “Monyet” Nugraha. Former PRX player Benedict “Benkai” Tan will try to bring positive changes to this team in their new chapter.
Paper Rex – Asia Pacific
- Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee
- Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto
- Aaron “mindfreak” Leonhart
- Ilya “something” Petrov
- Cahya “Monyet” Nugraha
- Wang “Jinggg” Jing Jie (Substitute)
- Alexandre “alecks” Sallé (Coach)
Paper Rex enjoyed their best year in 2023, making their way to the grand final of the biggest event. The addition of Ilya “something” Petrov brought a new look to the roster, and they quickly solidified themselves as the best APAC team, overtaking the throne previously held by DRX.
The Singaporeans’ talented Duelist Wang “Jinggg” Jing Jie won’t be present during the team’s 2024 season due to military duties, and former Global Esports member Monyet will take his spot.
Rex Regum Qeon – Asia Pacific
- James “2geMONSTAH” Goopio
- David “xffero” Monangin
- Saibani “fl1pzjder” Rahmad
- Hagai “Lmemore” Tewuh
- Park “Estrella” Gun
- Maksim “Jemkin” Batorov
- Marthinus “Ewok” Walt (Coach)
The Indonesians showed potential in the Regular Season through a 4-5 run, but it wasn’t enough to secure a Playoffs spot. Their LCQ run also didn’t result in anything substantial, and RRQ ended their 2023 with no appearance in the Masters and Champions.
Going into 2024, Emmanuel “Emman” Morales and Eroll Jule “EJAY” Delfin’s spots will be taken over by Maksim “Jemkin” Batorov and Park “Estrella” Gun, players who have shown decent form in Challenger events.
Talon Esports – Asia Pacific
- Thanamethk “Crws” Mahatthananuyut
- Jittana “JitboyS” Nokngam
- Seungmin Oh “ban” Joseph
- Peter “Governor” No
- Lionel “lenne” Lim
- Hector “FrosT” Rosario (Coach)
Unlike previous years, Talon (former XERXIA and X10 core) failed to get their tickets to Masters and Champions in 2023 due to poor form in the Regular Season, even though they had a decent performance at LOCK//IN during the start of the year.
Patiphan “Patiphan” Chaiwong will be inactive for the team’s 2024 season, while Seungmin Oh “ban” Joseph and Peter “Governor” No, both of whom previously played in North American organizations, will try to take Talon to new heights.
Team Secret – Asia Pacific
- Jim “BORKUM” Timbreza
- Jessie Cristy “JessieVash” Cuyco
- Jeremy “Jremy” Cabrera
- Adrian “invy” Reyes
- Noel “NDG” De Guia
- Evan “Warbirds” Olzem (Coach)
Team Secret was one of the most promising up-and-coming rosters in the Pacific Region in 2023. They defeated Liquid at LOCK//IN, secured Playoffs at the Pacific League through a 5-4 record and reached the Grand Final at LCQ.
Former players Jayvee “DubsteP” Paguirigan and Lionel “lenne” Lim took a leave in September 2023. The squad will be making their 2024 debut with their newest member, Noel “NDG” De Guia.
Bleed Esports – Asia Pacific
- Derrick “Deryeon” Yee
- Ngô “crazyguy” Công Anh
- Nutchaphon “sScary” Matarat
- Javier “Egoist” Chua
- Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker
- Nikola “LEGIJA” Ninić (Coach)
Bleed have secured the 11th spot at the upcoming Pacific competition through their Ascension victory. To make things more exciting, former OpTic star Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker has joined this APAC group for their 2024 season.
While yay’s last venture with Disguised wasn’t very fruitful, only time can tell how he does in a different region.
T1 – Korea
- Son “xeta” Seon-ho
- Ha “Sayaplayer” Jung-woo
- Lee “Carpe” Jae-hyeok
- Ham “iZu” Woo-joo
- Kevin “xccurate” Susanto
- Daniel “Rossy” Abedrabbo
- Yoon “Autumn” Eu-teum (Coach)
While T1 successfully made their way into Masters Tokyo and Champions 2023, they only won a single match in each of those events and naturally remained in the shadows of titans like DRX and PRX.
There have been some changes to the roster before T1 begin their 2024 journey. Lee “k1Ng” Seung-won and Seungmin Oh “ban” Joseph have taken their leave from the team, and we will see North American player Daniel “Rossy” Abedrabbo compete for them as the latest addition.
DRX – Korea
- Byung-chul “BuZz” Yu
- Kim “MaKo” Myeong-kwan
- Kim “stax” Gu-taek
- Jung “Foxy9” Jae-sung
- Cho “Flashback” Min-hyuk
- Seon-ho “termi” Pyeon (Coach)
The former kings of the Pacific started their 2023 season strong, reaching the semifinals of LOCK//IN and then dominating in the Regular Season. After losing to PRX’s reverse sweep in the Pacific League’s Grand Final, the South Koreans saw a dip in their performance.
While DRX managed to go to the Playoffs of both Masters and Champions, their age-old curse haunted them again. They will be starting their 2024 without Goo “Rb” Sang-min, who will be replaced by academy player Cho “Flashback” Min-hyuk.
Gen.G – Korea
- Kim “Meteor” Tae-O
- Kim “t3xture” Na-ra
- Kim “Lakia” Jong-min
- Byeon “Munchkin” Sang-beom
- Kim “Karon” Won-tae
- Kim “HSK” Hae-seong (Coach)
Only Kim “Meteor” Tae-O remains from Gen.G’s 2023 lineup, as the South Koreans replaced the rest of their squad following an uneventful year. Some of the new additions include former Global Esports member Kim “t3xture” Na-ra and ex-T1 player Byeon “Munchkin” Sang-beom.
Gen.G’s biggest milestone in 2023 was securing the Playoffs in the Pacific League. They did make it to the Lower Final of the LCQ but lost against Team Secret.
ZETA DIVISION – Japan
- Koji “Laz” Ushida
- Yuma “Dep” Hashimoto
- Shota “SugarZ3ro” Watanabe
- Hiroki “hiroronn” Yanai
- Yushin “Yuran” Hato
- Carlos “Carlão” Mohn (Coach)
After not making it to the Masters from the Pacific League’s Playoffs, ZETA DIVISION won the Pacific LCQ, securing their slot at Champions 2023. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get a single victory in Los Angeles and ended their 2023 with no international wins.
Tenta “TENNN” Asai and Tomoaki “crow” Maruoka from ZETA’s 2023 season won’t be continuing the journey with the Japanese roster. New additions to the team are Yushin “Yuran” Hato and Hiroki “hiroronn” Yanai.
DetonatioN FocusMe – Japan
- Yoshitaka “Anthem” Enomoto
- Seo “Suggest” Jae-young
- Cho “JoXJo” Byung-yeon
- Ibuki “Meiy” Seki
- Yusuke “neth” Matsuda
- Souta “popogachi” Morita
- Tomonori “SSeeS” Okimura
- Kim “HSK” Hae-seong (Coach)
DFM had the worst year as a franchised roster in 2023, as they did not win a single match that year. Their 0-9 record in the Regular Season made them the worst Pacific Team, and their winless streak continued in the LCQ and OFF//SEASON events.
Naturally, the Japanese roster decided to make significant roster changes before beginning their new season. Several members, including Park “Seoldam” Sang-min and Tomoki “xnfri” Moriya, have parted ways with the squad, and some of the new members include Seo “Suggest” Jae-young and Tomonori “SSeeS” Okimura.
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