Valorant Spotlight Series 2024
The UK-Spanish esports team GiantX (GX) celebrated their first major triumph by claiming the Valorant Spotlight Series 2024 title. The tournament, held in Paris, was especially notable for its inclusion of mixed-gender teams, a format aimed at fostering inclusivity in competitive gaming. GiantX defeated G2 Esports 3-1 in a thrilling final, earning them the inaugural championship title and setting a milestone as the newly merged organisation’s first major win.
This victory marks a significant achievement in the organization’s short history since forming through a merger between Giants Gaming, based in Málaga, Spain, and Excel Esports, a UK organization based in London. The merger, which occurred at the end of 2023, created a stronger unified team capable of competing at the highest level in esports competitions across Europe.
The prestigious Riot Games introduced the Valorant Spotlight Series as a lead-up to the highly anticipated women’s VCT Game Changers Championship, which GiantX has already qualified for. As a tournament designed for preseason practice, the Valorant Spotlight Series serves to prepare players from across the broader Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) circuit for upcoming challenges while also showcasing female players and other underrepresented groups in esports.
The mixed-gender format provided a platform for players from three different circuits: the Valorant Champions Tour (the primary Valorant competition), Game Changers (focused on female teams and marginalized communities in esports), and the Valorant Challengers leagues. A unique rule of the event required teams to have at least two members from the Game Changers circuit, highlighting the tournament’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the gaming world.
Standout UK players who joined the Valorant Spotlight Series EMEA 2024 included talents like Benjyfishy, Loupiote, YaBoiLewis, and Sevire, among others, bringing high expectations to the event. GiantX’s journey to the title was far from straightforward. After initially falling into the lower bracket, they rallied to the grand final with significant victories over international contenders, including Koi and Karmine Corp, ultimately proving their strength and resilience at the prestigious Paris Expo Porte de Versailles venue.
Team Members Thoughts
Team members were vocal about the experience post-match. Joliinaa expressed confidence in the group’s chemistry, saying, “We have a really good environment on the team, it’s easy to feel confident with these players. And I wanted to have that revenge over G2 on LAN.” Another key player, runneR, shared his perspective on the competition: “When I started playing this tournament, I was like, okay, let’s see what it’s like, and I got one-tapped a lot by Game Changers players! So I was like, ooh, maybe I shouldn’t underestimate them. So I was full try-harding.”
Looking ahead, GiantX is preparing for the Valorant Game Changers Championship, scheduled for November in Berlin. There, they will compete in what represents the world championship for women in Valorant. Besides the Game Changers circuit, GiantX also participates in the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) and the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) while maintaining a strong presence in the Spanish League of Legends LVP Superliga. Several betting opportunities for this incredible championship will be found at our recommended Esports betting sites.
