Justice for The Guard

The team of Valyn, Trent, JonahP, Tex and Net + Joshrt, deserve justice. The Guard have been here in tier 1 (pre franchising) and top of tier 2 (post franchising) for such a long time, and the players have worked all that time to be the best they could, to win.
They were Na's best, even at one point beating optic, and even making Reykjavik's playoffs. they have proven time after time that they deserve to be seen on the biggest stage time after time, yet no matter how hard they work, how much they win, it always feels like something external is stopping them.
it makes me sick, to find out that these players only knew today/yesterday, and had no idea what TGRD was doing behind the scenes.
Imagine sticking together with a group you've been with for years, sticking it out to win, and finally ascending, only to wake up and find that stripped away from you.
This could all be solved by just letting one of the countless orgs who have money and want to play val like (g2, mxm, DSG - if toast wants to, even previous orgs like xset, optic and shopify, who might want to get back into the scene) buy the players out
these players deserve franchising more than half the players in franchising, and even without an org they would still beat DFM comfortably.
valorant esports has to do better, because their decisions as of late have felt nothing but corporate, with no empathy or compassion at all.

sorry for the spiel, I dont normally post long things let alone post at all.

The problem about letting an org buy the guard is that which org deserve to get the team. In my opinion none of those teams mention above even made playoff so why should they benefit from another teams success(as they are financial incentives for the org to do so e.g money from riot, increase price pool money from being in t1 instead of t2 and etc).
I'd rather see riot provides for the ex-guard players to allow them to play together rather than see orgs buy their way in, which can cause issue about to implement that decision( would it go to the highest bidder, the org with the most clout or a team which has good financial stability) and for the orgs that loses out based on not bidding high enough or not being clouted would probably leave a bad taste towards riot.
Its an unforntuate situation what happened to the guard player because of the lack of transparency by the Guard and I hope they all get into an t1 orgs.

Only way Leo faria can redeem himself is by buying the guard and paying their salaries for franchising

turkey [#3]

Only way Leo faria can redeem himself is by buying the guard and paying their salaries for franchising

or winning champions MVP

Bruh what are yall smoking?
Riot did the correct thing 100%, the precedence had been set before when they denied G2 from franchising JUST BECAUSE the CEO had dinner with andrew tate. They have the power to deny orgs ascension if they do not meet all the criteria and this is no exception. Sure, its a bit shitty for the players but they are gonna get picked up regardless (most of them)

This could all be solved by just letting one of the countless orgs who have money

Buy slots in Pacific/EMEA too while at it. Guest teams don't get team skins revenue anyway, and only stayed around for 2 season. Should've do what NIP do, got in CN franchise instead.

Warlordwibz [#6]

This could all be solved by just letting one of the countless orgs who have money

Buy slots in Pacific/EMEA too while at it. Guest teams don't get team skins revenue anyway, and only stayed around for 2 season. Should've do what NIP do, got in CN franchise instead.

ye. I mean I dont see a future with this relegation system. I can see a future in which franchising is actually very good but not for this current relegation system. There are just so many countless problems with the system that I think riot need to completely re-structure tier 2

LifeIsALie [#5]

Bruh what are yall smoking?
Riot did the correct thing 100%, the precedence had been set before when they denied G2 from franchising JUST BECAUSE the CEO had dinner with andrew tate. They have the power to deny orgs ascension if they do not meet all the criteria and this is no exception. Sure, its a bit shitty for the players but they are gonna get picked up regardless (most of them)

I agree with you, the problem is that no one is getting the spot. The whole 2023 for America's tier 2 meant nothing, the goal was a fake tournment that had no real prize. Riot should give the spot to another team or make another game so The Union and M80 play for the spot. I dont know, but this was the worst conclusion they could get.

I think it’s weird that Leo said

“if they were free agents when they won then it would be fine for them to be picked up by an org but since they were not free agents when they won they can’t be picked up now”

All this does is make players scared to get paid while trying to break out of t2.

LifeIsALie [#5]

Bruh what are yall smoking?
Riot did the correct thing 100%, the precedence had been set before when they denied G2 from franchising JUST BECAUSE the CEO had dinner with andrew tate. They have the power to deny orgs ascension if they do not meet all the criteria and this is no exception. Sure, its a bit shitty for the players but they are gonna get picked up regardless (most of them)

We want 11 teams in Americas. More specifically, we want the roster that won our ascension tournament. I honestly don't see why a few people are pearl clutching about an org buying a tier 1 roster. The org/team name/branding makes no difference to me. The only criteria needed for Guard Roster new org is 1. Org wants a tier 1 valorant team 2. Org can afford tier 1 valorant team. From there it should be up to the players and coach which org they choose to represent. Reminder this isn't a spot for life for the org or the players. So even if "buying a slot" is bad to you, it's not a long term deal, it's more like renting a spot. There should be no mention of precedent, The Guard Org and Riot both screwed up this situation royally. This is not comparable to G2 trying to get franchise spot. This is a "guest spot" as Leo Faria said previously.

LifeIsALie [#5]

Bruh what are yall smoking?
Riot did the correct thing 100%, the precedence had been set before when they denied G2 from franchising JUST BECAUSE the CEO had dinner with andrew tate. They have the power to deny orgs ascension if they do not meet all the criteria and this is no exception. Sure, its a bit shitty for the players but they are gonna get picked up regardless (most of them)

Why can't they treat the guard players like a F/A team, who they said they'd support if qualified?

LouBag [#9]

I think it’s weird that Leo said

“if they were free agents when they won then it would be fine for them to be picked up by an org but since they were not free agents when they won they can’t be picked up now”

All this does is make players scared to get paid while trying to break out of t2.

Such an awful excuse. He really just said that to cover his ass.

vipermommydomme [#11]

Why can't they treat the guard players like a F/A team, who they said they'd support if qualified?

BECAUSE NEXT YEAR, say TSM wins ascension and they say oops we dont like valorant suddenly and pull out of the game, (collude with another org behind the scenes), the org goes F/A, based on the precedence from TGRD, that org gets a spot in Ascension by doing a shady deal which is quite illegal but is bound to happen

T2 will die out because no org will want to invest on a guest slot and even if you win rito can just deny the whole org so is a waste of money

Alpac4 [#14]

T2 will die out because no org will want to invest on a guest slot and even if you win rito can just deny the whole org so is a waste of money

Riot didnt deny the Guard, the Guard didnt sign the contract to go into T1.

This could all be solved by just letting one of the countless orgs who have money and want to play val like

Riot's concern is setting a precedent for the orgs that win Ascension to sell their spot.
It's a tough decision, but the right one. I feel sorry for the players, but the spot belongs to the organization that won the championship.
From now on, I'm certain that players will be more attentive to contracts with orgs. TheGuard is a worldwide disgrace.

SamBR [#16]

This could all be solved by just letting one of the countless orgs who have money and want to play val like

Riot's concern is setting a precedent for the orgs that win Ascension to sell their spot.
It's a tough decision, but the right one. I feel sorry for the players, but the spot belongs to the organization that won the championship.
From now on, I'm certain that players will be more attentive to contracts with orgs. TheGuard is a worldwide disgrace.

leo farias is a worldwide disgrace.

SamBR [#16]

This could all be solved by just letting one of the countless orgs who have money and want to play val like

Riot's concern is setting a precedent for the orgs that win Ascension to sell their spot.
It's a tough decision, but the right one. I feel sorry for the players, but the spot belongs to the organization that won the championship.
From now on, I'm certain that players will be more attentive to contracts with orgs. TheGuard is a worldwide disgrace.

Riot's concern is setting a precedent for the orgs that win Ascension to sell their spot.

thats a good point, i didnt think about that. but at the end of the day, i dont see why its such a big deal. my point of view as a spectator is, i dont care who the org is. literally does not matter. i watch the players so...if amazon (just an example) bought the guard and took the spot, i am not affected at all between watching them under the guard vs amazon. like who cares if an org buys a spot? riot gets money, viewers shouldnt really care (if you do pls share why, im curious). the only thing that matters is that the same players that won ascension, are the ones playing

I think the same way. As a spectator, I'm not at all concerned about this spot buying and selling nonsense.

But putting myself in Riot's shoes, this decision makes a lot of sense.
If they don't want this practice within Valorant, the best thing to do is to show firmness from the beginning.
Imagine if the same thing happens next year. If they make an exception today, it will haunt them for a long time, like "oh, they allowed it last year, so why not now?"

I'll say it again, the situation of TheGuard players is very sad, but the one and only that should be blamed for this entire situation is the organization.