Latin America has proven to be a formidable region on the international stage in Valorant's short two-year esports lifespan. They may not have a history of championships comparable to their Brazilian relatives, or produce as much talent as North America, but they've been able to put on impressive performances in the past. While LEVIATÁN LEVIATÁN Latin America South Rank #1 Demon1 Max Mazanov tex Ian Botsch kiNgg Francisco Aravena C0M Corbin Lee nataNk Nathan Bocqueho have sat on the sidelines cheering on their fellow Chileans and Argentinians as they compete abroad, they've also been itching to test their abilities against the best that the world has to offer as well.

Since the first Masters: Reykjavik back in 2021, KRÜ Esports KRÜ Esports Latin America South Rank #3 keznit Angelo Mori Mazino Roberto Rivas adverso Benjamín Poblete mta Nicolás González Shyy Fabian Usnayo Melser Marco Eliot Machuca Amaro have represented Latin America on the world stage at every single international event. They'll do so again at Masters: Copenhagen, sure, but for the first time, two Latin American teams will be traveling abroad to compete against international competition. But to say Leviatán is merely joining KRÜ on the international stage is to do a disservice to their accomplishments. Leviatán usurped KRÜ in the regional final, snagging the title and spot away from their region's juggernaut. In the end, KRÜ were forced to win a last chance qualifier match to make it to Copenhagen, while Leviatan now has an automatic bye to the playoffs and are guaranteed a top eight finish.

Leviatán consists of the core of Australs Australs Latin America South Rank #5 TAFG nx1 Kramz Haitam mrtn , who were among the best teams in the region, capturing multiple titles in 2021 against other regional talent. They won the first LATAM Masters event, but were absent from Stage 2 competition. The team returned to the regional stage for the Stage 3 Challengers playoffs, but were unable to best KRÜ like they had done in the upper bracket finals, thus losing out on the sole ticket to Masters: Berlin.

Photo credit: Riot Esports Latinoamérica

The squad had secured a ticket to the South American LCQ, but once again fell short following a loss to FURIA FURIA Brazil Rank #3 heat Olavo Marcelo raafa Rafael Lima mwzera Leonardo Serrati havoc Ilan Eloy Khalil Khalil Schmidt in the grand finals. A month after, in early November, Australs announced that they would be ceasing operations as an organization. Shortly after that announcement, Leviatán welcomed Australs' Marco "Melser" Eliot Machuca Amaro, Benjamín "adverso" Poblete, Francisco "kiNgg" Aravena, and Vicente "Tacolilla" Compagnon under their wing alongside former Meta Gaming Meta Gaming Inactive vaiZ Matías Barría lucasvade Lucas Vade Castro WKN Alvaro Bustos badzw Lukas Rivera NicoMachine Nicolas Valla player Matías "vaiZ" Barría for 2022 VCT competition.

Once 2022 had officially begun, the new Leviatán roster made an early statement with a critical win over KRÜ in the Stage 1 Challengers LATAM South Play-In, putting themselves in pole position going into the combined Latin America playoffs. Additionally, the team brought in former KRÜ head coach Rodrigo "Onur" Dalmagro to replace Dyamond "phonics" Pillon in February before the start of the group stage. Leviatán had a near-perfect record during the group stage, only suffering a loss at the hands of KRÜ in its final week.

Onur will be heading abroad to coach in his fourth international Valorant event, but this time it's not with KRÜ Esports. (Photo credit: Riot Esports Latinoamérica)

The playoffs kicked off with a shock, as KRÜ fell at the hands of E-Xolos LAZER E-Xolos LAZER Latin America North Rank #1 Mited Luis Gutierrez Jow Juan Camilo Preciado Ordoñez Feniz Thomas Molina Virtyy Leandro Moreno Darker Sebastián Castro Cicuamia in the upper semifinals, meaning that Leviatán's opponent in the upper bracket final would not be their interregional rival. After a 2-1 win over E-Xolos LAZER, Leviatán were guaranteed at least one more chance to qualify for Stage 1 Masters: Reykjavik, as the runner-up would be sent to Mexico City to battle it out against the runner-up Brazilian squad for the last spot in Iceland. However, Leviatán's grand finals opponent had defeated both LATAM North representatives in the lower bracket, making the climax of the tournament populated solely by LATAM South teams.

After five maps —two of which required overtime rounds to decide a victor — KRÜ came out on top once again, securing their spot at their fourth consecutive international event. However Leviatán had one more shot at the international stage via the LCQ, where they would be facing off against a Ninjas In Pyjamas Ninjas In Pyjamas Inactive squad that had been 3-0'd by a red-hot LOUD LOUD Brazil Rank #2 dgzin Douglas Silva v1nny Vínicius Gonçalves pANcada Bryan Luna tuyz Arthur Andrade cauanzin Cauan Pereira twice in the Stage 1 Challengers Brazil playoffs. Unfortunately, the Brazilians got the better of Leviatán in Mexico City, and secured the 12th and final seat at Masters: Reykjavik.

Going into Stage 2, Leviatán were once again a frontrunner amongst the top LATAM teams to have an impressive showing and challenge KRÜ for their spot on the world stage. Shortly after the group stage began, the team acquired another KRÜ coach, Martin "BeTony" Bourre. With Onur and BeTony once again reunited and coaching a new team, the team performed solidly throughout Stage 2 Challengers, only falling short in their week three group stage match and play-in match against KRÜ, putting themselves on a collision course against E-Xolos LAZER and FUSION FUSION Latin America North Rank #9 GLYPH Conner Garcia Xhowi Luis Enmanuel Corcino Garcia prask Mike Cortbani Fresht Juan Pablo Preciado , the top teams from LATAM North, for a ticket to Copenhagen.

After suffering a 2-1 loss to FUSION in the upper bracket, Leviatán's backs were against the wall. Facing elimination, they went into their first lower bracket match against E-Xolos LAZER focused, and came out on top. Their win against the second place LATAM North seed put them in a rematch against FUSION in the lower final to see who would contest KRÜ for the region's sole seat at Copenhagen. A thrilling best-of-five match pushed both teams to their limits, but Leviatán eventually came out on top, with Tacolilla's Chamber nearly racking up 100 kills throughout the series, 10 more than the next player, who was his teammate Fabian "Shyy" Usnayo.

Photo credit: Riot Esports Latinoamérica

With the sixth clash between KRÜ and Leviatán set, many anticipated that the upper bracket seed would claim victory, continuing the precedent set in their past three encounters. Despite KRÜ coming out the gates strong on the first two maps, Leviatán managed to close the gap and eventually overtake their opponents, giving them a 2-0 series lead going into the final map, Split. On the final map, KRÜ were simply unable to stop Leviatán's ferocious attack, not even managing to claim a single point on their defense side. KRÜ managed to win the first three rounds of the second half, but Leviatán found their footing in the 16th round to claim the final round that they needed to secure victory and punch their ticket to Masters: Copenhagen as the winner of Stage 2 Challengers Latin America.

The moment that Leviatán usurped KRÜ and punched their ticket to Copenhagen.

Of the 12 teams competing in Denmark, five teams have not attended an international event. Additionally, two Latin American teams will be present, unlike past events where KRÜ have been their region's only representative. However, should KRÜ fall in the group stage, like what happened at Masters: Reykjavik, Leviatán will be the only team from their region to compete in the playoffs, which this time will come with the added pressure of a crowd present in the final three days to cheer on the competitors.

Regardless of what the future may hold for Leviatán in their first international appearance, they've already achieved a big feat by usurping their region's best team, and with a playoff berth secured from their championship title in Stage 2 Challengers, that may give the team the platform to write a new chapter for Latin American achievements in Valorant.