ORDER and Chiefs EC to miss NA Last Chance Qualifiers
Last Updated on: 4th October 2021, 12:22 pm
ORDER and Chiefs Esports Club, the two Oceania teams who are set to compete in the 2021 VCT NA Last Chance Qualifiers, will miss the event due to an array of issues prohibiting them from travelling to and from Los Angeles.
The announcement arrives just less than 10 days before the start of the regional LAN, which decides the third representative for NA who will compete on Valorant Champions in December. Upon advancing to the NA Last Chance Qualifiers, the OCE teams worked with Riot to arrange safe travel accommodations for the trip to LA in order to compete alongside the NA teams. Unfortunately, that window had passed.
“We have been working to secure travel to and from Los Angeles for ORDER and Chiefs Esports Club, the two qualifying teams from the VALORANT Oceania Tour,” said Riot Games in a statement provided regarding their absence. “Due to COVID-19 regulations, travel documentation issues, and additional complex factors, we could not ensure that these teams could travel, compete in the event, and return home in a reasonable timeframe. As a result, ORDER and Chiefs will not be attending LCQ.
“We share your disappointment in this outcome and will work towards bringing this exciting VALORANT region back for future events. We are grateful to each team for exhausting all available options in an attempt to attend. Both organizations will be compensated for this unfortunate outcome, and to recognize both teams’ strong seasons.”
Due to their removal, the NA Last Chance Qualifiers tournament format will switch to accommodating the eight remaining teams who are able to attend the LAN. Riot will provide details on how it will turn out alongside its broadcast schedule in the next few days.
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Chiefs and ORDER provided a joint statement shortly after the announcement of their absence from the NA LCQ was made:
“Both the Chiefs and ORDER’s respective teams have spent months competing in various qualifiers to earn their spot in the [LCQ]. We were looking forward to being able to prove ourselves at the event, which would have been our first opportunity to face international teams and showcase what our region is capable of.
“This event was a key opportunity that was fundamental to the ecosystem as a whole. Not only was it the first VALORANT LAN event for the players, but also a huge opportunity under the spotlight for potential scouting, and invaluable international stage experience. Unfortunately, this experience is always few and far between for our region.
While this is a very disappointing outcome, to a preventable scenario, we look forward to the open dialogue we now have with Riot to improve the opportunities for the OCE region and create a structured ecosystem with relevant global pathways.”
Both teams were slated to compete alongside 100 Thieves, Version1, FaZe Clan, XSET, Luminosity Gaming, Cloud9 Blue, Gen.G, and Rise in a modified double-elimination bracket after finishing as the best from the Oceania Tour championship.
As the champions of the tour, ORDER would have faced XSET in the quarterfinals whereas the runners-up, Chiefs, played Rise in the Play-In phase.
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