Champions spotlight: s0m's consistency to bolster NRG's chances in LA

With just under a week remaining until VCT 2023 - Champions, an event widely regarded as the pinnacle of VALORANT Champions Tour, it's only fitting to cast a spotlight on the standout performers poised to grace the stage in Los Angeles. Emerging from the Americas region, it is Sam "s0m" Oh from NRG Esports who made the cut this time.

After a challenging conclusion to the VALORANT Champions Tour 2022, NRG took the bold step of revamping their entire roster, retaining only s0m. Upon gaining entry to Riot’s partner program, they embarked on a process of reinvention, meticulously assembling a new team by gradually integrating components from the renowned OpTic core. These new team members harmoniously aligned around s0m, a steadfast presence in NRG since October 2020, when VALORANT first emerged as an esports contender.

s0m remains a steady presence for NRG

Throughout the 2021 VALORANT season, s0m played a pivotal role in the team's journey, participating in and securing qualification for numerous Challenger events against formidable regional adversaries. Despite encountering formidable competition, the team's highest achievement that year was a 3rd place finish in Challengers Stage 2 and a 2nd place in Nerd Street Gamers Summer Championship.

Even amid significant changes to the roster at the close of the 2021 season, s0m remained the unwavering constant. His consistent performance garnered support from the organization and a resolute belief in his abilities, a belief reaffirmed even after the complete roster overhaul following VCT 2022. In the realm of VCT 2022, NRG navigated their way through the challenges, participating in the NA Challengers events through qualifiers due to the absence of direct invitations. Despite their best efforts, they fell short of securing spots in the Masters events, leaving them on the outside looking in at international LAN gatherings.

A key factor in NRG's VCT 2023 achievements

With the advent of VCT 2023, NRG underwent a transformational change by acquiring the OpTic core. Their debut in the LOCK//IN Sau Paulo tournament featured a 5th-8th place finish among 30 competing teams, with their sole loss against their regional rivals, LOUD. Subsequent to this opening tournament, the franchised league's regular season began. Despite initial struggles, the team recaptured their rhythm and secured a respectable 3rd place in the Group Stages, marked by a commendable 6-3 record.

This achievement propelled them into the Playoffs, where a shaky beginning gave way to an extraordinary Lower Bracket journey that culminated in the Grand Finals against the formidable Brazilian powerhouse, LOUD. Despite showcasing enhanced chemistry and strategic play, their opponent proved insurmountable, compelling them to settle for 2nd place. Yet, this accomplishment secured them a coveted berth at Masters Tokyo, the exclusive international LAN event in VCT 2023 alongside the Champions event.

s0m's contributions within the Americas league garnered recognition, particularly his instrumental role in the Lower Bracket finals where his adept handling of Omen and Astra prevented NRG's elimination, propelling them to the Grand Finals. Regrettably, his team could not fully capitalize on this chance, falling short of clinching the Americas title. Among the global elite of 12 teams, including three from the Americas, NRG's performance in the Group Stages and valiant Lower Bracket Playoff run impressed, only to face an unforeseen defeat at the hands of the unexpectedly formidable APAC contender, Paper Rex.

Throughout the various tournaments, s0m consistently ranked among the top 5 players on the leaderboard, with a particularly noteworthy showing during Masters Tokyo, where he stood alone as the preeminent Americas player. His reputation as a standout player was well-established leading into the tournament, a distinction earned through his ability to adapt across multiple roles while maintaining impressive consistency, as evidenced by THESPIKE.GG's rating. Across the league, s0m exhibited versatility, experimenting with five different agents, later narrowing his focus to Harbor and Omen, occasionally employing Astra and Brimstone due to shifting meta dynamics.

What do the numbers say?

It is only fair to take a look at the statistics quantifying s0m’s performance at the VCT events to gain a better understanding of the impact s0m has had. s0m played a total of 1307 rounds, maintaining an impressive average rating of 1.15, supported by a robust 207 Average Combat Score (ACS). His prowess further manifests in a commendable 1.17 Kill/Death ratio (K/D) and a 132 Average Damage Per Round (ADR). He finished the LOCK/IN tournament 10th overall in Player rating (minimum 100 rounds played), while placing 4th in the Americas League with a 1.14 rating on 205 ACS and finally 5th in Masters Tokyo with 1.17 rating on 209 ACS. These metrics serve as a testament to s0m's unwavering dedication and skill, reflecting his instrumental role in propelling NRG to achieve remarkable heights.

As the journey to Champions 2023 unfolds, s0m undoubtedly stands as a player to anticipate, backed by his rich legacy in VCT over the past two years. His integral role within this new lineup has rallied a fervent fan base, positioning NRG as a flagship NA representative in the event.

Make sure to follow s0m's and NRG's journey in Los Angeles by visiting our VALORANT Champions 2023 event page!