Demon1 slams stage setup at VALORANT Champions

Former Champions winner and Dragon Ranger Gaming’s latest signing, Max "Demon1" Mazanov, did not hold back while sharing his experience at the recent VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Valorant Champions stage. On his stream, which was later clipped and shared across social media, he described the venue as the "the worst stage I have ever played on in my entire life.” He even went as far as to say it felt like competing in a basement with a minimal setup.

He compared the monitors provided to using a phone with apps sliding open, citing extreme ghosting, screen tearing, and sluggish performance. While the PCs themselves didn’t drop FPS, he emphasized that the display quality dramatically affected his gameplay, likening it to playing on a 60Hz monitor.

It is important to note that Demon1 is so far the only player to have been a part of this year's Champions to complain about the stage setup in Paris. Additionally, it's worth noting that the Finals will be played out at a different venue, the Accor Arena located in the center of Paris.

Complaints about venue quality

The setup, according to him, was shockingly underwhelming for a premier tournament like Champions. He pointed out that the stage consisted of a very barebones setup, calling it far below expectations for the year’s biggest event.

“That’s what you bring out for Champs? A basement, a gate, and a couple stools that are five dollars?”

Demon1 even compared it to VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - China Stage 2’s grand finals, saying the regional tournament looked far better than what Riot delivered on the global stage. His harsh comments reflect his frustration, as he felt players deserved more after a year of grinding for Champions.

Balancing fun and frustration

Despite his anger, the former Evil Geniuses man still acknowledged that he enjoyed the overall experience of playing at Champions. The camaraderie with his teammates carried the event for him, even if the stage itself failed to meet expectations.

“It was fun with the guys… honestly, despite the language barrier, it was a hell of a fun experience.”

Demon1 also spoke about his in-game roles during the tournament. Taking on responsibilities as a Sentinel and Controller, he noted how simple some roles could be in coordinated comms. His biggest challenge came with playing Cypher, which required more preparation. He expressed pride in how much his Cypher improved during the event, calling it one of the main positives of his Champions run.

Back to his own setup

For Demon1, Champions was both a memorable and frustrating experience. While he cherished the international stage with his new teammates and the chance to improve his Cypher, the poor stage setup left a sour taste. Missing his home monitor setup, he stressed how production quality can deeply affect competitive play at the highest level.

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Featured image source: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games.