Red Bull Instalock Returns: Mimi of G2 Gozen Talks Triple-Duelists, Evolving Esports, and the Power of Storylines

The Red Bull Gaming Sphere in London is set to come alive from May 2 as Red Bull Instalock 2025 returns for its second edition. As the UK’s premier professional women’s VALORANT event, Instalock offers a fresh take on competitive play by requiring teams to run three Duelists - a twist designed to spark high-octane, aggressive gameplay.

Four Game Changers rosters - G2 Gozen, GIANTX GC, FlyQuest RED, and Falcons VEGA - will battle it out in what could be one of the most entertaining events for women's VALORANT outside of Riot’s official VCT Game Changers series.

Ahead of the action, we sat down with G2 Gozen’s Michaela "mimi" Lintrup to discuss the format’s chaotic charm, VALORANT's current meta, and how she sees the evolution of women’s esports through her veteran lens.

Starting off with who she was most eager to face, Mimi didn’t hesitate: Falcons Vega.

“I know that it's going to be a really hard matchup because, well, they have some really, really great shooters. All five of them could easily run a duelist,” she said. “It's all about adaptation. Whoever is best at adapting in the moment will basically be the winner.”

Despite the unpredictability that comes with a triple Duelist format, Mimi is hopeful that the team’s experience from last year’s event will pay off.

Strats, Formats and Metas

Although mimi remains secretive about specific role assignments, the team’s overall approach to Instalock is rooted in improvisation. Rather than dedicating large chunks of practice time solely to the format, they are opting to continue their regular training regimen and treat Instalock as a unique test of on-the-fly decision making.

This perspective reflects a broader truth about the event: preparing for a three Duelist requirement is unlike preparing for standard matches. The absence of a conventional meta means that teams can’t rely on pre-established compositions or playbooks. Instead, success hinges on a team’s ability to communicate, adjust, and capitalize on chaos.

“We’re not going to do any real preparation for the tournament… We’re definitely going to talk about it when we’re there to figure things out. But we’re not going to take days off our usual practice schedule to prepare... You cannot really expect anything. It’s better to kind of adapt in the moment and understand the situation when you’re there”

Despite its popularity and innovation, she believes that formats like Instalock are best suited for offseason events. The idea of enforcing composition restrictions in VCT or Game Changers events could prove controversial, especially among pros who value creative freedom in how they build their strategies.

Still, Instalock has found its niche as a fun and engaging alternative to standard play. It allows players to step outside the boundaries of traditional competition, experiment with different roles, and entertain fans with explosive, fast-paced matches.

“I don’t think something like this would have a place in VCT or Game Changers... Having set rules on how to approach the game wouldn’t sit well with players in the circuit.”

Looking beyond Instalock, Mimi also shared her thoughts on VALORANT’s ever evolving meta. While she appreciates the strategic depth that utility-heavy compositions bring, there’s a sense of longing for simpler days — when gunplay took center stage and matches were more straightforward.

In particular, she’s critical of the current dominance of agents like Breach and Tejo, whose overwhelming utility makes them almost mandatory in top-level play. This over-reliance on specific agents can create a stale competitive environment, and there’s growing consensus among pros that balance changes are needed to reintroduce diversity and unpredictability into the meta.

"I definitely miss a little bit the Chamber meta now. When you have so much utility, you kind of miss the simple days. But I do think that it's a different kind of playstyle, and you have a lot of possibilities with Breach, Tejo."

Instalock, by forcing players to abandon conventional wisdom, offers a refreshing alternative. Even if the format won’t be adopted into official VCT matches, it serves as a reminder of how fun and engaging VALORANT can be when the rules are turned on their head.

The Evolution of Women’s Esports: Broader Visibility and the Road to VCT

According to mimi, the most meaningful impact of Red Bull Instalock lies in its role as a platform for marginalized genders in esports. By organizing a high-profile LAN event exclusively for women’s teams, Red Bull provides visibility and validation for a segment of the competitive scene that has historically been underrepresented.

For players like Mimi, Instalock is more than just another tournament. It’s a celebration of progress. Compared to a decade ago — when women’s esports was far smaller and less organized — the growth is undeniable. There are more teams, more talent, and more opportunities than ever before.

“10 years ago, you would see the same names over and over... Now, everyone has improved so much, and there’s so much more talent,” she said. “Riot being directly involved with Game Changers makes the whole scene way more serious.”

She believes that events like Instalock amplify this growth by drawing in fans who might not otherwise engage with the Game Changers circuit. Unique formats, fun narratives, and strong branding help widen the audience, while also offering younger players a glimpse of what a career in competitive VALORANT could look like.

While Instalock celebrates women’s competition, there’s a parallel conversation about how to help top talent transition into the broader VCT ecosystem. Riot Games has made it clear that Game Changers is not an endpoint, but a stepping stone — a pipeline into the highest tiers of VALORANT.

Players like florescent, who made the jump to co-ed play with Apex, have already demonstrated that this pathway is viable. According to Mimi, the system is there — it’s just up to players and teams to make the leap. She sees the VCL and Game Changers as interconnected avenues for progression and emphasizes that qualifying for the VCT must still be merit-based.

"I feel like we have great stepping stones. We have the GC scene, we have VCL, we have multiple, especially in Europe, that's what I can speak for... And of course, it's all about being good enough. Nobody wants to see a GC player who's not good enough to compete in VCT."

That said, there are still ways Riot and tournament organizers can better support the scene. One of her suggestion was to introduce cosmetic bundles tied to Game Changers events. Not only would this offer fans a way to support their favorite teams, but it would also provide financial incentives for organizations to invest more seriously in the women’s scene. She also advocates for more regional LAN events, which help prepare players for the pressure of major international tournaments.

Closing Statements

Finally, when asked about what a dream VALORANT event might look like, Mimi doesn’t stray too far from reality. For her, events like Champions already represent the pinnacle — professionally run, internationally celebrated, and steeped in competitive integrity. From her perspective, it’s the offline experience, the pageantry, and the level of care given to players that make such events unforgettable.

“For me, Champs is my dream event. You really get to have the full event experience - it’s the best event I’ve ever been to.”

You can watch the full interview below:

Don’t Miss Red Bull Instalock The second edition of Red Bull Instalock kicks off May 2nd and 3rd at the Red Bull Gaming Sphere, London. With four Game Changers teams, unpredictable compositions, and the promise of a wild exhibition match, it’s shaping up to be a weekend full of action and unforgettable moments.

Will G2 Gozen adapt fast enough to take the win? Or will the other teams be too much to handle? Tune in and find out.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: Jesper Gronnemark / Red Bull Content Pool