“The only thing that tops a Champs win is doing it twice”: NRG Ethan eyes VALORANT Champions 2025 title

As 16 VCT groups gear up for VALORANT Champions 2025, which is about to kick off later right this moment, NRG’s Ethan ‘Ethan’ Arnold goals to make historical past.

The in-game chief (IGL) is certainly one of three gamers at VALORANT Champions that hail from Evil Geniuses’ 2023 championship-winning roster. His new staff certified for the biggest international occasion of the yr with an sudden second-place end in VCT Americas Stage 2.

Now the VCT veteran has the chance to raise his second Champions trophy.

“The one factor that may prime a Champs win is doing it twice, in order that’s the aim,” revealed Ethan in a latest press convention.

All through greater than 4 years of competing in VALORANT, Ethan has represented a number of notable North American esports organisations. Beginning with 100 Thieves, the initiator participant joined NRG for the 2022 season earlier than he was ultimately signed by Evil Geniuses (EG).

Most of Ethan’s former EG teammates moved to different organisations following the organisation’s 2023 run, and now they reunite in Paris below completely different banners.

Alexander ‘jawgemo’ Mor has simply gained his third consecutive VCT Americas title as a part of G2 Esports, whereas Maximilian ‘Demon1’ Mazanov is a last-minute signing for Chinese language Ascension staff Dragon Ranger Gaming.

Nevertheless, the three are by far not the one ones seeking to break data at Champions 2025. Final yr’s Champions winner, EDward Gaming, has additionally returned from VCT China to defend its title and turn into the primary back-to-back VALORANT Champion.

In the meantime, a few of VCT’s greatest names, Fnatic and Sentinels, have set their eyes on a 3rd worldwide trophy.

The Evil Geniuses gamers of 2023 had been headed for his or her first Champions event after struggling a devastating 0-3 loss towards Fnatic at Masters Tokyo in the identical yr.

Two years later, Ethan returns to VALORANT’s greatest stage backed by a robust efficiency in Stage 2 that few NRG followers noticed coming. Solely within the Grand Ultimate might NRG be stopped of their tracks by G2 (1-3).

In keeping with Ethan, each organisations have formed his development as a participant and in his present IGL position.

“I feel I took lots from the EG staff and from my earlier gamers on NRG additionally. I’ve performed with numerous completely different IGLs. I’ve discovered lots, and I kinda attempt to issue all the things into my very own gameplay and make a distinct spin on it,” shared the 2023 Champion.

When requested if this being NRG’s first Champs attendance since 2023 would improve the strain on the roster, Ethan replied: “I don’t suppose it provides any strain that wasn’t already there. I feel we accomplished our aim in qualifying for Champs. That was our first aim, and now, we’re simply enjoying it match by match.”

As an alternative, Ethan views his staff’s underdog place in Paris as a confidence increase.

“I feel being considerably of an underdog helps in your psychological, going right into a event like this with such stacked groups,” defined the participant.

Apparently, NRG’s first opponent at Champions 2025 will probably be none aside from EDward Gaming. On September thirteenth, followers will get to see which of the 2 groups units itself up for a record-breaking event run.