We are still awaiting information on the replacements and timing for both released rosters.
Relegation Battles in the Play-In Stage
Right from the start of the NA Split 2 Challengers tournament, things were not going well for both teams. Disguised performed poorly in their group, managing to win just one game against Shopify Rebellion and Turtle Troop out of a total of twelve matches. Mad Lions had a slightly better showing with a 4-9 record, securing a victory over G2 Esports with a 2-1 scoreline.
Four headshots and a clutch to win a crucial round! What an amazing round from @Bjorlulu!@MADLions_EN | #ChallengersNAhttps://t.co/IdLJzBaWrP pic.twitter.com/0EyP8vaSux
— VALORANT Esports NA (@valesports_na) June 4, 2023
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As a result of their underwhelming performance in the group stage, both teams ended up in the Play-In Relegation stage. To provide some context, in this Play-In stage, the bottom two teams from each group must compete with the goal of securing a top-two finish to qualify for the 2024 Challengers NA.
This is how the Play-In stage unfolded:
| Opening Matches | Winners Match | Qualified |
| Turtle Troop vs Mad Lions (2:0) | Turtle Troop vs OREsports (2:0) | Turtle Troop |
| Disguised vs OREsports (0:2) | ||
| Elimination Match | ||
| Mad Lions vs Disguised (2:0) | OREsports vs Mad Lions (2:1) | OREsports |
And that's a wrap on the Play-In Relegation series for #ChallengersNA @OREsportteam takes victory against @MADLions_EN, GGs! pic.twitter.com/muzdk80qPX
— VALORANT Esports NA (@valesports_na) June 6, 2023
Disguised Toast Dissolves His Valorant DSG Roster
The official statement was made by Toast himself:
As we've been relegated from the VCT Challenger league, we have released our players and coach from our roster as we re-evaluate the future of DSG in the Valorant scene.Thank you to the players for this incredible first year and we wish them all the best.
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Their release is a direct consequence of relegation, and it is currently uncertain whether they will form a new roster or take a break from Valorant. The community has shown appreciation for Toast's impact on the Tier 2 scene, with Steel being recognized as the standout player during their time together.
DSG forever pic.twitter.com/anvWoLWa7O
— * (@granolacrumb) June 9, 2023
DSG's entry into the competitive Valorant Tier 2 scene brought a fresh perspective and may pave the way for similar teams to emerge.
Mad Lions Considering an Exit from Valorant After Disbanding Their Roster
Shortly after suffering relegation, Mad Lions made the decision to disband their entire Valorant roster, including the coaching staff. Mad Lions returned to the scene in January after an absence of nearly a year. They made their mark by signing Dark Ratio, one of the six teams that qualified for the Challengers League.
With our relegation from #ChallengersNA, we are releasing @Bjorlulu, @N4RRATE, @Ange_AMIL, @TrickAIM, and @BlackHeartVAL. We thank the players for the efforts and wish them the best in their futures. pic.twitter.com/oSYVkvbUnf
— MAD Lions English (@MADLions_EN) June 8, 2023
The team didn't experience significant improvements. They failed to qualify for the Mid-Season Faceoff due to poor performance, finishing with a 1-4 record in the qualifications. Just before the start of Split 2, they made two new signings, with "Blackheart" and "Bjor" joining the team. Bjor's signing was particularly noteworthy, as he delivered multiple impressive performances in both the Group Stage and the Relegation Play-in battles.
We would like to announce @bjorlulu joining the MAD Lions VALORANT Starting Roster! Welcome to the team!#ChallengersNA pic.twitter.com/6OblacJPkv
— MAD Lions English (@MADLions_EN) April 18, 2023
Following the team's decision to drop the squad, Ange made the following statement:
With @MADLions leaving valorant i am now a F/A. All love<3 they treated us very well. As for me, I didn't perform to my standards this year. I know I can do so much better, this season has taught me a lot. I will be continuing to grind and become more consistent this offseason.
The official statement from Mad Lions did not explicitly state that they were completely leaving the game, but it seems Ange has revealed the truth. It appears that his "gossip" is turning out to be accurate. Similar to DSG, Mad Lions made a significant impact in the competitive scene by venturing into North America and putting their faith in young talents to pursue their dreams after achieving great success.
A 1v3 @Ange_AMIL can handle!@MADLions_EN | #ChallengersNA https://t.co/ZtPfjfJCiW pic.twitter.com/D7fLHmoV1B
— VALORANT Esports NA (@valesports_na) June 5, 2023
Let's hope Mad Lions reconsider their decision and recruit new Valorant prodigies to continue their competitive journey.
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