A force of nature has been brewing in Brazil. In February, LOUD Valorant entered the scene with a brand new roster that combined veteran experience with talented young upstarts looking to make a name for themselves.
It was a formula that top North American seed The Guard had also adopted, with stunning success in the VCT NA Stage 1 Challengers.
Originally competing as free agents under the banner Pancada e Amigos, the team caught the attention of LOUD after a flawless run during the qualifiers for VCT Brazil Stage 1 Challengers.
Featuring former Team Vikings players Gustavo “Sacy” Rossi and Matias “Saadhak” Delipetro, both of whom put up big numbers at Valorant Champions 2021 as an initiator and sentinel, LOUD’s Valorant team was ready to make its mark on the game.
The trio of Erick “aspas” Santos, Felipe “Less” Basso, and Bryan “pANcada” Luna rounded out the team, fueled by sheer mechanical talent and a hunger to put Brazil on the world map.
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The sky’s the limit for LOUD Valorant
LOUD quickly put the local competition on notice that there was a new king in town. After sailing through the qualifiers, the team extended its undefeated streak into the group stage and playoffs, finding wins over storied names like Liberty, Keyd Stars, and Ninjas in Pyjamas.
Out of 31 maps played in Stage 1, LOUD has dropped just two. No team in Brazil has come close to challenging the new titans – they ended up sweeping the second-placed Ninjas in Pyjamas 3-0 twice in the upper bracket final and grand final, leaving no doubt about who is the top dog.
Saadhak boasts an incredibly diverse agent pool, with the ability to flex onto KAY/O, Skye, Breach, Chamber, and even Raze.
Sacy has already made a reputation for himself as one of the best Sova players in the game, combining flawless utility usage with impeccably-timed aggression to put his team ahead.
And after his stellar showing in VCT Brazil Stage 1 Challengers, 18-year-old aspas has made a strong case for himself as the best Jett player in a region known for its raw firepower. His 1.80 K/D puts him lightyears ahead of his peers in Brazil, and he will be looking to match that performance at Masters Reykjavik in Iceland.
As Brazil’s top seed, LOUD is now waiting in the playoffs bracket for their opponent. This will be the roster’s first real test against international competition, but if LOUD continues to show the solid fundamentals they displayed in VCT Brazil, teams would be remiss to overlook them.
After disappointing finishes for Brazil at international events last year, the country may now have a real shot at redemption.
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