Japan esports team Northeption qualifies for 'Valorant' world c'ships for 1st time
(Mainichi Japan)
SAITAMA -- Japan-based professional esports team Northeption has qualified for the "Valorant" competitive shooting game world championships by securing victory in the national champions tour for the first time on June 26.
The playoff finals of the "2022 Valorant Champions Tour Challengers Japan Stage2" were held at Saitama Super Arena near Tokyo on June 25-26. Northeption will compete in the Masters Copenhagen world championships to be held in July representing Japan.
In the final of the Japan tour, Northeption faced off against defending champion Zeta Division under the best-of-five rule. The challengers got off to a solid start, picking up a win in the first game, but lost the second one. Northeption then regrouped to clinch the next two games to defeat Zeta Division.
Explaining the key to the team's success, captain BlackWiz said, "We were all in good form today and morale was high. Our confidence led us to victory." He added, "We'd like to show in the world championships that Japan has what it takes to win."
Three teams -- Northeption, Zeta Division and Crazy Raccoon -- battled it out in the playoff finals, with a total of some 26,000 spectators in attendance over the two days.
(Japanese original by Yusuke Kiyono, Sports Project Department)
