LOUD’s Journey: From Champions To Crisis

LOUD, once revered as Brazilian VALORANT world champions in 2022, is currently in a difficult phase. The organization is on the verge of separating from its head coach Jordan “stk” Nunes. A significant transformation has shifted its position from being a dominant esports force to a team struggling to stay relevant.

Issues Leading to LOUD’s Decline

LOUD, after its triumphant reign in the 2022 VALORANT Champions and solid performance through 2023, had a challenging 2024 season. This rocky path consisted of a series of issues:

• Qualification Failure: 2024 marked the first time LOUD could not qualify for VALORANT Champions. This setback considerably affected their image and morale.
• Disturbances in Team Formation: Significant shifts in the team resulted in prominent departures such as Saadhak, their IGL and consistent leader, and Less, a promising young talent in Brazilian VALORANT.
• Performance Struggles: Despite achieving the second place in the 2024 VCT Americas Kickoff, a steady decline in performance followed. They just about made it to VCT Americas Stage 1 playoffs, only to be defeated early by 100 Thieves.
• Changes in Coaching and Staff: Following poor results, LOUD decided to let go of their head coach Pedro “peu” Lopes after Stage 2.

Main Roster Departures

The exits of Saadhak and Less marked significant moments in LOUD’s journey:

• End of Saadhak’s Tenure: Saadhak, a key figure in LOUD’s success story as an IGL, left after more than two years. His exit created a leadership vacuum. He later joined Karmine Corp.
• Transfer of Less: Less, a prodigious sentinel who joined LOUD at the age of 16, transferred to Team Vitality in Europe, bringing his primary stint with the organization to an end.

LOUD’s Rebuild for the Upcoming 2025 Season

LOUD has since taken notable measures to reshape their roster for the forthcoming 2025 season:

• New Team Players: Vinicius ‘v1nny’ Gonçalves signed on as the new IGL, bringing along invaluable experience and strategy. They also hired Douglas ‘dgzin’ Silva, an aggressive Duelist.
• Existing Core: pANcada, tuyz, and cauanzin continue to be instrumental to the team.
• Potential Youth Prospects: LOUD has expressed interest in young talents Sato and lukxo, but age restrictions will delay their official joining until later in the year. The young duo may be added as substitute players to strengthen the roster.

Bigger Picture

Several important factors contribute to LOUD’s current predicament:

• Competitive Pressure: The dramatic change in LOUD’s performance underscores the 2024 season as a period of intense, unpredictable competition in VALORANT.
• Organization’s Response: Changes in both player departures and coaching illustrate a clear disposition to regain their former dominance.
• Key Players’ Global Moves: Former LOUD players are now improving the performance of major teams in other regions. For instance, Less is with Team Vitality in Europe, and Saadhak has moved to Karmine Corp in EMEA.

Expectations for the Future

LOUD’s revamped team for 2025 indicates a strong desire to reclaim their position among VALORANT’s elite. By mixing experience, championship pedigree, and fresh talents, LOUD strives to overcome their recent downturn.

As the 2025 season commences, all eyes will be on LOUD. Fans, analysts, and competitors alike are keen to see if LOUD’s transformation yields a comeback.