TSM exits VALORANT after second-place finish at Ascension Americas

On November 3, 2025, TSM publicly announced its withdrawal from VALORANT esports. In a statement on social media, the organisation remarked that the departure marked the end of a ‘half-decade in VALORANT,’ adding that there is ‘no immediate return in sight.’ The announcement cited the evolving structure of the tier two ecosystem — including new promotion and relegation rules and the expanded Game Changers pathway — as factors in their decision to exit rather than persist in what had become a more demanding competitive environment.

A Storied Entry, A Difficult Climb

TSM entered the VALORANT scene in May 2020, among the pioneers stepping into the burgeoning competitive ecosystem of the game. With early promise — highlighting former Counter-Strike professionals and marquee names like Wardell and Subroza, the organisation quickly positioned itself as one of the prominent North American contenders. However, the years that followed proved more challenging. Despite making appearances in various Challengers and Ascension events, TSM repeatedly fell short of reaching the tier one VCT partnership leagues or securing a global berth.

Signs of Progress and a Final Surge

Over the past few years, TSM recalibrated its strategy, with the organisation admitting that ‘throughout the last three years we have continuously navigated the Challengers circuit in the hopes of finally reaching Tier 1.’  Their efforts culminated in 2025 with one of their most promising showings: reaching the Grand Final of the VCT Ascension Americas event on October 26. The team claimed the runners-up position and earned prize money, representing a tangible mark after years of effort. Despite this late push, the goal of securing a partnership spot or promotion into a Tier 1 league remained elusive.

Reflection on Results and Operations

Throughout its VALORANT journey, TSM managed notable successes, including a runner-up finish at First Strike: North America early in the title’s competitive era. Still, the organisation never quite broke through to the highest tier. Its final roster in 2025 featured Jordan “vora” Pulwer, Johann “seven” Hernandez, Anthony “gMd” Guimond, and stand-ins Timothée “Timotino” Lavigne Dupont and Alvin “alvinboy” Hong, coached by Laurynas “Nbs” Kisielius. While these players helped steer TSM to its last major run and top two Ascension finish, the long-term ambition of achieving tier one status and consistent international appearances remained unmet.

Legacy, Impact and What Comes Next

TSM’s exit marks the end of a significant chapter in North American VALORANT. As one of the game’s early adopters in esports, the organisation helped shape the region’s competitive narrative. Fans and analysts alike noted the nostalgia tied to the black-and-white banner’s early rosters and the clashes against top NA teams. Meanwhile, the decision underlines the changing landscape of VALORANT outside partnership leagues: increased costs, higher competition, and structural shifts mean even prominent brands are reassessing their involvement. For TSM’s roster and staff, free agency now opens the path for new alignments, whether as part of other organizations or restructured squads formed anew.

While TSM continues to operate in other esports titles such as Apex Legends, Halo and Rocket League, its departure from VALORANT underlines the unforgiving nature of the competitive scene and the evolving calculus for organizations engaging with tier two ecosystems. As TSM steps away, the question remains whether they might return under different conditions, and what the broader VALORANT ecosystem learns from their experience.