2025 VCT Awards: Winners from EMEA, Pacific, and Americas
Zahk
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As the 2025 VALORANT season closes, the VCT Season Awards roll out — recognizing the players, coaches, and rising talents who defined a year of deep competition, shifting metas, and regional shake-ups. The Awards follow a transparent voting procedure: ballots are cast by broadcast talent, media members, one player, one coach and one streamer from each VCT-partnered org, with a strict prohibition on voting for one’s own roster. What emerges is not just a list of stars, but a snapshot of regional identity, power-shifts, and the evolving global meta.
EMEA VCT Awards: The Year of the Rookie Who Reloaded a Dynasty
In Europe, 2025 became the season of Kajetan “kaajak” Haremski: a breakthrough talent whose peak run reshaped the region’s power balance. Taking home Player of the Year, Duelist of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Most Improved Player, kaajak’s meteoric rise signalled more than individual excellence, it was international as well, in both the grand finals FNATIC played at Toronto and Paris. His clutch fragging and aggressive duelist style lifted Fnatic back into the conversation at the top of EMEA, and this performance came after an Ascension-winning tournament from the duelist main.
The other awards told a similar story of balance: Alfajer (Sentinel of the Year) and Ruxic (Controller of the Year) recognized teams that maintained strategic depth, while RieNs (Initiator of the Year) showcased rising versatility beyond raw aim. On the leadership side, Boaster (IGL of the Year) and Milan (Coach of the Year) underscored that behind the deep tournament runs lay tactical consistency and structured planning. Overall, the EMEA awards this year were exceptional for FNATIC, whose only regret would be failing to lift another international trophy despite multiple grand finals.
Player of the Year — Kajetan “kaajak” Haremski (Fnatic)
Rookie of the Year — kaajak (Fnatic)
Duelist of the Year — kaajak (Fnatic)
Sentinel of the Year — Emir “Alfajer” Beder (Fnatic)
Controller of the Year — Uğur “Ruxic” Güç (NAVI)
Initiator of the Year — Enes “RieNs” Ecirli (Team Heretics)
In-Game Leader (IGL) of the Year — Jake “Boaster” Howlett (Fnatic)
Most Improved Player of the Year — kaajak (Fnatic)
Coach of the Year — Milan “Milan” de Meij (Fnatic)
Image credit: Riot Games
Pacific: Paper Rex Reclaims the Throne, As New Faces Emerge
Across the Asia-Pacific region, 2025 became a return to form for Paper Rex (PRX). From the pain of missing Masters Bangkok, with their resurgence came a stunning Pacific Stage 1 Run that narrowly saw them make Toronto where they won their long-awaited Masters trophy. The Pacific awards included Player of the Year for team IGL f0rsakeN, Duelist of the Year for something, and Sentinel of the Year for d4v41.
Their dominance was further cemented by PatMen, who earned both Rookie of the Year and Initiator of the Year, and by coach alecks, named Coach of the Year. This pattern suggests PRX’s return was not a fluke: they were willing to refine their unique playstyle, integrated fresh talent, and reestablished themselves as the region’s benchmark.
But the Pacific awards weren’t all about PRX. MaKo (Controller of the Year, DRX) and HYUNMIN (Most Improved, DRX) showed that DRX, third place team at Champions Paris remain dangerous. Meanwhile crazyguy’s nod as IGL of the Year for RRQ pointed to depth beyond the dominant roster, especially considering RRQ’s domestic consistency. The 2025 Pacific awards reflect a region where a top team can reassert dominance, yet underdogs and newcomers still find pathways to rise.
Rookie of the Year — Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza (Paper Rex)
Duelist of the Year — Ilia “something” Petrov (Paper Rex)
Sentinel of the Year — Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee (Paper Rex)
Controller of the Year — Kim “MaKo” Myeong-kwan (DRX)
Initiator of the Year — PatMen (Paper Rex)
In-Game Leader (IGL) of the Year — Ngô “crazyguy” Công Anh (RRQ)
Most Improved Player of the Year — Song “HYUNMIN” Hyun-min (DRX)
Coach of the Year — Alexandre “alecks” Sallé (Paper Rex)
Player of the Year — Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto (Paper Rex)
Americas: Legacy, Structure, and New Blood — A Region in Flux
In the Americas, 2025 highlighted both legendary consistency and rising fraggers. Erick “aspas” Santos (MIBR) clinched Player of the Year and Duelist of the Year, reaffirming his reputation as arguably the region’s most reliable carry — a benchmark for fragging output and competitive longevity.
At the same time, Brock “brawk” Somerhalder (NRG) stunned the region by taking home Rookie of the Year and Initiator of the Year. His meteoric ascent reminded fans that new stars can emerge and influence metas, such as brawk displayed with his Odin gameplay and consistency in his role on the team especially in Paris. G2 Esports held ground too: leaf captured Sentinel of the Year, and valyn earned Controller of the Year, reinforcing the continued value of role-specialization and map control.
On the tactical front, Ethan (IGL of the Year) and bonkar (Coach of the Year, NRG) proved that team structure and leadership matter as much as raw aim. Cortezia (Most Improved) capped off MIBR’s resurgence toward the tail end of the year.
The Americas awards underscore a region balancing legacy and renewal, honoring proven elite performance.
Player of the Year — Erick “aspas” Santos (MIBR)
Duelist of the Year — aspas (MIBR)
Sentinel of the Year — Nathan “leaf” Orf (G2 Esports)
Controller of the Year — Jacob “valyn” Batio (G2 Esports)
Initiator of the Year — Brock “brawk” Somerhalder (NRG)
Rookie of the Year — brawk (NRG)
In-Game Leader (IGL) of the Year — Ethan “Ethan” Arnold (NRG)
Most Improved Player of the Year — Gabriel “cortezia” Cortez (MIBR)
Coach of the Year — Malkolm “bonkar” Rench (NRG)
2025’s VCT Season Awards weren’t simply about crowning the best players. They were a snapshot of regional stories. EMEA told the story of a breakout rookie backed by a historic dynasty. Pacific showed a resurgence, with Paper Rex reclaiming dominance, bolstered by regional depth. Americas reminded fans that legends like aspas can continue to shine and international newcomers like brawk can immediately have their impact by doing something new. If 2025 was about the rise of new talent shaped by old veterans, 2026 is shaping up to be about challenge and evolution, especially with the patch changes and new rosters.
Zahk plays and watches a lot of video games, especially Valorant, when she’s home, and travels the world the rest of the time, usually a book in hand. She loves telling stories, coffee, and living life like an adventure.
