However, betting fans who are not yet very familiar with eSports might have at least one player clan in mind, if only because of the name – the Ninjas in Pyjamas. The Swedish team first caused a stir in this country a few years ago with its major sponsorship deal with a bookmaker. The Ninjas in Pyjamas, supported by betway, are moving to Brazil.
In sporting terms, things haven't really been that great for the Valorant team in recent months, so the Scandinavians have now decided to take a spectacular step. The Valorant line-up has been reorganized and will play in Brazil in the coming season.
The reasons for the move to Brazil
What are the Swedes doing in South America? The question of the fans is justified. But behind the switch is a well-calculated consideration that could actually pay off for the Ninjas in Pyjamas.
Qualification for major events much easier
So far, the Valorant team has been competing in the EMEA, the European Association. The competition in Europe is huge. The provider Riot Games has ranked the European continent as the strongest region. Qualifying for the main events is extremely difficult for the local teams.
In purely mathematical terms, it's easier in South America. In Brazil, ten teams will play the Challenger, while 12 teams will compete in Europe. The opportunities for success are the decisive point that persuaded the team management to make the change. Nevertheless, the region has two guaranteed starting places for the VCT Masters.
Ninjas in Pyjamas already successful with Rainbow Six in Brazil
The second relevant fact is the level of awareness and marketing in Brazil. The Ninjas in Pyjamas are already known on the continent and have a corresponding fan following there. Responsible for the popularity is the Rainbow Six line-up of the Swedes. They are now to follow suit with Valorant.
The past Valorant season of the Swedes
In the past season in Europe, the Ninjas in Pyjamas have consistently shown “weak” performances. The team has remained far below its own expectations. They failed to qualify for the first Europe Masters event. In the second stage they also played underground, so that nothing was heard of the Ninjas in Pyjamas for months afterwards. Consequently, the squad was completely thrown out the door at the end of the year.
In Brazil, the clan will now compete with completely new players, specifically:
@xandfps (Brazil)
@bnjssj (Argentina)
@gabrielbezn (Brazil)
@cauanzinvlr (Brazil)
@jonnfps (Brazil)
The new Valorant team will be coached by @RoYnaldin (Brazil).
The competition in the Brazilian region
The Ninjas in Pyjamas naturally have some pressure to succeed in the new South American season. They are automatically among the favorites. If you look at the competition, making it to the VCT Masters is actually a must. The team managers will not give their players much time. If they don't achieve the desired results, they could decide to change their strategy again after two or three years.
From our point of view, the fact is that there are a number of long-established teams competing in Brazil that have made some positive headlines, especially in the past year. We are thinking primarily of representatives such as the Sharks, Team Vikings, Keyd Stars and FURIA Esports.
