Esports infrastructure company Nerd Street Gamers has been named as an operator and producer for the 2021 VALORANT Champions Tour.
The deal will see Nerd Street Gamers lead registrations, operate, and produce all Challengers and Masters events taking place from January until March. After March, another company will be selected to host subsequent events.
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The company was selected by publisher Riot Games, which unveiled details on the Champions Tour back in November 2020.
John Fazio, CEO of Nerd Street Gamers, spoke on the news in a release: “It’s an honour to be a part of VALORANT’s growth since its launch last summer. Riot Games’ efforts to provide opportunities for all gamers aligns with our own mission and further expands the esports landscape.
“We are incredibly proud of the work we’ve done with Riot including powering the first North American Ignition Series and hosting the largest all-women VALORANT tournament. Producing the inaugural Champions Tour takes our collaboration to the next level and cements a foundation for the long term growth and sustainability of the path-to-pro ecosystem.”
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Based in Philadelphia, Nerd Street Gamers is no stranger to tournament operations in VALORANT. Throughout 2020, the company joined forces with the likes of T1 and FaZe Clan to host Ignition Series tournaments prior to Riot Games unveiling a new structure for VALORANT esports.
Chris Greeley, Director of Esports at Riot Games, also commented on the collaboration: “Since the launch of VALORANT, Nerd Street Gamers has been a strong supporter of competitive VALORANT in North America. We are confident that the 2021 Champions Tour will help elevate North American teams to the next level.
“With various VALORANT tournaments under their belt, Nerd Street Gamers was a strong choice to partner with for the first stage of the Champions Tour. We’re excited to continue our partnership with Nerd Street Gamers and continue to build the esports ecosystem together.”
The first Challengers event takes place from January 27th until February 7th, while the opening stage of the Masters tournament begins on March 19th.
Esports Insider says: Armed with a wealth of experience in hosting and producing VALORANT tournaments, it comes as no surprise to see Nerd Street Gamers appointed by Riot Games to operate the first stage of the 2021 Champions Tour.