Valorant Victory: Esports Team Earns First Tournament Title

Tritons battle back from early deficit to win at UCEI event

Using tenacity, teamwork, and a flair for the dramatic, the UC San Diego Esports team recently claimed a milestone tournament victory at the University of California Esports Initiative championship in Santa Monica.

The University of California Esports Initiative (UCEI) is a coalition of esports programs in the UC system striving to elevate collegiate esports through student development. This year, the third-annual UCEI Invitational was held on January 17 through 19 at Red Bull Headquarters. The event brings together the top four UC Esports teams — decided from a qualifying bracket in October and November — to compete in League of Legends, Valorant, and Overwatch 2. This was the first year UCEI also incorporated a student-run Super Smash Bros Ultimate tournament, which was run by UC San Diego Esports student-leader Harrison Valdéz.

For UC San Diego, the excitement picked up on Saturday when our team competed for the Valorant championship.

“After last year’s performance, we came into UCEI with a completely different mindset and goal," UC San Diego Esports player Emanoel "Emon" Agbayani says. "From the GOAT Kobe Bryant: Once you know what failure feels like, determination chases success. And well, we all know what happened next."

In the finale, the team trailed 1-9 early and 3-9 at the start of the second half. Showing true resilience, the team battled back to tie the score 12-12 and force overtime, where UC San Diego completed the comeback to win 14-12 — earning the program its first UCEI Valorant title and sending the team and its large contingent of fans watching on the overhead screen into a frenzy.

“Playing in and winning UCEI was definitely one of the best memories I’ve made playing college Valorant," says Liam ‘frost’ Nickson. "Having so many people come out to support made the experience unforgettable.”

“This was the highlight of the entire weekend," Ashley Omiya, UC San Diego student, said.

Invitationals like UCEI are a great opportunity to build camaraderie, allowing for students in the UC gaming communities to connect. UCEI is free for attendees and supports travel costs for competitors.

"Winning UCEI has been one of my favorite memories while attending UCSD," says Nathan 'WicK' Wicker. "Coming back from being down 1-9 in map 3 of the grand finals in front of a live crowd was one of the most surreal moments of my life."