There are three Valorant players who came into 2022 with the goal of improving their game to become the best and they did just that.
Valorant is an esport that many consider to still be in its infancy. It doesn't have the lengthy history of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or the storied rivalries of Call of Duty just yet. What it does have, though, is a packed talent pool. As 2022 closes and the partnership era of 2023 begins, it is time to look at the Valorant players who have improved the most and expanded that ever-growing talent pool.
We have three players who improved by leaps and bounds from 2021 to 2022. They chased championships, showed more consistency than ever, and made sure all eyes were on them when they performed.
Enzo
Enzo "Enzo" Mestari, formerly known as Fearoth, made the jump to the big leagues in 2022. Before the Valorant Champions Tour, there was the Ignition Series. This is where he played with Ninjas in Pyjamas before moving to Alliance. Alliance played frequently in the Northern Europe regional league, where they fell to EXCEL in the playoffs.
He clearly impressed Fnatic during his time on Alliance. They added him to the roster on a loan and eventually signed contracted him fully. As part of Fnatic, he helped them to an undefeated EMEA Series 2 Challengers, a 4th Place finish at Masters Copenhagen, and a 5th-6th Place finish at Champions 2022.
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Marved
When it comes to statistical improvement rather than simply moving up in the scene, you have to give it Jimmy "Marved" Nguyen. He was a consistent Controller player on FaZe Clan and Team Envy during 2021. When Envy made the brand switch to OpTic Gaming and entered 2022, Marved turned things up a couple of notches.
Looking at the stats leading in to Champions 2022, Marved saw a boost in just about every offensive category. His ACS went from 201 to 216. His K/D improved from 1.06 to 1.11. And his impact as a teammate increased with 6.84 assists per match as opposed to 4.91. No wonder OpTic placed top three at every international event of 2022, including a championship at Masters Reykjavik.
Saadhak
There's no doubt that one of the most improved Valorant players of 2022 is Matias "Saadhak" Delipetro. He went from viewing a world championship from a distance to becoming a world champion. He spent all of 2021 on Team Vikings. They were a powerhouse in Brazil, but did not find success in international Valorant competition. They were eliminated from Champions 2021 in the Group Stage.
Enter 2022 and Saadhak joins LOUD. That saw the domination from his time on Team Vikings ramped up even further. They didn't lose a series until the Grand Finals of Masters Reykjavik against OpTic. Masters Copenhagen was an unfortunate quick exit, but Saadhak and LOUD returned with a vengeance at Champions. One map is all they gave up in the playoffs on their way to a victory. Saadhak and company hoisted the trophy and he looks to defend that glory when the 2023 VCT kicks off on his home turf in Brazil.
