Attending the Valorant Masters in Toronto reminded me why esports are so important

This past weekend, the Valorant Masters wrapped up in downtown Toronto. The culmination of the month-long offline esports tournament concluded with the Grand Finals being held at the Enercare Centre. Thousands of fans gathered in person to watch Paper Rex go head-to-head with Fnatic. As temperatures rose to 44 degrees Celsius in the city, I had no clue what the in-person turnout would be during the last day of the event. The community shocked me as I walked into a packed arena venue.

Having the Valorant Masters take place in Toronto throughout the month of June was special for a few reasons. The first is that this was the first international Valorant event to take place in Canada, and during Toronto Video Game Month to boot. The top global teams came together to compete for a spot at Valorant Champions Paris, making it a big deal for competitors. Valorant Masters was also a celebration of the Riot Games-developed title. Further, it was the first major esports event I attended since moving on from covering the scene in my early days in the industry.

As someone who hasn’t played nearly enough Valorant to know the finer intricacies, it was still easy to get lost in the excitement in the crowd. As die-hard fans sat with new and old friends in the crowds, the cheers were infectious. As Paper Rex and Fnatic took to the stage, the applause from the inflatable cheering sticks made a thunderous wave throughout the Enercare Centre halls. I fell back in love with live esports events and was reminded of how important tournaments like the Valorant Masters are for communities.

Valorant Masters’ big splash in Canada

Valorant first launched back in 2020 as a riff on the tried and true competitive FPS game Counter-Strike. Riot Games infused some original flair by way of adding hero abilities and a unique art design. The free-to-play game then caught fire on PC, attracting many players over the first few years. By 2024, Riot Games ported the game to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, as the game debuted on console. Since launch, the game has attracted over 16 million players, according to Tracker Network. On Sunday, June 22, player numbers nudged slightly over 5 million.

In previous years, Valorant Masters has been held in cities like Reykjavik, Ixeland; Tokyo, Japan; and Madrid, Spain. This was the first year the international tournament arrived in Canada. 12 of the best teams on the scene came to compete for Championship Points and a chance to earn a Masters Trophy as well as a US$350,000 cut of the $1 million prize pool. Competing teams included G2 Esports, MiBR, Team Heretics, Sentinels, and Team Liquid. Of course, the two teams who ultimately made it through to the finals were Paper Rex and Fnatic.

Compounding on Toronto Video Game Month

With such big names within the scene, it’s understandable how fans congregated in droves. Ticket sales were upwards of nearly $400 as of this past weekend on StubHub. However, some ticket prices to the finals reached well over $1,500. Early projections heading into the Valorant Masters estimated that the event would bring in over 20,000 attendees. According to a City of Toronto post, the esports tournament is expected to have created $40 million in economic impact for the city.

This year, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow dubbed June Toronto Video Game Month. Throughout the month, Toronto has been home to events like the XP Game Summit, Toronto Games Week, and Giant Video Games. Valorant Masters Toronto continues the celebrations for the industry, but for an entirely different sector, one that’s endearing and passionate about the competitive shooter.

Aside from the heart-pounding gameplay being witnessed on the grand stage in the middle of the Enercare Centre, Valorant Masters had a ton of other activations and things to do. One of the coolest installations was a visual standee that took me through the timeline of updates and milestones for the game. Cataloging each year of support, it was an easy-to-read history lesson for someone like me who’s not up to date on the game. It’s also a nice way for fans to be reminded of how Valorant has evolved since 2020.

Other activations included demo stations to try Valorant on console. Despite being on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S for a year, many players haven’t gotten a chance to test it on a piece of hardware outside of PC. There was also an artist alley where attendees could purchase art and other items from vendors to celebrate the game. On top of that, there was a really neat station where fans could create their own signs to hold and wave during the games.

A refresher into the impact of esports

Admittedly, I haven’t been to a professional-level esports event since before COVID. My breakthrough into the gaming (and eventually tech) space was all thanks to covering esports. At one point in my early career, I was attending Toronto esports events on a nearly monthly basis. My career eventually shifted, and my ability to keep up with pro-level competitions faded. Attending the Valorant Masters Toronto felt like a homecoming in some ways.

With on-air talent like Goldenboy, Vansilli, Pansy and Kaquka leading the change on commentary, Valorant Masters Toronto reminded me of how great it was to celebrate with an entire community of fans. The arena was laid out like a giant boxing ring with Paper Rex and Fnatic playing on stage in the middle. Three rows of seats surrounded the stage with fans jumping out of their seat as Paper Rex took the lead during the afternoon, playing on the Sunset map. As the second round began on Icebox, Fnatic tied up the score, causing some divisive energy in the room. However, Paper Rex caught its footing, stealing rounds three and four and ultimately winning the finals.

There’s an energy in the room that’s hard to describe during moments like these. Despite the team fandoms in the room, applause when a player clutches a round was electric. Even as a novice of the game, it was hard not to be sucked into the jumbotron screens above the stage, witnessing the top-tier gameplay between teams. For so many, esports can feel like a daunting viewer experience. However, I find it’s best to give yourself over to the energy in the room. From there, no matter if you’re a long-time fan or a passive onlooker, you’ll get swept up in the little moments.

My time at the Valorant Masters Toronto has me excited for the next major tournament to arrive in Ontario. It’s already making me eye the upcoming 2025 Call of Duty league Championship Weekend in Kitchener on June 26 through 29.