Team Liquid will maintain their position in
VCT EMEA as a partner team for the upcoming 2027-2028 cycle, sources tell
Sheep Esports. The prestigious esports organization based in the Netherlands has fielded multiple competitive rosters before and during VALORANT’s franchising era.
Team Liquid are one of the most recognizable teams from VCT EMEA; it comes as no surprise that they have been selected as a partner team by Riot Games. Their 2026 season came to a disappointing conclusion at
VALORANT Champions Shanghai, but all eyes will now be on 2027 and whether they can keep their high level of success in VCT EMEA.
There aren’t many teams that have been more successful than Team Liquid in VCT EMEA history. The various rosters from 2021 to 2026 have qualified for twelve international events, with a 3rd-4th finish at VALORANT Champions 2021 as their best result. Since the beginning of the franchising era, Team Liquid have won the VCT EMEA 2023 title and the VCT EMEA 2025 Stage 2 title, and have regularly placed in the top 4 of VCT EMEA, with 2024 being the only blip on the radar.
The organization holds a strong online presence with a dedicated fanbase. Team Liquid are also one of the most established and renowned teams in North American
League of Legends. All of these factors are likely the reasons why Team Liquid were a natural fit for a partner team slot in the VCT EMEA 2027-2028 cycle.
Team Liquid’s rosters over the past few years have often been more than the sum of their parts. With teams that often feature young talents mixed with veterans, the organization has found a formula for consistency.
Heading into 2027, tenured player and IGL Ayaz “
nAts” Akhmetshin has announced that he has been allowed to explore his options in the offseason. With academy player Ognjen “
GSR” Bondžić promoted to the main team shortly before the start of Champions 2026, and breakout star
Samet “Kachoww” Arıcı expected to join the team, as reported by
Sheep Esports, it will be interesting to see whether Team Liquid will overhaul the roster completely or opt to keep their core heading into the VCT 2027 season. Either way, it is encouraging to see Team Liquid stick to their plan of developing young and promising talents from the regional scene.
