Why did Evil Geniuses’ top Valorant stars remain in “contract jail” despite pay cuts?

Post-the 2023 Valorant offseason, Evil Geniuses, the triumphant team of the Valorant Champions Tour 2023, faced heavy turmoil. It has been revealed that the organisation allowed its star team to reach out to alternative offers or agree to a pay cut to maintain there position at Evil Genuises. During the numerous managerial challenges in the organisation, many speculations arose that the victors of Valorant Champions 2023 were in an apparent “contract jail.”

Despite their run to the golden title, their victory was obscured by internal issues. From a heavy merch drop to most players expressing their discontent or disrespect, Evil Geniuses appears to be in a toss beyond their Valorant success. Richard Lewis reported that the reported pay cuts have led to difficulties for the players in securing deals with other organisations, painting a less-than-rosy picture despite their marvellous achievements.

Why did Evil Geniuses’ top Valorant stars remain in “contract jail” despite pay cuts?

Following their remarkable ascent from obscurity to triumph in 2023, the star players of the Evil Geniuses have gained popularity among other organisations seeking to strengthen their rosters for 2024.

However, Richard’s report unfolds the players’ predicament as they encounter hurdles in exploring new opportunities due to existing contractual obligations. As a result, players have expressed their issues on different platforms. Notably, player C0M publicly voiced dissatisfaction, citing a lack of deserved respect from the organization.

Tensions have escalated, with Richard’s report thus indicating multiple strains in Demon1’s relationship with Evil Geniuses due to contract buyout issues and rejected offers. It has been disclosed that the buyout offers reached $100,000, a figure Evil Geniuses declined for even Ethan.

It’s imperative to distinguish these buyouts from potential contract prices, as the players remain handcuffed until the end of 2024. The question that arises is whether organisations will be paying substantial buyouts for these elite talents.

Evil Geniuses’ top Valorant stars secure NRG move

According to recent reports, NRG has acquired two prominent players from Evil Geniuses, namely Ethan “Ethan” Arnold and Max “Demon1” Mazanov, for the upcoming season. On December 23rd, NRG officially declared, “Villain era never looked so good. THIS IS NRG VALORANT 2024.”

Incidentally, just hours before this unprecedented announcement, Demon1 posted a tweet exclaiming, “Holy s**t I’m free,” with a GIF illustrating the signing of a contract, indicating that the North American standout had entered into a new contract with another team. The details remain undisclosed, though.

Simultaneously, Ethan expressed his optimism, stating, “3rd time’s the charm. Let’s get to work, can’t wait for next year.”

Evil Geniuses’ impactful run in the VCT 2023 reshaped the landscape of competitive Valorant, challenging the conventional dominance of Eastern teams in eSports. Despite EG’s withdrawal from various eSports endeavors, including struggling to sustain strong teams, the inevitable dissolution of the EG roster became apparent. Notably, it has now been unveiled that Ethan and Demon1 acknowledged as the roster’s formidable players, have found a new home at NRG.

What do you think of the world’s top Valorant stars remaining in a contract jail? Tell us your opinions in the comments section.