Team Indonesia are the Red Bull Campus Clutch 2023 World Champions!

Indonesia’s GARUDA have defeated Peru’s Zen Esports with a dominant 3-1 victory, securing their legacy as Red Bull Campus Clutch Champions

Turkey, Istanbul, November 25th 2023: Indonesia’s GARUDA have claimed the title of 2023’s Red Bull Campus Clutch World Champion, by soundly defeating Peru’s Zen Esports at the Grand Finals at the Volkswagen Arena, Istanbul, Turkey. GARUDA have had a near flawless run through the tournament, starting on Tuesday with group stages, by defeating every opponent put in their path and dropping only one map in all their matches. Aside from the €20,000 grand prize they have also earned themselves bragging rights as the best student VALORANT team in the world.

GARUDA’s squad seemed unstoppable heading into the Grand Finals, and after winning the first two maps without much contest it looked like it would be another clean sweep. However, Peru’s Zen Esports fought back and delivered GARUDA their first and only loss in map three. This was only a temporary setback, not enough to stop the Indonesian team from claiming victory in the fourth map, and ultimately, the Red Bull Campus Clutch 2023 World Title.

The matches leading up to the Grand Finals saw GARUDA deliver a faultless week, kicked off with a 4-0 result in the group stages which included a narrow victory against 2022 winners and fan favourites Northwood University, from the USA. Their pace and confidence only picked up from there, as they continued their unstoppable streak through the playoff rounds, winning against Germany, Pakistan, and the Czech Republic.

Reflecting on their only loss in the tournament in the third map of the Grand Final, Rayvaldo ‘ray4c’ Chandra said, “I knew I had to come back for revenge in the next game”. In response to the affection and support they have received from their friends and family on their journey, Thomas ‘Cud’ Alfiantino said, "Thank you for supporting us. We are very grateful for our win. Our hard work paid off with this victory.”

Second-placed Zen Esports can be equally proud of their performance throughout the tournament, which saw them dominate the local Turkish team as well as the French team, Valiant PBL, in the semifinals. The real upset was in the quarterfinals, where they put away Canada’s St. Clair Saints with little resistance, who were considered amongst the favourites for this year after having come second place in last year’s tournament.

Yesterday’s showmatch also thrilled audiences in Istanbul and on livestream across the world. A star-studded cast included wtcN, Cigdemt, Alfajer, CombatRy, CNed, Ata, Keeoh and Tiffae. The showmatch also came with a surprise twist, with world-renowned streamer and esports player tarik making a last-minute appearance in the match after announcing he is now an official Red Bull Player. To cap off a successful evening, he then helped guide Team Blue to a convincing 13-8 victory over Team Red.

The tournament hasn’t been without thrills in the earlier rounds, with some startling upsets in the first few days including 2022 winners, Northwood Esports from the USA, failing to make it out of the first round of the tournament. Predictions have been hard to call all week, with favourites like WEDER WEREMEM from Turkey, St. Clair Saints from Canada, and BubatzBuben from Germany usurped by underdogs GERUDA and Zen Esports.

Now completing its third season, Red Bull Campus Clutch - along with Red Bull Home Ground, the premier pro Red Bull event for VALORANT - encapsulates the brand’s continued commitment to support the VALORANT community and uplift its competitive ecosystem, from a grassroots level with an array of local initiatives to the very highest echelons of esports.

Assets for Red Bull Campus Clutch can be found here.

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About AGON by AOC

The sub brand of AOC, and a global leader in gaming monitors, AGON by AOC, returns to join the Red Bull Gaming universe once again, bringing the event to life, and providing cutting-edge hardware for the esports tournament. As the official Monitor Partner for 2023, AGON by AOC will provide top-notch high performance gaming monitors for the ultimate gaming experience for contestants. High refresh rates and short response times mean competitors will have the best possible in-game experience.

About BACKFORCE

BACKFORCE - a brand of Interstuhl Office Furniture GmbH & Co. KG.

The family-owned and operated company, founded in 1961, is one of the leading office furniture producers worldwide and brings its expertise and know-how into the gaming scene.

BACKFORCE chairs are not simple gaming chairs, but unique sports equipment for gamers and athletes alike. Designed with ergonomics and the needs of gamers and esport pros in mind: BACKFORCE offers features that usually only can be found in far more expensive chairs, while being manufactured to high standard in Germany. BIG - Berlin International Gaming, GamerLegion and Red Bull Campus Clutch. BACKFORCE is a loyal supporter and partner in both the gaming and (e)sports scene since 2019. BACKFORCE is changing the way people sit: an important piece of equipment that plays a big role in their success.

Visit the Red Bull Campus Clutch page to find out more.

Best,

John