For the second year in a row, another team has been removed from VCT Pacific, with Talon Esports getting the short end of the stick this time. Their departure from Valorant leaves a high-profile vacancy, and the big question is: who gets the call?

Riot Aims to Maintain Thai Identity

Talon Esports has been the sole Thai representative in VCT Pacific, with zero other teams fielding Thai players. 

APAC’s Head of Valorant Esports, Jake Sin, mentioned Riot Games wanted to “identify a team that can resonate with the Thai community,” confirming that the aim is to preserve Thai presence in the Pacific League. Thailand has consistently delivered some of the strongest viewership and engagement, and Masters Bangkok’s success in 2025 was only a testament to that. 

We've just announced the termination of TALON Esports' partnership with VCT Pacific. This was a really tough decision, and it comes after weeks of working closely with TALON to try to resolve their issues. Ultimately, we had to make the call, but we wish TALON nothing but the…

— Jake Sin (@RiotJaker) November 18, 2025

Two organizations that come to mind are Full Sense and Buriram United. Full Sense has long competed in the VCT Challengers circuit but has failed to qualify for Ascension Pacific multiple times. 

Buriram United, on the other hand, is one of the largest sports organizations in the country. Their football club is currently ranked first in the Thai Premier League, and the brand has already made several ventures into other esports titles. Either team could seamlessly carry the country’s flag in VCT Pacific.

A Second Miracle for BOOM Esports?

Despite not being based in Thailand, BOOM Esports still stands out as another frontrunner for Talon’s position. The team fell short in Ascension 2024, losing in the grand final, but was called on to take BLEED Esports’ slot after the team failed to pay its players. 

This year, BOOM once again narrowly missed qualification for VCT Pacific after finishing third at Ascension 2025, and once again, a vacant slot has appeared in front of them. While they don’t check the “Thai team” box, there’s always the possibility that BOOM will make roster changes and integrate Thai players into the team.

Top 5 Team Ready for the Taking

Regardless of who gets the slot, the next team could get a huge head start by signing the former Talon roster. The squad was one of the top teams in the Pacific League, narrowly missing out on qualification for VCT Champions. 

For Full Sense and Buriram, picking them up would be a no-brainer and an easy transition. Considering the players are likely to be free agents, funding shouldn’t be a major issue. 

For BOOM, on the other hand, recruiting the Talon roster would not only be an upgrade to their current Valorant squad but would also open the opportunity to mix Indonesian and Thai fans, making them a fan-favourite in the league. 

At the moment, no official announcement has been made, but it’s clear that whichever team takes the slot will aim to build a roster around the former Talon players – or pick the entire team up as a whole.