Two years after winning Champions together, Jaccob “jawgemo” Beckford and Max “Demon1” Mazanov faced each other as enemies. Only one could survive the elimination match at VALORANT Champions Paris.
Old Teammates Become Rivals
The storyline couldn’t get more dramatic. In 2023, jawgemo and Demon1 carried Evil Geniuses to the Champions title. They were the best duo in VALORANT, taking turns carrying maps and delivering clutch moments when it mattered most.
Now they wear different jerseys. Jawgemo joined G2 Esports and dominated the Americas region all year. Demon1 stepped in as an emergency substitute for Dragon Ranger Gaming when Ilya “vo0kashu” Ushakov couldn’t play.
Their reunion happened in the worst possible situation – an elimination match where the loser goes home from Champions 2025.
G2 Shows Championship Experience
G2 Esports proved why they dominated Americas with a clean 2-0 victory over DRG. Both maps ended 13-7, showing complete control from start to finish.
Lotus (13-7)
G2 started shaky, letting DRG win five straight rounds. But their experience kicked in quickly. Nathan “leaf” Orf dominated on Viper with 23 kills, while jawgemo found key openings with his Yoru plays. G2 answered back with four straight rounds to tie the score, then took control in the second half.
Abyss (13-7)
The second map followed the same script. DRG kept things close in the first half, but G2’s precision and utility usage proved too much. Jacob “valyn” Batio called perfect strategies while Jonah “JonahP” Pulice delivered crucial multi-kills to break DRG’s momentum.
Demon1’s Comeback Falls Short
Everyone hoped Demon1 could recapture his 2023 magic. The former Champions MVP hadn’t played competitive VALORANT in months before joining DRG as an emergency sub.
Despite showing flashes of his old form, Demon1 couldn’t carry DRG past G2’s structured gameplay. Zhang “Akeman” Keman played well for the Chinese team, but they needed more firepower to match G2’s balanced attack.
The pressure of elimination proved too much for DRG. They managed strong individual moments but couldn’t string together enough round wins when it mattered most.
More Than Just a Match
This elimination carried huge consequences beyond just Champions 2025,
DRG Loses VCT Spot
Since both DRG and XLG Esports came from Ascension, only the team that performs better at Champions keeps their VCT China spot next year. XLG advanced further by beating Sentinels, so DRG must go back to Ascension tournaments.
G2’s Redemption Arc
After disappointing international results in previous years, G2 needed this win to prove they could perform on the biggest stage. The victory keeps their playoff hopes alive.
Demon1’s Future
The former Champions MVP’s return to competitive play ends early. His short stint with DRG showed he still has talent but needs more time to reach peak form.
Jawgemo’s Clutch Gene
The most memorable moment came from jawgemo pulling off an incredible 1v4 clutch that had fans screaming. His Yoru mechanics looked as sharp as ever, proving he’s still one of the world’s best duelists.
“Watching the two best players from 2023 Champions go head-to-head was insane,” one fan commented on social media. “Jawgemo just had more support around him.”
The Road Continues
G2’s victory sets up another crucial match against T1 for the final Group D playoff spot. They must beat the Korean team to advance to the bracket stage. Meanwhile, DRG returns home with their Champions dream over. The Chinese team showed potential but couldn’t overcome the pressure of elimination matches.
For jawgemo and Demon1, their friendship remains strong despite competing on opposite sides. But only jawgemo gets to continue chasing another Champions title. G2 Esports avoided elimination with championship-level composure. Their 2-0 victory over Dragon Ranger Gaming proves they learned from past international disappointments and came to Paris ready to fight.
The drama of former teammates facing elimination made this match special. G2’s experience won the day, sending them one step closer to the playoffs they desperately needed.
Andrew "SuZki" Scola is a dedicated Valorant player who has been in the game since the Valorant beta release, achieving a peak rank of Immortal 3. With over six years of experience writing gaming content, he brings deep game knowledge and strategic insight to every article. Based in Los Angeles, California, Andrew is an active member of the SoCal Valorant community and has competed at the semi-pro level in Valorant esports. As a proud Killjoy and Raze main, he’s known for his sharp utility usage and high-impact plays—especially on his favorite maps: Haven, Breeze, and Lotus.