To clarify Riot changed the way Valorant works so that any team can make/win an international tournament But they chose 4 teams in NA to become partners They give those teams millions of $$ AND a skin in the game (they get a percentage of sales) If an unpartnered org builds a moneyball team that absolutely crushes at an international event- those players will be poached by a partnered org It happened to us with Brawk and Mada going to NRG it is happening to C9 who just lost partnership and already letting their players shop around I just don't know if it is worth competing in the esport long term as compared to investing into an esport with a truly open system