Gaming
Welcome to the concrete jungle: New York City is the destination for Red Bull Home Ground 2025 taking place through November 13-16, and with teams and players descending on the Big Apple from all over the globe, there'll be plenty of fireworks in store as the world's elite compete for silverware and glory.
From the likes of reigning champions, T1, to North American powerhouses G2 Esports and Sentinels, to Europe's ferocious Fnatic, there are plenty of teams to watch out for – and several individual players capable of turning up the heat when needed. From pinpoint precision to supreme strategies, agent execution and map mastery, watch out for these elite pro players.
01
Fnatic – kaajak
With two second-place finishes this year at VALORANT Masters Toronto and the Esports World Cup, along with taking the top spot at VCT EMEA Stage 1, Fnatic's 21-year-old Polish star Kajetan 'kaajak' Haremski has been lighting up competitions and showcasing impressive skill each and every time.
The Yoru main has versatility across agents, and has shown an impressive start in his rookie year: with a 1.34 KDA through VCT EMEA Stage 2, he's shown himself as a potent fragger that can stay alive and keep the momentum moving. He proved his mettle at VALORANT Champions 2025 in Paris, showing up as Fnatic's top player in the grand final. With excellent energy, on-point aim, great utility and flashy plays, kaajak is one rising star to watch at this year's event.
02
G2 Esports – jawgemo
G2 Esports' Alexander 'jawgemo' Mor has been a vital part of the team's 2025 campaign, helping to pull out all the stops to take G2 to the top of the VCT Americas Stage 2. With a top-eight ranking among all of the players competing in Stage 2 based on Average Combat Score per map, jawgemo has shown to be one of G2's most consistent players, with exciting flash and flair that makes him incredibly entertaining to watch. Demonstrating adept skill on Yoru, Raze and Neon, along with solid aim and strategy, jawgemo is able to turn things around and pull out clutch plays and aces when backs are against the wall. Keep an eye here when he arrives in New York.
03
T1 – DH
T1's Kang 'DH' Dong-ho has had an impressive season, and he's definitely a talent to watch at this year's Red Bull Home Ground. The former T1 Academy player made his debut for the main T1 squad earlier this year with his Omen, and has already made an impact. With a positive 1.75 KDA throughout VCT Pacific: Stage 2, the highest of any player in the league, DH has shown he's slotted well into the T1 team – and can cope with the pressure exerted on-stage.
While T1 were ejected from VALORANT Champions, DH will no doubt be looking to make an impact during the 2026 VCT Pacific season, as well as showcasing his skills at Red Bull Home Ground.
04
Sentinels – johnqt
Moroccan player Mohamed 'johnqt' Amine Ouarid has been a stand-out for Sentinels since his arrival in 2023, giving the team a much-needed boost in direction. The in-game leader has been calling the shots and boosting his team with quality plays and tactics, and with the highest KDA in VCT 2025: Americas Stage 2 – a solid 1.95 – he's showcased a solid and reliable presence from which his team-mates can bounce off of. That's not to say he's not capable of jaw-dropping plays; his skill and aim have produced superb clutch moments and killer sweeps, making him a solid player to watch.
Sentinels have varied wildly in performance from their star signings, but johnqt has been the consistency they've leaned on; and you can bet he'll continue to be their solid rock at Red Bull Home Ground.
Find out more at redbull.com/homeground