Ian "tex" Botsch, Valorant player renowned for his duelist skills, has officially signed with Leviatán, a prominent South American team. This unexpected move sees Tex transitioning to the Sentinel role, marking a pivotal moment in his career and significantly bolstering Leviatán's roster. 

Tex's arrival at Leviatán comes hot on the heels of the team's recent acquisition of the reigning VCT Americas MVP, aspas, making this a season of massive changes for the South American powerhouse. Initial speculations suggested that Tex might compete with aspas for the duelist position, but the decision has now been made for him to focus on the Sentinel role, with a notable emphasis on the Chamber agent over Jett. 

Prior to his shift to Leviatán, Tex had enjoyed a notable career as a duelist, gaining recognition during his time with NRG from early 2021 until the end of the 2022 season. His standout moments came during the Stage Two Challengers in 2022 when NRG secured a commendable fourth-place finish. What set Tex apart during this period was his remarkable ability to secure the first pick and his consistently high headshot percentage. In fact, he ranked second in both categories across Stage Two Challengers, with only Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker outperforming him in securing first picks, as reported by vlr.gg. 

However, it was his transition to The Guard in 2023 that marked a turning point in Tex's career. He took over the duelist role left vacant by Sayaplayer and, alongside some of the finest tier-two talents in the Americas, Tex thrived. He continued to excel in securing the first kill, but his overall performance and mastery of Jett and Raze reached new heights. 

The high point of Tex's journey with The Guard was the team's triumphant victory at Ascension, which seemed to solidify his future with the franchise. Unfortunately, their hopes of securing a franchising slot were dashed, forcing the teammates to enter free agency and leaving fans outraged. 

Notably, while many ex-Guard players found new homes within VCT Americas, Tex was the exception. G2 Esports signed most of his former squadmates but left Tex without a contract. As a result, Tex declared his free agency and showcased his versatility as a player capable of taking on both Sentinel and Duelist roles. 

Also read: Reigning VCT Americas MVP aspas Joins Leviatán For Valorant 2024 

Leviatán recognized the opportunity and swiftly added Tex to their already formidable roster. With a lineup that includes KiNgg and aspas, who already form a formidable firepower duo, Tex's addition promises to further elevate the team's performance. The only lingering question is whether Tex's
experiencewithChamberandhisoccasional forays intoSagehaveadequatelypreparedhimforthisnew role.