The new-look TSM VALORANT squad finds themselves out of contention at the NA VCT Stage Three: Challengers One event, forcing them to take a detour on their way to Berlin. TSM were knocked out of the open qualifiers by the new Noble roster, who defeated them with a score line of 2-1.

Because the game wasn't broadcast anywhere, viewers had to rely on stats sites for live score updates or watch streams where individuals were checking scores via the VALORANT friends list. Noble got things going by snatching Haven from TSM's opening pick. After taking a back-and-forth first map, Nobel led with a score of 13-10. TSM retaliated with an overwhelming display of dominance on Bind, jumping up to an 11-0 lead on defence before Noble launched their lone attack round of the first half. TSM won the next two rounds, 13-2, to clinch Bind.

TSM stumbled into a buzzsaw on Ascent despite taking Noble's map selection so decisively and seemingly regaining the momentum. Noble once again dominated on defence in the first half, preventing any TSM player from scoring any offence. Noble built a 10-0 lead until TSM stole the final two rounds of the half, but Noble came back to win with a score of 13-2.

TSM's first run with the new team comes to an end on a sour note. Cutler was benched after VCT Stage Two, while Bang was added to the roster. They also brought in coach Chet, and they came in with great hopes; many predicted and hoped that they would play 100 Thieves in the next round.

Instead, 100T will face Noble, a team with a brand new squad that was put together less than a week before the qualifiers. Over the last year, Noble has played two separate NA VALORANT rosters, but neither of them has been able to pull off a win like this.

A lot of top-tier teams experienced potential upsets on Friday in the NA VCT open qualifiers. To win their series, T1, 100 Thieves, and Gen.G all had to come back from 1-0 deficits. TSM wasn't the only team to lose tonight; Dark Zero defeated FaZe, and VIRTUOSO and Kansas City Pioneers defeated NRG and Immortals, respectively. The open qualifier's final round begins tomorrow, July 4^th, with eight teams competing for a ticket in the Challengers One main tournament.