ASUS ROG is back with its Second Season of ROG Academy with Valorant

New Delhi, 01 May, 2021 – ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG), No.1 Gaming Laptop brand, today launched the all-new power packed second season of ROG Academy in partnership with AFK Gaming and The Esports Club, further strengthening its commitment towards empowering aspiring eSports athletes and enthusiasts in India. This initiative will provide the desired infrastructure and training, helping gamers develop the skill set necessary to compete on a global scale.

After successfully concluding the first season of ROG Academy, with an overwhelming 2350 entries from across the country, Asus aims to expand its existing portfolio to encompass games from various genres as it starts season two with Valorant. The registrations for the second season commence from 3^rd May, 2021 till 10^th May, 2021.

Valorant has swiftly become one of the top games in various tournaments in India. Asus also witnessed a great deal of participation for Valorant during ROG Showdown as the game offers an engaging gameplay. ROG Academy is carefully designed to mentor potential professional gamers to excel in the field of esports and boost career opportunities in the eSports industry. The program is aimed at paving the way for next-generation gamers with access to resources, mentorship and training from veterans in the esports circuit to elevate the current gaming ecosystem in India. As part of the training, Asus also equips all participants with necessary gears and products such as tournament-ready gaming equipments and first-in-class high quality technology.

Speaking on the announcement, Arnold Su, Business Head, Consumer and Gaming PC, System Business Group, ASUS India, said “After the successful launch of India’s first virtual Academy program for a gamer – ROG Academy, earlier this year, Asus ROG is back with the second season as a platform to provide extensive training and mentoring to the budding gamers to further hone their skills and showcase their talent in partnership with AFK Gaming. This initiative will prepare gaming enthusiasts for competitive E-sport tournaments on a national as well as global level. As the No. 1 gaming laptop brand, we strongly believe that the esports industry has a huge potential to provide multiple career options in the country and we aim to nurture the same with the ROG Academy. The pandemic has also made a shift in the content consumption patterns, resulting in the growth and adoption of e-sports. The esports segment is therefore bound to grow exponentially over the next few years. Looking at the enthusiasm, we will continue to explore future possibilities on scaling this program further to bolster the esports ecosystem in India.”

ROG Academy:

Curriculum & Duration:

ASUS ROG Academy is a year-long program, divided into four sessions as per the quarter, aimed at establishing and developing the E-sports community in India. This season, the curriculum is designed in partnership with AFK Gaming and The Esports Club, one of India’s most recognized tournament organizers of Valorant.

The shortlisted team and players will go through an extensive selection process divided into different phases. This will culminate into 6 select players becoming part of a 3-month long program designed to familiarize the players with the various aspects of gameplay at eminent levels to master the techniques of teamwork, communication, analyzing the opponents, tracking improvement, agent selection and skillsets, map breakdown, executes and more. The exercises, schedule and entire program will be specifically designed keeping in mind the title and the existing skillsets of the players who will be a part of it.

Coach Details

This season, the coaching will be overseen by none other than Mansoor “Nabu” Ahmed, Director, The Esports Club. Over the years, he himself has been a competitive player in various titles and has developed a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. He will be joined by Nikhil “Sieh” Bhansali who is a broadcast analyst and caster with The Esports Club and has worked on every single major Valorant event in the country since its launch. In addition, there will be regular guest sessions and special classes by top Indian professionals and other industry leaders and experts. 

Rewards & Outcome from the training:

The Second season of the ROG Academy will witness “Valorant” as the official title as we continue our journey to discover India’s most talented players. The panelists will consist of a representative from ASUS ROG, partners, and Valorant. ASUS ROG will be providing the whole team Ex-Gratia of INR 100,000 price to all the final 6 players once they complete their 3-month training successfully.

The players will also receive monetary compensation of INR 15,000/ as a stipend on monthly basis during the training. Also, the 6 players will continue to represent the brand for additional 3 months while participating in any tournaments or events post completing 3 months training program successfully.

How to Apply: ROG Academy

1. Aspiring gamers and gaming enthusiasts aged 16 and above can participate in the program and register themselves on the Official ROG Website 3^rd may 2021 onwards. Gamers aged between 16 to 18 need to provide a consent letter from their parents to participate in the program

2. During the registration process, applicants will answer some key questions on the online form that will help Asus determine the type of player they are

Selection Process

1. After registrations, participants will have to go through a screening process which will include showcasing their abilities in the open tryouts where they will be judged by a Jury.

2. The top six participants chosen from the tryouts phase will receive admission into the program. Participants will receive a stipend of INR 15000/.