TL;DR
- Japanese organization NORTHEPTION fired Valorant pro TenTen within 24 hours of racist remarks
- TenTen targeted Indonesian player fl1pzjder with anti-Indian slurs during ranked match
- Screenshots spread rapidly through Indian Valorant community, sparking outrage
- The player publicly apologized but faced immediate termination despite strong performance record
- Incident highlights ongoing racism issues in competitive gaming and swift consequences for pros
Professional Valorant player TenTen faced immediate dismissal from NORTHEPTION following documented racist behavior during competitive gameplay. The Japanese esports organization demonstrated zero tolerance for discriminatory conduct.
During a ranked match, TenTen incorrectly identified Indonesian professional Saibani “fl1pzjder” Rahmad as Indian and proceeded with multiple racist comments targeting Indian players. This wasn’t an isolated remark but a pattern of disrespectful behavior captured in-game.
Racism remains a significant challenge within Valorant’s competitive environment. Despite Riot Games implementing robust systems to reduce toxicity, players frequently find ways to insert subtle racial slurs during matches. Regular participants might evade detection temporarily, but professional competitors face heightened scrutiny and accountability.
Why was TenTen fired?
TenTen’s racist commentary directed at Rex Regum Qeon’s fl1pzjder during ranked competition led to immediate organizational termination. NORTHEPTION’s code of conduct explicitly prohibits discriminatory language.
The confrontation originated from a minor dispute about elimination statistics. When fl1pzjder countered TenTen’s comments, the Japanese player mistakenly classified him as Indian and unleashed offensive slurs including “F—ing Indian.”
The Indonesian competitor appeared bewildered but immediately identified the racism. TenTen persisted with additional discriminatory messages through Valorant’s text communication system.
Evidence from the match rapidly circulated across Indian Valorant communities, where participants regularly encounter racial discrimination from anonymous players. However, witnessing such behavior from an established professional competitor generated particular outrage, establishing dangerous precedents for acceptable conduct.
Within one day, NORTHEPTION removed the player from their roster. TenTen accepted the disciplinary action and issued a public apology to supporters and affected communities.
“I offer sincere apologies to anyone offended by my unacceptable comments. As both a competitive professional and individual, I profoundly regret making inexcusable statements. I fully acknowledge the team’s disciplinary measures. My deepest regrets,” TenTen stated.
TenTen represented significant value to NORTHEPTION’s competitive efforts, maintaining impressive performance metrics throughout Valorant Challengers League Japan Split One and Two. He originally joined in November 2022 and consistently served as a crucial component of the organization’s primary lineup.
This incident underscores the critical importance of cultural sensitivity training for professional gamers competing internationally. Organizations increasingly recognize that player conduct off-server carries equal weight to in-game performance when building brand reputation and community trust.
The gaming industry’s evolving standards now demand that professional competitors demonstrate exemplary behavior both during official matches and in casual gaming sessions, as their actions reflect upon entire organizations and the esports ecosystem.
Action Checklist
- Report discriminatory behavior immediately using in-game systems
- Document incidents with screenshots or recordings as evidence
- Support community initiatives promoting inclusive gaming environments
- Educate teammates about appropriate communication standards
- Participate in organization-led cultural sensitivity training when available
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