Paris-based esports organization Team Vitality announced Tuesday that it has joined the Street Fighter 6 competitive fighting game scene with the signing of two top players: Sayff and Valmaster. Both will be representing the Paris-based esports organization at DreamHack Dallas May 31 – June 2.
Canadian player Sayff is a North American Street Fighter 6 competitor, having placed 1st at CPT 2023 Online Event: North America Midwest (a direct qualifier for Capcom Cup X) in January and 8th at Capcom Cup X in February.
“Joining a team as prestigious as Team Vitality is a huge honor and a source of immense motivation. As a Canadian player, we are sometimes held back by traveling, and I have always dreamed of being part of an organization that shares my passion for competition and vision of excellence. This presents the perfect opportunity for me to push my limits and unleash my potential on the international stage” said Sayff in an announcement. “I’m particularly excited to compete in the Esports World Cup, where I hope to put on a great show and get the fans’ adrenaline pumping!”
Twenty-nine-year old French player Valentin “Valmaster” Petit began his competitive career in 2013 and has been a top competitor on the international stage for many years, despite the fact that he took a short break from fighting games to focus on Overwatch. Over the years he has been in finals of the Capcom Cup four times (2014, 2015, 2023, 2024) and secured the title of French champion twice in the Capcom Pro Tour (2022, 2023) for Street Fighter V and 6.
“I’m really looking forward to joining Team Vitality. For me, it’s a very different feeling to the other teams I’ve joined in the past. I’ve always wanted to be part of a leading French team like this,” said Valmaster in a release. “I really want to achieve good results and I hope to qualify for the EWC and the Capcom Cup. It would be great to represent them at these major international events.“
At DreamHack Dallas both will compete to qualify for the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this summer and for a piece of the $50K USD total prize pool. The second stage of qualifications will be held at DreamHack Summer 2024, taking place in Elmia, Sweden, from June 14 – 16, as well as EVO in Las Vegas from July 19 – 21.
The signing of these new players is funded in part by Team Vitality being included in the Esports World Cup Club Support Program, which incentivizes the 30 included teams to secure rosters in games that are part of the multi-week esports event this summer.
Both The Esports World Cup Foundation’s program for teams and the event itself are being funded by a “grant” from the Saudi Arabian government. DreamHack and all of its events are operated by ESL FACEIT Group, which is owned by Savvy Games Group – a gaming company owned by the Saudi government-controlled sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund. Saudi Arabia’s leader, HRH Crown Prince MBS is the chairman of Savvy Games Group.