EXCLUSIVE: Global Esports’ FrosT opens up on TALON’s exit, a chaotic move to GE, and VCT 2026 goals

VCT Pacific noticed certainly one of its most turbulent exits in historical past, as TALON received faraway from the Worldwide League and changed by Thai esports organisation FULL SENSE forward of the 2026 season.

Esports Insider sat down with TALON’s former head coach Hector ‘FrosT’ Rosario, who has just lately joined Indian esports organisation International Esports for VCT 2026. 

The veteran coach defined intimately concerning the chaos that unfolded throughout the Off//Season surrounding the way forward for TALON’s complete roster, in addition to how he finally moved to GE. 

Previous to becoming a member of International Esports, FrosT revealed that he had organisations “even larger than Sentinels” on board to interchange TALON in VCT Pacific; nonetheless, the proposals have been turned down by Riot Video games. Along with this, he additionally expressed his disappointment with Riot’s determination to usher in FULL SENSE.

The pinnacle coach additionally spoke concerning the present GE roster he’s working with, considerations over the restricted apply time, VCT 2026 targets, and the present meta.

Try the total interview beneath.

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Editor’s notice: For confidentiality functions, some crew names have been redacted from this interview. 

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Esports Insider: To start with, we need to discuss to you about you becoming a member of International Esports after your contract with TALON was not renewed. How was that interval for you? How did you find yourself with GE, and did you obtain every other gives on the time?

FrosT: Yeah, it was form of loopy as a result of I had suspicions that issues weren’t going effectively at TALON, and I just about felt that my time there was over after the Japan and Stage 2 Playoffs was most likely my final sport. By the top of August or early September, I used to be already fielding gives from Asia, America, and EMEA.

I then had what I’d name an exit assembly with my Normal Supervisor and Thanamethk ‘Crws’ Mahatthananuyut. Throughout that assembly, we determined to attempt to run it again yet another time. Due to that, I went again to among the organisations that have been enthusiastic about signing me and advised them I’d most likely be going again to TALON.

Shortly after, I heard whispers of Riot doubtlessly hitting TALON with a sanction due to a former participant, Peter ‘Governor’ No, due to the funds that weren’t obtained. That’s after I realised, “Oh, that is the issue.” So, I went again to among the organisations I’d beforehand spoken to, together with International Esports, and defined that one thing severe was occurring, asking in the event that they have been nonetheless . Some mentioned sure, others had already moved on.

We then received the heads up from each folks at Riot, and Crws ended up having a gathering with the top of the Pacific. At that time, it grew to become clear that there was a lot larger stuff occurring.

After that, Crws and I had discussions with TALON’s administration, and so they have been clear about among the stuff that was occurring. That’s once we realised there was an opportunity that TALON may not even be within the league. When that occurred, I began reaching out to different organisations I’d constructed relationships with through the years, looking for a alternative that might are available if wanted.

Crws and the remainder of the boys needed to maintain everybody collectively. So I went ahead with that plan. I received good recommendation from some folks at G2 Esports about their state of affairs and the way they dealt with it after they needed to get entangled. I form of copied the playbook and used it with my guys. That was principally what occurred. I did my greatest to observe the playbook.

We even engineered a backdoor dialog with Riot and tried to maintain everyone collectively. However, let’s simply say Riot had different plans and determined to do the whole lot opposite to what I really feel just isn’t solely the precise factor to do, but in addition the sensible factor to do, provided that franchising is up on the finish of this aggressive 12 months.

Once we discovered that Riot was form of going to let everyone hang around to dry, I went again to Dr Rushindra Sinha [Co-founder and CEO of Global Esports] and defined the state of affairs. He principally mentioned, “Hear, I can perhaps provide you with till November 1st, however I can’t go previous that.” Additionally, simply so you already know, we’d been coping with this because the center of September all the way in which to November 1st.

ESI: And the season completed in August.

FrosT: Proper and I wasn’t formally on International Esports till November 1st. On November 4th, there was a chance that Riot would let one of many orgs again in or find yourself acquiescing and permitting us to go along with our plan. So there was even a timeline the place I’d need to make a very unimaginable selection on November 4th.

Then they gave TALON one other two-week extension, and the entire state of affairs was cooked.

They knew there have been points, and I wasn’t asking to get in the midst of the TALON–Riot negotiation about whether or not they keep or not. I simply needed a contingency plan. If their plan was to kick out TALON, now we have a backup, now we have an org, we hold the slot, and the whole lot goes tremendous.

The organisation we introduced in knew it was a one-year contract. They simply needed to indicate Riot that they might do job in order that within the subsequent spherical of functions they might say, “Hey, look how effectively we did once we took over TALON.” That was what occurred.

I’m nonetheless unsure what Riot thought of our technical proposal, however given what they did and the way they dealt with this example, it might have been a lot better to hearken to us within the first place and observe the protocol that they had already set with The Guard.

Additionally, should you don’t suppose TALON is sweet sufficient, that’s tremendous. However there’s no approach you thought FULL SENSE was, while you handed on them in franchising within the first place. Riot’s personal analysis mentioned FULL SENSE wasn’t adequate.

And the organisations I introduced have been arguably larger than most organisations in VALORANT. I don’t need to take names, however among the organisations I had have been larger than even a crew like Sentinels.

ESI: Did Riot present any reasoning for rejecting your proposals?

FrosT: No, they didn’t. They saved transferring the goalposts. They saved saying, “Oh, we would like APAC groups solely,” which to me is actually bizarre given the truth that it’s a one-year lease. It’s not such as you’re coping with this crew for 3 extra years.

Okay, tremendous, you need an APAC crew? I even received [redacted] able to take the TALON gamers, and the organisation mentioned, “Fantastic, for a one-year lease, it’s okay.”

Additionally, [redacted] was the most important one we have been occupied with. They’re larger than Sentinels. That doesn’t essentially imply they’re larger in VALORANT, however within the grand scheme of esports, they’re larger.

So there’s no approach you possibly can have a look at me in good religion and say, “Oh, the organisation you introduced wasn’t at TALON’s calibre.” It’s like, bro, what are we speaking about?

However regardless of the cause, it doesn’t make sense to me as a result of it’s not like FULL SENSE is healthier for VALORANT, and even, I might argue, Thai VALORANT. 

Their greatest IGL on the roster is a coach now as a result of the organisation has to subject a few of their younger gamers, when in actuality, the very first thing they did was change the roster. Their complete Tier 2 crew is principally gone now, and it didn’t make sense. It actually didn’t.

ESI: In a current interview, you talked about that TALON was not your first selection and that you just joined them since you have been operating out of cash. Are you able to share a bit about that? 

FrosT: So I used to be really attempting to go to Fnatic, and I believed I had a fairly good in. I even had nice suggestions and I’ve recognized Patrik ‘Carn’ Sättermon and among the guys there for a very very long time, nevertheless it didn’t work out. They ended up going with Chris ‘Elmapuddy’ Tebbit.

There have been just a few different organisations I spoke to as effectively, and yeah, it didn’t go my approach. Even at TALON, I wasn’t their first selection both. However on the finish of the day, it labored out, I suppose.

ESI: When it got here to International Esports, was it your first selection?

FrosT: No, this low season, no. I actually needed to return to the Americas as a result of I used to be attempting to crew up with Andrej ‘babybay‘ Francisty. Me and babybay had a possibility in North America, and we’re most likely going to speak about it later.

However the roster we might’ve put collectively in North America in comparison with the roster that ended up being on the crew we have been planning on going to, I don’t suppose you possibly can actually evaluate them. I believe we’re going to gauge each our success and their success and possibly  focus on it later down the street.

Me and babybay actually tried to get on the identical crew this 12 months. That was the primary aim.

ESI: Would babybay have joined as a coach or as a participant?

FrosT: No, he was undoubtedly going to play. 

ESI: It’s fairly spectacular that he nonetheless has a lot vitality and robust mechanical abilities even after staying inactive for such a very long time.

FrosT: Yeah, I imply, he shouldn’t have been out of the league. I believe that is what occurs so much right here. It’s form of ridiculous. He ought to have had a spot within the league, identical as Xavier ‘xavi8k’ Juan. Kale ‘autumn’ Dunne ought to have been picked up by quite a few EMEA groups, Pacific groups particularly. Some EMEA groups needed him this 12 months, however I don’t suppose he was as extremely wanted as I believed he ought to have been.

ESI: Concerning the present International Esports roster, was it put collectively by you?

FrosT: Yeah, now we have a Normal Supervisor, Minseong ‘UnknowN’ Kim, who coordinated plenty of the contractual stuff and negotiated plenty of the offers. However when it comes to the gamers themselves, yeah, it began with me. Even autumn has mentioned that working with me was one of many largest the reason why he’s right here, identical with Patrick ‘PatMen‘ Mendoza and xavi8k. However clearly administration needed to clear it, negotiate the offers, the wage conversations needed to work out, and the whole lot needed to fall underneath finances.

ESI: We’ll undoubtedly come again to PatMen, because it was one of the vital shocking strikes of the VCT Pacific Off//Season. However for now, might you elaborate on why you imagine this roster is healthier than all of the GE’s earlier line-ups? What units it aside, and what targets do you keep in mind with this crew?

FrosT: I believe that is for certain the perfect roster they’ve had. I do know folks may suppose, “Oh, additionally they had I ‘monyet’ Nugraha and Kim ‘t3xture’ Na-ra,” however I’m nonetheless fairly certain should you evaluate that roster to this one, it doesn’t actually evaluate. So, that’s what makes it distinctive. It’s the final 12 months of franchising, however but that is the perfect roster they’ve put collectively.

I believe place by place, that is most likely additionally the most effective rosters within the Pacific. I can suppose of some that, in idea, might form as much as be stronger than us on paper, with Paper Rex being certainly one of them.

My expectation, clearly, is naked minimal. We’re going to make it to the playoffs this 12 months for certain. I’ve reached the playoffs each season. Final 12 months TALON’s roster, with Governor and Joseph ‘ban’ Oh, was nowhere close to as sturdy because the one I’ve in the present day, we positioned prime 4 in Kickoff.

But when we [Global Esports] get a greater placement, prime three, means we qualify for Masters Santiago. So I might say my private aim is to win Champions, however the roster aim is to qualify for it.

ESI: Talking particularly about PatMen, he had a really sturdy 2025 VCT season and he should have had a number of gives. How did you guys handle to lock him down?

FrosT: The timing of his earlier organisation deciding to make all these adjustments made it actually troublesome for him. It’s true that he might have ended up elsewhere, however I believe he was actually dedicated to becoming a member of xavi8k. Roster power was most likely one other issue, and I used to be most likely part of the line-up too. He had different alternatives, however when he narrowed issues down, there was most likely no contest. He wasn’t going to do higher than this roster within the quick period of time he had within the offseason.

ESI: There are six gamers on the roster in the meanwhile. How are you planning to rotate them?

FrosT: No plan. Nope. It’s a five-man roster. Derrick ‘Deryeon’ Yee fought for his spot; he wasn’t in a position to get it. However in case of an emergency, he’ll match proper in. 

ESI: You talked about that the crew didn’t have a lot time to apply collectively and that there have been no Off//Season occasions left to take part in. Do you suppose this can have an effect on your on-stage efficiency?

FrosT: I’m barely involved concerning the lack of apply. As an example, our first scrim collectively was December sixth. Take into consideration that, proper? Typically I’m unsure whether or not we’re actually prepared. We win plenty of our scrims, however due to the timeline, if we’re successful on a selected map constantly, we transfer on to the subsequent map.

Over time, it’s arduous to gauge whether or not you’re really good, since you’re by no means taking part in the identical crew on the identical map, so you possibly can’t see changes they’ve made. You’re form of rolling the cube and assuming scrim efficiency will match stage efficiency.

A number of the errors we make after I do VOD evaluation are indicative of an absence of chemistry. Typically in a single spherical, three folks suppose three various things, and you may hear it within the comms. So yeah, it’s an enormous concern. However general, I nonetheless suppose we’re sturdy sufficient to beat anybody on any day.

Though folks suppose we’ll lose to VARREL as a result of they’re the favourites, I don’t essentially suppose that roster is healthier, particularly having watched their video games. I be ok with our possibilities to qualify and about what we’re doing with comms and the way our veto appears to be like.

ESI: Who takes the ultimate in-game calls?

FrosT: Savva ‘Kr1stal’ Fedorov and PatMen assist mid-round, however for probably the most half, xavi8k is the IGL. On condition that he’s solely been doing this for a month with this crew, I believe he’s doing a tremendous job. There are issues he can enhance, particularly if our aim is to make Champs, however given the time we’ve had, I’m fairly pleased with the outcomes. He’s actually stable.

ESI: In VCT Pacific and China particularly, now we have seen organisations work with scrim companions. Did International Esports have anybody to assist with preparation?

FrosT: No and therefore, not having an Academy crew has been actually arduous for me. At TALON, I used the Academy crew so much over the previous couple of years. It’s one thing we’re attempting to work by way of, nevertheless it’s been troublesome.

It’s additionally arduous due to scrim availability. As an example, now we have a Korean crew we play, which limits the quantity of groups we are able to scrim due to what occurred within the Pacific up to now. Chinese language groups have been on break, and it’s arduous to know should you’re really good when the groups you’re scrimming aren’t on the identical calibre as your tier-one opponents.

ESI: As a coach, what challenges do you suppose VCT groups will face with the present agent balancing, Breeze adjustments, and the discharge of the brand new pistol?

FrosT: I believe plenty of groups are going to battle. Much like final 12 months, among the greatest groups might not really be capable of carry out at that stage due to the adjustments. For instance, Breeze may be very totally different and we solely began practising it just lately. They modified the map, so you possibly can’t run previous methods.

The brand new pistol is attention-grabbing, Francis ‘OXY’ Hoang mentioned after the Americas Day 1 that the Bandit is as sturdy as a Guardian on pistol rounds, which might trigger an enormous meta shift. The brand new map pool is bizarre, Abyss is in, and Veto — first off, silly title for an agent provided that map veto exists — may be very sturdy.

I don’t suppose you’re going to see the perfect VALORANT early on, particularly within the Pacific. Even when we come out as the primary seed and attain the playoffs, I’m unsure I’d imagine we’re the perfect crew as a result of a lot modified so shortly. A map and a pistol coming in 12 days earlier than competitors is actually robust.

However general, franchising is difficult and unforgiving. Should you don’t carry out, it doesn’t matter how good you suppose your roster is.

ESI: It’s a optimistic step that Riot is rewarding consistency by way of Championship Factors and now, with the introduction of a triple-elimination bracket.

FrosT: I want to get on my soapbox about that. Individuals suppose the present construction is rewarding consistency, however I disagree. That’s not true. TALON positioned fourth in Kickoff final 12 months, sixth in Stage 1 with three rookies, third in Stage 2 playoffs and we didn’t go to Champions. DRX gained Kickoff and have been a degree away from lacking Champs. 

T1 gained a Main and barely made it by one level in a tie break and we beat them twice. The system doesn’t reward consistency the way in which folks suppose it does. Should you common out our placements within the 2025 season, we principally positioned fourth on common and definitely we deserved to be at each occasion.

ESI: So, in accordance with you, ought to a median efficiency throughout occasions be considered?

FrosT: For certain, Break up 1 playoffs shouldn’t imply greater than Break up 2 playoffs. It’s very bizarre that there’s additionally a Champions slot awarded for that. However typically, it’s their system, they get to do what they need. I simply don’t suppose it really rewards the consistency that they suppose it does.

ESI: Speaking to Esports Insider, babybay talked about that there might be a state of affairs at Kickoff the place a crew may lose the Higher, Center, and Decrease Finals. What are your ideas on that state of affairs?

FrosT: Yeah, that may occur. I’m fairly certain it’s going to occur. That’s three best-of-fives. Sadly, that’s simply the way in which the system is. I don’t suppose it’s proper or fallacious. I’ll say, although, that three losses is a very attention-grabbing and totally different strategy to do it, so I’m all for it.

I believe I’m going to love this method greater than the earlier ones. It’s form of a bizarre Swiss-system-ish format. I’m excited to attempt it, however sure, one crew might get screwed in that approach, and that’s okay.

Nonetheless, the explanation I believe they’re at such a drawback is as a result of they need to play three significant best-of-fives back-to-back-to-back. That’s plenty of research. Additionally, that’s plenty of info folks can dig into and get a very good thought of the crew and their methods. That’s going to be very arduous on the teaching workers, for certain.