Czech Valorant pro Karel “Twisten” Ašenbrener has died at 19, according to Team Vitality, the esports organization he was signed to.
Twisten previously competed in the Valorant Champions Tour and, most recently, in the EMEA League, one of the premier international leagues in Valorant.
Since the news of his passing, the official Valorant account made a post stating, “Our deepest condolences to his loved ones. Rest in peace.”
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Team Vitality reports Twisten passed away
Twisten began his esports career in 2020 when he joined Czech stack Kings of Sosnovka, a team that competed in various European tournaments in the early stages of Valorant’s competitive scene.
In late 2021, the young pro player joined BIG and participated in the VCT EMEA Challengers circuit throughout the 2022 season.
Twisten then signed with French esports organization Team Vitality the following offseason, a team that made it into Riot Games’ partnership program for the VCT 2023 season. He primarily played duelist, often picking Jett and Raze, and helped Team Vitality finish 5th-6th in the inaugural VCT EMEA League.
Team Vitality’s Valorant roster was shocked and devastated to hear the news.
Vitality’s assistant coach Harry “Gorilla” Mepham, shed some light on what happened in a tweet.
“I woke up this morning to the news of one of my closest friends, someone who genuinely felt as if he was my brother, took his own life,” said Gorilla. “Words can not describe the grief or emptiness I’m feeling right now. I loved him and forever will.”
Gorilla also shared a quote from Twisten’s favorite show Demon Slayer. According to Vitality’s assistant coach, it was a phrase Twisten used to say to him when he was feeling down.
“If you are feeling disheartened. That you are somehow not enough, set your heart ablaze.”
The quote was said by Kyojuro Rengoku from the popular Demon Slayer movie Mugen Train.
The Valorant community has shared some ideas on how to honor Twisten. VCT analyst Ryan “RyanCentral” Horton wants to continue Twisten’s “€25 for a shorty kill for charity” donation challenge at international events.
This led to Team Liquid streamer Connor “Sliggy” Blomfield announcing that he will donate €25 for every Shorty kill at Masters Tokyo and again at Valorant Champions 2023 to a mental health charity.
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