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Technical issues in competitive VALORANT have sparked debate once again during a high-stakes match at VALORANT Masters Bangkok. The spotlight fell on Chinese pro player Zheng "ZmjjKK" Yongkang, who had to swap his wireless mouse for a wired one due to ongoing PC glitches, prompting widespread criticism of Riot Games' handling of in-game technical difficulties.

During the match between EDward Gaming and Team Liquid, visible PC glitches disrupted ZmjjKK’s play. Despite this setback, he delivered an outstanding performance that helped secure the win. However, the incident left fans and fellow professionals questioning how such issues could occur at the highest level of competition.

Saif "Sayf" Jibraeel from Team Vitality was among the most vocal critics, noting that these technical issues only arise during official matches—not in practice—and that Riot’s temporary fixes, such as forcing players to switch to a wired mouse, are unacceptable.

“This problem only occurs on stage, not in practice, yet their 'solutions'—like switching to a wired mouse—are unacceptable at this level. Players deserve transparency and fair conditions,” he stated on X.

The ZmjjKK mouse issue isn’t an isolated incident. Evil Geniuses pro player Jacob "icy" Lange recalled a similar experience at Masters Shanghai 2024, where he was forced to switch to a wired mouse due to arena-related technical limitations. Former VALORANT head coach Emil "eMIL" Sandgren and Team Liquid’s Maks "kamyk" Rychlewski also highlighted problems like monitor adjustments and tournament PCs struggling with high polling rates—issues that should never affect players at the highest level.

These recurring hardware inconsistencies raise serious concerns about the competitive integrity of VALORANT esports.

In response to the backlash, Riot Games swiftly addressed the issue. Leo Faria, the global head of VALORANT Esports, took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain that the extensive technology setup at the arena affects signal stability, including mouse connectivity. He assured fans that the wired mouse requirement is only a temporary fix and that Riot is actively working on a long-term solution.

While this response offers some clarity, it leaves lingering questions about future tournament conditions and the steps Riot will take to prevent similar issues from recurring.

The competitive VALORANT community is keen to see if Riot can improve hardware reliability on stage, ensuring that players can compete under optimal conditions. In a game where split-second reactions determine victory or defeat, the importance of technical stability cannot be overstated.

Fans and professionals alike are watching closely to see what permanent measures Riot will implement to prevent another ZmjjKK mouse situation. The hope is that future tournaments will allow players to focus solely on their gameplay without worrying about technical setbacks that could affect their rank or performance.

As the VALORANT esports scene continues to evolve, ensuring a seamless and reliable competitive environment remains a top priority for Riot Games. Only time will tell whether these recent issues were just a hiccup or a sign that deeper infrastructural changes are needed in tournament setups.

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