Maryam ‘Mary’ Maher with Falcons Vega recently won Red Bull Instalock 2025 at London’s Red Bull Gaming Sphere.
The tournament saw four of the world’s best women’s Valorant teams compete with the unique twist of requiring at least three duelist agents on each side.
Falcons Vega claimed the title after defeating the defending Red Bull Instalock 2024 champions G2 Gozen, in an intense Grand Final.
We talked with the Falcons Vega duelist, Mary, about Red Bull Instalock, facing former teammate Michaela ‘mimi’ Lintrup, choosing to return to esports, the longevity of Game Changers, and the mindset to succeed.
To quickly recap for those who don’t know, you started competing in 2021, had a little break, joined G2 Gozen and eventually won Game Changers Champions later that year, retired to focus on studying, came back out of retirement last year with Falcons Vega, surrounded by almost an entirely new team at the start of this year, proceeded to win everything.
How do you do it?
I mean, there is no secret sauce to this. I’d say just going back into the game with passion and competing with passion.
The win in 2022 was a lot of hard work, and I think that’s hard work that doesn’t get showcased in the media. What you always get to see is how the team performs and the wins.
I decided to retire because education comes first, no matter how secure your job is, or your hobby, or whatever you’re passionate about. My parents also encouraged me to finish my education, but I also wanted to finish for myself. Nobody really pushed me to finish my education, and I always loved learning new things.
It’s always good to have a backup plan, no matter what state you are in life, even if you’re very secure, I think education is super important.
And after finishing high school, I decided to come back, also with the help of my teammate, madv (Modhi Alkanhal).
So, Riot Games invited a few of us to this watch party in Turkey for the 2023 Game Changers Championship. And surprisingly, madv was there with me on that trip.
It was like everything aligned, if that makes sense. Speaking about it now, it was like a blessing in disguise, like a butterfly effect. Throughout the trip, she was trying to convince me to partially come back into competing, we’d create a new team, and try to make it to the championship and win the championship, inshallah, hopefully.
Part of my decision to come back was her motivation, and her convincing me, I’d say. So then, at the end of 2024, we decided to rebuild the entire roster with a superstar roster. I’d say it’s one of a kind. I love my teammates, I don’t think that there are people like them that exist, and they all bring something to the team.
There’ve been a lot of huge decisions throughout your career so far. So what’s your thought process when approaching these crucial decisions in your life?
I always try to consult my parents, my friends, and, of course, my teammates, especially with any team-related decision.
I think it’s mostly my parents. I’m super thankful, super grateful to have them in my life because they play such a crucial role in supporting me and pushing me into taking really good decisions, like my education, and even going back into competing again. They were the ones who were pushing me back into esports because it’s my passion.
It’s been my passion ever since I can remember. I would always sit at the computer or the console, like it was my second home. So when it comes to making decisions, it’s just consulting my parents, my friends, and of course myself and what I really want. There isn’t something special that I’d do, honestly.
Also, in 2024, there were lots of changes that happened. I graduated from high school in the same year I started university. Yesterday marked the first year of university since I finished my last exam, so I actually finished my first year of university while still competing. I also became a Red Bull Athlete as one of the first Red Bull Middle Eastern female athletes to represent MENA.
Honestly, I’d say it was one of the best years ever. Lots of things just clicked, and it just made sense to come back.
In your opinion, what makes Valorant specifically so appealing to you?
I come from a first-person shooter background since I started playing Call of Duty Black Ops on console as far as I can remember. So it’s the shooter in me, I guess.
I used to play CS:GO as well. I have almost 800 hours in the game. Not a lot, but also part of the reason. And I played Fortnite for as long as I can remember, as well. I have probably almost 7,000 hours or something in that game.
Also, I’d say the community. The female community is awesome, I can’t lie. And there are lots of competitions, and that’s what made me pursue the game.
You mentioned being the first female Red Bull athlete for MENA, but you’re also the first MENA player to win both Game Changers, EMEA and SEA. How would you compare those two regions to each other?
I’d say when it comes to comparing them, EMEA feels more structured when it comes to gameplay, they’re more disciplined.
In SEA, you can only expect the unexpected. Our play style is a bit different as we’re a bit more aggressive. Not scared to take duels compared to EMEA
That’s why when it comes to playing against us in Southeast Asia, they’re not used to the aggressiveness that SEA has. They’re used to more of a disciplined game style, like peeking together.
For example, when I’m playing against G2 Gozen, I know how they’re going to play. Let’s say on their ecos, they’re going to play as five. While for us, we tend to buy sheriffs, go out there, and aim.
Do you have a preference for a specific regional playstyle, EMEA or SEA?
For me, they’re both fun, and that’s what really matters. I don’t try to overthink any of that. Play my game and be at my best. That’s what matters.
Also during Red Bull Instalock, you played against a former teammate in mimi from G2 Gozen. In their vlog on the event, mimi actually complimented your team’s ability to adapt to the unconventional heavy duelist comp.
Was there a special training regime that you and your team had going into the tournament?
I can’t lie, not really. My teammates and I are all past duelist players. So we kind of fit in perfectly.
I kid you not. We did not train a single day for this tournament. We were just making things up on the spot. It’s not meta-focused, where you need to train or adapt.
I think it all comes down to individual performance and how you balance the mix of teamwork and personal performance in the tournament, and I think we showed that.
Also, we showed great resilience since we were losing 2-1 initially. I was watching mimi’s vlog, and they said they were one map away from lifting the trophy, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I remember that exactly, and it’s so funny because it’s true.
After we lost Fracture, the energy in the team was super low, and we all went outside to get some air. Alexy was next to me, and I was like, ‘You know what guys, I need to get my energy back up, and I know exactly what to do.’
So I decided to run with her, just sprint and let’s see who’s fastest. So not only was it competitive, but it also made our heartbeat faster and pumped blood in our system. And that’s how I kind of low-key got my energy back. I mean it was worth it, I can’t lie.
Speaking of mimi, did you manage to catch up over that weekend? And if so, what did you get up to?
I did say hi to her, but when it comes to competing, you don’t want to be close to your enemy. Not in a bad way, but because it’s such a competitive atmosphere on a tournament day.
You don’t really go up to your ex-teammates and have a big chat with them. You’re supposed to be with your teammates and be in the zone.
If you’re not in the zone, then in-game it’s different. You’re not playing against someone that you’d like to beat, it’s more like playing against a friend.
For me, that’s the way I like to look at it. I don’t know who they are when I’m in my zone, they’re enemies to me.
But of course, outside of the game and competitions, they’re lovely people.
So at the tournament. Akita took away your G2 Gozen record for most kills in a single series. How do you feel about that?
Akita is super talented. She’s such a sweetheart and she’s also a youngster, she’s eighteen, I think, 2007 if I’m not wrong.
To me, kills are kills. I’m proud of her, and she did a really good job in the tournament, but I don’t have any envy.
I’m more than happy for people to take a record or whatever when it’s their hard-earned work.
And that’s what competition is at the end of the day, the harder you work, the higher up you’ll be, and everyone’s going to praise you. But if you’re not working hard, then others deserve to take that spot because they’re working hard.
So from my perspective, I don’t really have any hatred or envy or anything. I’m just more than happy for the person.
So would you say you’re more focused on the present rather than the past of all these records and achievements?
I think that’s what really matters. If you’re going to sit here and worry about your past scores or your past kills. You can always work on it in the present, so that’s what really matters.
Do you think Red Bull Instalock and other events like it provide a good opportunity to make women more visible in esports?
Hundred percent! In a recent interview I did, I think I mentioned the lack of investments which give a good opportunity for women to be more visible in esports. The more tournaments, the more media, the higher media coverage, and therefore exposure.
In this tournament, there were at least 400 TikTok videos created about us, which gave exposure to these teams and players. I think it’s really important to have more events like these, not only from Red Bull but Riot Games as well.
So looking at the ecosystem as a whole. You took a break from competitive play, you weren’t sure if you were going to return. Earlier this year, we saw Ava ‘florescent’ Eugene announce their retirement, as well as Diana ‘sonder’ Zhang, who played their final match against you at Red Bull Instalock.
Do you think there’s a future for the Game Changers scene and the players outside of the Riot Games ecosystem?
I think competition is not an easy sport. For now, I wouldn’t say it’s stable. That’s part of why I’m telling you that education comes first, right?
Any day this could die, and you would never expect it to. As much as we praise esports and tournaments and all that, it’s still not stable, like anything else in life.
But I mean, for florescent, she was working super hard. She went right after Game Changers Champs to sign with Apeks. She moved to a new country and, new environment, which is not easy to adapt to.
I think it’s more of how you balance your life and find a good balance with the competition. If you’re going to compete, you need to at least go to the gym on the side, something to get your body moving.
Also, just going out and having fun with your friends and having a life outside of gaming, because you cannot just sit and sit and play for a long duration of hours. It really kills your brain.
I think if there is a future, of course there’s a future, but people who are coming into the scene need to be aware of the competition and that it’s not easy. It requires a lot of travelling, a lot of hard work, and a lot of time.
Finally, are there any words for the fans out there?
Always thank you for the support. It really pushes us to keep doing better and better. Our main goal is to win the championship, and we will, I don’t doubt it. We just need to put the work in. Thanks again for the support. It means a lot.
Mary and Falcons Vega will next compete at VCT 2025: Game Changers SEA Split 2 later this month as they look towards Game Changers Pacific qualifying for Game Changers Champs thereafter.
Having written for Esports News UK since 2022, I’ve cultivated an extensive knowledge of all things esports.
Covering a wide variety of topics during my time as an esports journalist, it’s safe to say I’m a jack of all trades, if you’ll pardon the pun.
