VCT Americas League: LOUD and FURIA continue their winning ways

Week 2 of the VCT Americas Leagues is already underway. Last Saturday, April 8, we enjoyed two really exciting matches, where LOUD and FURIA, two of the favorite teams of this region, managed to take the victory.

Despite these victories, we must highlight the great level shown by Cloud9 and Leviathan. Both teams were the losers of this series, but they showed spectacular performance and determination. So much so that both teams started the series with a victory but could not hold what would be a real truck without brakes in their rivals.

With these wins, LOUD and FURIA climb to the top of the table with a 2-0 record.

LOUD applies a reverse sweep and takes the win over Cloud9

Cloud9, one of the most criticized lineups before starting this VCT Americas League 2023, is giving a great surprise by showing a very good performance. In this match against LOUD, the runners-up of the VCT LOCK//IN and current world champions, we all thought it would be a comfortable victory for the Brazilians. Instead, however, C9 managed to make LOUD uncomfortable during the whole series.

This series was played in Split (C9), Ascent (LOUD), and Pearl (decider).

Split

Cloud9’s map pick was a real surprise for the Brazilians, as the North American team managed to win the first seven rounds of the first half to mark, once and for all, the development of this match. LOUD tried to react by winning four of the last five rounds, and the first half ended with an 8-4 favorable to C9. Nathan “leaf” Orf was responsible for C9’s excellent first half, finishing with 162 ADR, 278 ACS, and a 1.46 Rating.

In the second half, it was more of the same; leaf himself was inspired all over the map and managed to lead C9 to an excellent and comfortable victory with a score of 13-7. However, LOUD was disconcerted throughout this map, and they paid dearly against an inspired North American team.

Ascent

In Ascent, the nightmare would begin for Cloud9, as LOUD took a turn in attitude and performance that was completely unstoppable by the North Americans.

Cloud9 started winning the pistol round thanks to a spectacular 4k by leaf on the defensive side.

However, this all changed, as LOUD allowed Cloud9 to win only two rounds out of the next 11 to take a partial victory with a score of 9-3. Argentina’s Matias “Saadhak” Delipetro (196 ADR, 327 ACS, and 1.55 Rating) shone for LOUD in this first half.

At the change of sides, Cloud9 tried to wake up by winning the first four rounds to make the score 9-7. However, LOUD struck back immediately to take the map victory with a solid 13-8.

Pearl

Finally, the reigning world champions made their hierarchy respected and managed to take a comfortable 13-7 victory in Pearl to climb to the top of the leaderboard.

As in Ascent, LOUD started strongly, winning the first half with a score of 8-4. Cloud9 got back to within 9-7 in the first four rounds of the second half, but the Brazilians deciphered each North American defensive approach to take the win. Felipe “Less” Basso and Erick “aspas” Santos were in charge of cutting off all of Cloud9’s aspirations on this map.

FURIA continues to demonstrate an exceptional level of play

FURIA Esports, just like LOUD, completed a reverse sweep against Leviathan to take the second victory of this VCT Americas League against Leviathan. Khalil “Khalil” Schmidt was the server’s best player in this series and finished with 154 ADR, 239 ACS, and a 1.34 Rating.

This series was played on Pearl (LEV), Icebox (FURIA), and Ascent (decider).

Pearl

Leaviatán started extremely strong in his map pick, Pearl, and delivered a big blow to FURIA, which was not on anyone’s paper. However, the most impressive thing about the victory on this map was the extraordinary comeback they had to complete.

FURIA started like a real wild bull this series, winning the first seven rounds on the attacking side. Leviathan made up a bit of the first-half score with three rounds won for a 9-3 score. When it seemed that the match was destined to be a beating by FURIA, Leviathan woke up, and in what a way. The Chileans, led by Francisco “kiNgg” Aravena (202 ADR, 311 ACS, and 2.10 Rating), woke up and returned to take the victory 13-11.

Icebox

FURIA would not stay with the thorn of letting a map they practically had in their pocket come back and wake up in Icebox to give the Chileans a 13-5 beating.

Once again, FURIA started strong on the attacking side in Icebox, winning the first half with a score of 10-2. Douglas “dgzin” Silva led FURIA to this partial victory on the attacking side, finishing with 202 ADR, 325 ACS, and a 1.75 Rating. Ultimately, FURIA won the three remaining rounds and won 13-5.

Ascent

In the decisive map, we had revenge by FURIA after the comeback suffered in the first map by Leviathan. Thanks to this, they achieved an excellent 13-10 victory and thus completed the reverse sweep.

In this opportunity, Leviathan was the team that started with everything since they won the first half with a 9-3. The Chileans were confident after this partial result and did not expect what was coming.

Khalil was able to demonstrate his great quality of play on the defensive side of the field as he prevented every one of the Chilean team’s approaches. FURIA managed to win ten of the eleven rounds played to come back from a spectacular match and take a great victory 13-10.

Header: VCT Americas