VCT Champions: Top 5 Group Stage matches that you shoudn’t miss

The Valorant Champions 2023 is set to start on August 6 with an electrifying showdown between sixteen of the best teams from around the globe. As you eagerly await the start of the world championship, take a look at the top five Group Stage matches that you shouldn’t miss:

16 teams 👥
1 trophy 🏆
August 6-26 🗓️

Here’s everything you need to know about #VALORANTChampions Los Angeles!

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) July 27, 2023

 

Paper Rex vs KRÜ Esports

Originally, PRX was one of the favorites for Masters Tokyo, but their fortunes changed drastically when Ilya “something” Petrov could not get a Visa. After joining the team in the third week of the VCT Pacific tournament, Something had been a threat to every other team in the league, recording the highest kills per round throughout the regular stage and playoffs.

Jet-lagged but happy to be here in LA ✌🏻☀️🌴 #WGAMING #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/vL4JoWk1Jp

— Paper Rex (@pprxteam) August 3, 2023

 

He had been PRX’s main contributor to their success in the Pacific League, helping the team go on a seven-series winning streak that allowed them to qualify for the Masters. Despite the absence of their Russian star, PRX finished third at Masters Tokyo, just behind Evil Geniuses and eventual champions Fnatic. Now that something would be available for PRX on the frontline, It is more likely than ever that the Pacific team will come out on top in the Champions 2023.

On the other hand, KRÜ’s performance in 2023 has been subpar, as they failed to pick up any victories in the VCT Americas League or the LOCK/IN competition. They did, however, have a fantastic run in the Americas Last Chance Qualifiers, thrashing MIBR, FURIA, Cloud9, and Leviàtan in a row to book their slot at Champions. It’s clear from KRÜ’s performance at LCQ that PRX may have a competitive edge over KRÜ on paper, but it won’t be without a fight.

LOUD vs DRX

DRX made a good start to the year by placing third-fourth in LOCK/IN after defeating the teams like BBL Esports, Cloud9, and Talon Esports. The team also had a fantastic run in the VCT Pacific League, coming in second place despite losing the decisive game against Paper Rex. They had a poor performance going into the VCT Masters Tokyo, though, as they failed to win a single game and were eliminated in the Playoffs.

This VCT superstar needs no introduction!

Can @loud_aspas add another #VALORANTChampions title to his list of accomplishments? pic.twitter.com/Zv0CXmwo8Z

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 2, 2023

 

LOUD, on the other side, enter Valorant Champions after a lackluster performance at Masters Tokyo, where the team bombed out from the event after two straight series defeats. However, LOUD has consistently rebounded after poor tournament performances in the past, as evidenced by their Champions Trophy victory in 2022 which came after an early exit at Masters Copenhagen. It’s interesting to note that the Brazilian team’s semifinal victory over the Korean squad, 3-2, was what ultimately forced DRX out of LOCK/IN.

Edward Gaming vs Giants

After a disappointing showing at LOCK//IN, EDG made a spectacular comeback on the international stage at Masters Tokyo. The team pulled off multiple upset wins and achieved a 5th-6th place finish, marking the highest standing achieved by any Chinese team on the VCT international stage. Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang, also referred to as Kang Kang, was the tournament’s breakthrough star and the catalyst of EDG’s success.

Total Operator Kills at Masters Tokyo

1⃣ Zmjjkk – 103 kills
2⃣ ardiis – 30 kills
3⃣ Boostio – 29 kills

Kangkang had an absurd amount of Operator kills at VALORANT Master Tokyo, more than triple the amount of ardiis at #2 had pic.twitter.com/SMOLx015FO

— Valorant News (@ValorINTEL) June 27, 2023

 

Kang Kang dominated his opponents throughout the competition, scoring 103 Operator kills, more than the next four players combined. All eyes will be on Kang Kang when he leads the Chinese team’s assault against the Giants in the opening round.

On the other side, the European squad will be entering the competition as the underdogs. After being eliminated early from LOCK/IN, the team considerably improved in the VCT European League, but ultimately failed to earn a spot in the Masters. The team had flashes of brilliance throughout the year, but their true potential was on display in the Americas LCQ, where they went undefeated and earned a spot at Valoront Champions.

Fnatic vs Zeta Divison

Fnatic has dominated the entire year and terrorized every Valorant team in the world, making them the clear favorite heading into Valorant Champions 2023. The European team won every game they played in LOCK/IN So Paulo to win their first-ever international VCT championship. Master Tokyo saw another impressive performance by the European squad, as they won all four matches before defeating Evil Geniuses 3-0 in the grand final to take home the second consecutive VCT event of the season.

.@FNATIC looks unstoppable going into #VALORANTChampions

Will they continue to rise? pic.twitter.com/HITIHXghVQ

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 4, 2023

 

They will have the opportunity to take home their third VCT international championship in a single season and establish their legacy in Valorant’s history. On the other hand, ZETA Division would be nervous about playing Fnatic in the opening match. ZETA failed to perform well at the VCT LOCK//IN and the Pacific League, which prevented them from competing in the first VCT international tournament in Japan. Yet, the squad entered Valorant Champions fresh off of a fantastic LCQ performance, exhibiting all the signs of a comeback.

Team Liquid vs Natus Vincere

Two of the strongest and most effective EMEA squads will be put to the test as Liquid and NAVI, face off in their opening round. After brilliantly taking the EMEA League title from unbeatable Fnatic, they fell short on the world stage at Masters Tokyo. The team was seeded directly into the playoff round but was eliminated following defeats against Evil Geniuses and NRG Esports.

.@LiquidValorant‘s 2023 roster takes on the #VALORANTChampions stage in Los Angeles! Will they be the last ones standing? pic.twitter.com/1k55ThvWCN

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) July 27, 2023

 

A fascinating fact about this matchup is that Emil “eMIL” Sandgren will coach Team Liquid and Erik “d00mbr0s” Sandgren will coach NAVI, who are identical twins. They qualified for the Valorant world championship last year, but their teams didn’t encounter each other. During the regular season of the EMEA League, D00mbr0s finally got the better of his brother with NAVI’s 2-0 win against Team Liquid in Week 6. However, given NAVI’s erratic performance at Masters and the LCQ Final, Coach eMIL and Liquid might settle the score with their European rival at the Champions.

Header: Riot Games