VCT Masters Shanghai Live Draw Results And Reactions

The Swiss Stage of the VCT Masters Shanghai 2024 Valorant event has ended, and we’re down to eight teams. The top seeds from each region had the opportunity to select their first-round opponents for the Playoffs stage. Here’s a recap of how the live draw went, what matchups will be played, and reactions from streamers.

Live Draw Rules

The “live draw” is a new format that VCT is testing. This format has been implemented in Shanghai for the first time, and it is unclear whether it will be re-used in the upcoming tournaments.

Teams who won their respective regional VCT Stage 1 tournaments have become the region’s top seed. As a reward for winning the Stage 1 event, these teams have skipped the Swiss Stage entirely, securing the Playoffs immediately.

To add on to the rewards, the first seeded teams could select their opponents between the four participants that made it out of the Swiss Stage.

The hosts had a bowl which had orbs containing each of the first seeded teams from each region. These orbs are drawn one by one, and the team that was picked could select their opponents first. 

The first seeded teams include:

• Paper Rex (APAC #1)
• EDward Gaming (China #1)
• 100 Thieves (Americas #1)
• Fnatic (EMEA #1)

The opponents available include:

• Gen.G Esports (APAC #2)
• G2 Esports (Americas #2)
• FUT Esports (EMEA #3)
• Team Heretics (EMEA #2)

1st Pick – Paper Rex

Paper Rex was lucky enough to be pulled out of the bowl first, meaning they could select any matchup. The team’s manager decided to choose G2 Esports.

His reasoning behind the choice was:

“We think all of the remaining teams are very competitive, but coach Alecks told me to pick the team we think will have the crowd most excited to watch. So, I think it’s going to be G2.”

TSM Subroza’s reaction:

“That’s why I f**k with Paper Rex. They don’t even care about getting the easiest team.” 

Paper Rex is known to be crowd pleasers, and decided to choose a spicy matchup against G2 Esports. Both teams have explosive playstyles, and will definitely produce an action-packed matchup. 

However, Paper Rex comes into this match as the clear favorite, as G2 barely scraped past the Swiss Stage. Fans will finally see “W Gaming” back on LAN with Jinggg back on stage. 

2nd Pick – 100 Thieves

The second team to pick their opponents, 100 Thieves, chose FUT Esports, who came third in their regional qualifier. 

The manager’s reasoning behind this choice was:

“Honestly, we’re really comfortable in how the veto will look against them, and I think it’s also going to look nice to avenge our American brothers. So, we’re looking for a good match against FUT.”

TSM Subroza’s reaction:

“I lowkey think that’s a smart pick. Yeah, that’s a smart pick.”

100 Thieves did not have the best start to the year after recruiting world champion Boostio. However, they have turned up massively in the Americas Stage 1 tournament, winning the entire event over teams such as LOUD and Sentinels. 

However, their form in LAN is questionable. FUT has a decent chance to take this series, but it will be tough. The Turkish squad has a world champion of their own, cNed, but has an inexperienced player, yetujey, who is only 18 years old. 

3rd Pick – EDward Gaming

The only Chinese team remaining, EDward Gaming, had the third pick. They decided to select Team Heretics. 

The EDG coach joked about why Team Heretics was their pick:

“Team Heretics have already fought with two teams from China, and they also want to fight with us too.”

TSM Subroza’s reaction:

“Who would you pick between Heretics or Gen.G? I don’t know, they’re both insane.”

Team Heretics already went through both Chinese participants in the Swiss Stage, FunPlus Phoenix, and Dragon Ranger Gaming. Conveniently, the EMEA squad beat both of those teams to qualify for the Playoffs. 

EDward Gaming is looking to avenge their Chinese brethren. Even though Team Heretics is fielding a stand-in, it will be a close match that could go either way. 

4th Pick – Fnatic

Unfortunately, Fnatic had the last pick, meaning they were forced to play against Gen.G Esports, as they had no other choice.

Fnatic’s manager was asked whether Gen.G was the team they would have picked, and sarcastically replied with:

“Yeah, of course. This was our number one choice all along, yes.”

TSM Subroza’s reaction: 

“Yeah, nobody is picking Gen.G. You do not want Gen.G, brother.” 

Gen.G is arguably the strongest team that made it out of the Swiss Stage, and is easily considered to be on par with the first-seeded teams. The Fnatic roster has not been looking in their best shape, and barely won the EMEA Stage 1 tournament.

Overall, Fnatic does have experience playing on stage and has won numerous tournaments previously. However, in 2024, Gen.G has been looking incredibly potent, taking second place in the previous international Valorant event, VCT Masters Madrid. We’ll have to slightly favor Gen.G in this one. 

The Playoffs Bracket Is Set

With the live draw results, we will expect to watch the following matchups in the first round of Playoffs:

• Paper Rex vs. G2 Esports
• 100 Thieves vs. FUT Esports
• EDward Gaming vs. Team Heretics
• Fnatic vs. Gen.G Esports

Matches will resume on May 30, 2024. The teams will participate in a double-elimination bracket, meaning losers of the first round will be sent to the Lower Bracket for a second chance.