Chances: VCT EMEA Week 7 Recap
Fix your sight, growing ever dim, at the chance for victory!
Every praise imaginable has been heaped on Fnatic, and they continue to run over everyone else. Giants pull off a crucial victory to secure their spot in Playoffs, NA’VI continue to warm up for their fated battle against Fnatic in Week 8, Liquid clutch up with win following the return of their star player, and the second Spanish Derby reaches its conclusion.
Here is everything you may have missed from Week 7 of the VCT EMEA:
VCT EMEA Week 7 Standings:
VCT EMEA Week 7. Screencapture Strafe Esports.
VCT EMEA Week 7 Match Results:
KOI vs Fnatic [0-2]
An expected yet rough results for the hard-battered KOI lineup. Entering Week 7, they have yet to taste another victory since their initial one over NA’VI all the way back in Week 1. Heading into Lotus, Fnatic showcased their freshly polished take on Lotus with a dominant first half of 10-2. KOI’s defenses appeared paper-thin behind Fnatic’s solid site takes that saw little chance for reply from KOI. Despite winning the pistol, Fnatic were quick to close out Lotus 13-4.
KOI’s own map pick of Ascent was initially far more promising, with the squad taking Fnatic by surprise with 8 straight rounds to open. Despite their lead, however, they were unable to prevent Fnatic from taking the last four rounds of the half to bring it back to a more manageable state. Fnatic would then power through Ascent on the Defense half, only allowing KOI one more round before closing out Ascent 13-9.
Strafe Player of the Series: FNC Alfajer
Giants Gaming vs Team Vitality [2-1]
Giants Gaming managed to pull through with a crucial win over Vitality that assures the former a place in Playoffs. Meanwhile, Vitality are facing dark times as they suffer their fourth consecutive defeat.
Giants land their first punch with a Lotus map pick that continues to showcase their dominance on the map. They ended the first half 8-4, managing to pull off retake after retake that left Vitality scrambling for answers for the post-plants. Heading into Attack, Vitality managed to steal away the conversion round despite Giants’ pistol round win, however, were unable to form any meaningful momentum as Giants closed out Lotus 13-6.
Vitality then took the series to a more comfortable setting of Split, where they started off with a comfortable four-point lead before Giants managed to get a word in. The two sides vied for control of the half, with Vitality managing to close out the half 7-5 at last. Giants headed into the second half and took back momentum with a pistol round win. From there, however, they were only able to win one more round as Vitality took 6 of the last 7 rounds to close out Split in clean 13-10 fashion.
The decider of Ascent was a rocky one. Despite an early start once more for Vitality, Giants managed to take 7 of the last 9 rounds of the half, sealing it at a 7-5 lead for themselves. They then took the pistol, furthering the lead. Despite Vitality’s pullback of points, it was not enough to complete the comeback and Giants took it 13-10.
Strafe Player of the Series: GIA Cloud
FUT Esports vs Natus Vincere [0-2]
A runaway-train of victory stopped in their tracks by none other than NA’VI. Thundering close behind Fnatic, NA’VI continue their streak of dominance in the EMEA VCT circuit. Hoping to land a haymaker, FUT first took the series to Lotus. However, their plans quickly fell apart as NA’VI showed them the error of their thoughts, with a deadly Defense that delivered successful retake after successful retakes. The first half ended 9-3 in favor of NA’VI. Despite winning the pistol round, FUT’s return of form in the second half, was too late of a recovery as NA’VI managed to close out the map 13-9.
Another dominant first half for NA’VI as they again take a 9-3 scoreline at the half, including the last 6 rounds straight. FUT mounted an incredible recovery however, bringing the game back with first nearly 7 straight rounds, and then another key retake later in the game. Despite that sadly, the scoreline was once more too far to catch up and NA’VI closed out Pearl 13-11.
Strafe Player of the Series: NAVI cNed
Karmine Corp vs Fnatic [0-2]
Fnatic take another win to propel themselves to stratospheric heights amongst the EMEA contestants as they now take an 8-0 undefeated run of the EMEA league. Fnatic got first map pick of the series, and they did not fail to set the tempo of the series with their signature Haven pick. The first half was an incredible hold from Fnatic that saw Karmine struggle to even take the sites initially. Despite eventually managing to plant, they were unable to prevent the retakes from coming in, and Fnatic took a dominant 10-2 half to begin Haven. A quick pistol round win for Fnatic was then converted into a seamless win at 13-2, shattering Karmine’s confidence.
Taking the series to Lotus, Karmine looked far more convincing already. The first half was a brutal back-and-forth of rounds traded, with each side gathering some momentum before being interrupted. The half ended 6-6 with Karmine taking the last two rounds. They would convert that confidence into a pistol round win in the second half, taking the lead in the series. From there though, Fnatic began opening up with an aggressively played Defense side that tore through Karmine’s attempts at playing post-plants. Fnatic took 6 of the last 7 rounds, closing out Lotus in style.
Strafe Player of the Series: FNC Chronicle
BBL Esports vs Team Liquid [1-2]
Liquid pull of the win against BBL in this tightrope match. Returning star “Sayf” announces his return with a bang; and he wasn’t even the main attraction that night. Liquid took the series to Split first, a long-established comfort for them. They open the map with a swift 4-point lead. BBL’s answer of a round finally was short-lived with Liquid continuing their hammering of their defense. The first half ended 9-3 with Liquid in high spirits. Despite that, BBL took the pistol and from there, managed to snowball nearly 7 consecutive rounds that saw them nearly draw even with Liquid. They, however, fell just short, with Liquid managing to close out Liquid 13-11.
BBL continue to get Ascent, with it being their map pick of the series. The map initially opens well for them, stringing together nearly 7 rounds straight. BBL ended their first half with a convincing 8-4. Despite Liquid answering back with a pistol round win, they were unable to mount a proper comeback as BBL sealed off Liquid’s attacks with a solid defense side. Ascent was closed out 13-7.
The decider map of Bind was initially great for BBL, opening with a good lead. However, Liquid quickly identified the weaknesses of the BBL defense and strung together 7 of the last 8 rounds, winning the first half 7-5 despite being behind. TL then put on an incredibly clutch hold on the defense, shutting down BBL completely with a dominant 6-2 second half that ended Bind 13-7.
Strafe Player of the Series: TL nAts
KOI vs Team Heretics [2-1]
KOI emerge victorious in this bloody extended Spanish derby, posting their first win since Week 1. A surprise pick for KOI here as they unveil the Fracture pick against Heretics. Caught off guard, KOI managed to take an incredible 9-3 half against Heretics, leaving their defense shellshocked. On Attack, despite a small resurgence of form, Heretics’ round deficit was too great to overcome, and they fell 13-7 to KOI.
Lotus was an incredible map, coming in as the map pick of Heretics. Despite an initial slow start from the Heretics side, they managed to win back 5 rounds to bring the half to a respectable 5-7. KOI’s high spirits were then shattered in the second half, where they struggled massively to hold against the Heretics Attack side. Crucial lurks and execute timings from Heretics pulled them apart and KOI were only able to post two more rounds to end the game 13-9 for Heretics.
Ascent was a struggle for both sides, with both teams exhausted from the series. Heretics initially did well on their Attack, with the pocket pick Viper forming an unusual team composition and default. Heretics were able to scale up and take 7 rounds early before KOI ended the half with the last three rounds. The first half ended 7-5 for Heretics. In the second half, it was a messy scuffle between the two sides, with key clutches from both teams. In the end, KOI emerged as the victors, 13-11.
Strafe Player of the Series: KOI Wolfen
The eighth week of VCT EMEA kicks off on 17th May, with NA'VI taking on Fnatic.
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Credit: VCT EMEA // Valorant Esports