NA Valorant Challengers Leagues Split 2 Week 2 Summary Recap

Some already off to a better start...

The North American (NA) Challenger League 2023 is comprised of 12 teams competing over the course of 2 splits during the year. The second split, set to run from the 18th of April until the 19th of May, will culminate in attendance to Playoffs.

Turtles have their first win on the board, Moist have their revenge, The Guard and M80 are in the lead (to no one's surprise), Disguised are on a lose streak, and FaZe take down the Lions.

Here is everything you may have missed from Week 2 of the NA VCL:

Current NA VCL Standings (Week 2)

NA VCL Split 2 Week 2 Group A. Screencapture Strafe Esports.

NA VCL Split 2 Week 2 Group B. Screencapture Strafe Esports.

NA VCL Week 2 Match Results

Oxygen Esports vs Turtle Troops [1-2]

Turtle Troops have already earned their first win of the season, a breath of fresh air for the beleaguered squad last split, taking it in three maps against Oxygen Esports. Haven (map pick of Oxygen) was a hard-fought map, with both teams going even at the half. From there, it only got more competitive, with Turtles taking the pistol and third round win, only for Oxygen to slam back with two of their own. On and on the back-and-forth occurred. Oxygen had taken three rounds in a row, and they were in control with 11-11. Sadly, Turtles managed to claim both last rounds to take Haven 13-11.

Pearl, however, was a rousing success for Oxygen. They were off to a flying start with 9 straight rounds before Turtle’s attempted to invoke the curse by taking the last three rounds. Despite winning the pistol, it was not to be sadly, with Oxygen not letting their foot off the gas and closing out Pearl fairly comfortably at 13-6.

Heading into Ascent, it was initially a fair back and forth for both teams, but Oxygen began claiming momentum, taking 7 of the last 8 rounds of the half to take an 8-4 lead. Unwilling to lie down and take it thought, Turtles snapped back with 7 straight of their own, snatching the lead. Despite Oxygen attempting to stem the bleeding, their poor second half of 2-9 allowed Turtles to take Ascent and the series.

Strafe Player of the Series: TTR Governor

G2 Esports vs Moist Moguls [1-2]

Revenge is a dish best served cold, but this was warm and absolutely delicious for G2 haters and fans of former BreakThru/Moist Moguls. A revenge match series that stemmed from Split 1, this was a reckoning long in the making after the brutal drama that ensued in the aftermath. Starting with Lotus, this was initially a powerful opening for Moist, winning 7 straight rounds at the end of the half to make it 8-4. But they were unable to capitalize on the momentum as G2 stormed right back with a 9-1 half that claimed Lotus fairly uncontested in the second half.

The opposite story rang through for G2’s own map pick of Ascent, where the series began with Moist Moguls taking a commanding 9-3 half to start, before closing it out with 4 of the 5 rounds played in the second half going to them. Haven was also a stomp for Moist Moguls, beginning with a commendable 7-5 half initially, before kerb stomping G2 with 6 straight rounds in the second half that won them the series 13-5.

Strafe Player of the Series: MXM aproto

The Guard vs OREsports [2-0]

What can we say, except, they continue to stand strong? The Guard secure another win in Split 2, this time over OREsports, who surprisingly have looked stronger this split compared to the last. ORE first took the series to Haven, where despite a fierce back-and-forth, The Guard managed to emerge with an 8-4 half to start. From there, ORE clawed back 5 straight rounds, but were unable to close out Haven despite their slim lead, with The Guard taking 3 straight rounds at the end to win Haven 13-11.

Split was a similar story, where despite an initial fierce back-and-forth, The Guard would once more take the momentum to win the first half 9-3. That said, ORE mounted an incredible comeback attempt, including winning 7 straight rounds. However, they once more fell shy, losing 11-13 as well.

Strafe Player of the Series: TGRD JonahP

Shopify Rebellion vs Disguised [2-1]

Heartache for Disguised as they fall for the second time in two weeks. Moreover, this was a crucial face-off for the two former teammates, “yay” and “vanity”. Disguised began on Ascent, taking the first half 7-5 in a bloody exchange that felt as close as the score. From there however, Disguised traded two rounds for every three they gained and won Ascent 13-9 convincingly.

Moving onto Shopify’s own map pick of Haven though, tragedy struck as Shopify set a blistering 10-2 half to start the map. With little answer, Disguised managed to win the pistol, however, the deficit was too great, and they were unable to gain more than a few more rounds.

Split was a rough start for Disguised, with Shopify once more off to a great 9-3 start that Disguised were unable to recover from. Despite the second half going fairly even, Shopify’s early lead managed to secure them the map and series win.

Strafe Player of the Series: SR v1c

M80 vs TSM [2-1]

The reigning champions of NA VCL continue their dominance with another win to ring in their second split. TSM began the series with an impressive performance on Fracture, where, despite a closely contested 7-5 first half, they were able to break away with 6 of the 7 rounds in the second half to cleanly close out Fracture 13-6.

Haven was not the same case, with M80 answering back with a strong 7-5 first half to begin, before closing it out with 6 of the last 7 rounds, ending Haven 13-8. Ascent was even more impressive, beginning with M80 taking an 8-4 to start the season before taking 5 of the last 6 rounds, closing out Ascent and the series, 13-6.

Strafe Player of the Series: M80 zander

FaZe Clan vs MAD Lions [2-1]

FaZe were off to a flying start, with "mummAy" returning to the spotlight in a glorious explosion. Both he and "TiGG" were instrumental pieces of FaZe's seemingly rejuvenated form as they faced off against a rebuilt MAD Lions. MAD for their part, have yet to find success with their rebuilt roster. Split was a close map, with FaZe off to an equal start on their own map pick. Going 6-6 into the second half, FaZe caught a second wind after winning the pistol, and snowballed to victory with 7 of the 9 rounds played going to them. Split ended 13-8.

Heading into Fracture, MAD were not off to a good start on their own map pick. FaZe dominated the first half with an 8-4 scoreline. "BABYBAY" in particular, was a nuisance against them and delivered in a big way for FaZe. Swapping over to the defense, FaZe noticeably struggled more, with MAD going on to bring it back with eight rounds. FaZe managed to force overtime, but could not stop the MAD momentum as they equalized the series. Now on the decider map of Pearl, again, FaZe took off first with an 8-4 half. MAD managed to win the pistol and third round, but the lead was too large and their comeback was stopped in its tracks. Pearl ended 13-10 for FaZe.

Strafe Player of the Series: FAZE BABYBAY

Notable Stats from Week 2 of NA VCL

• M80 continues to dominate the upper charts, with three of their players: NiSMO, zander, and koalanoob at the top in ratings.
• Rustun's ACS has yet to be beaten, however in terms of consistency, Koalanoob, OXY, sym, and zander have kept an average of around 245-250 ACS across at least 500 rounds.
• Drone currently holds the top headshot percentage with 35%.
• Haven is the most played map in NA VCL currently, followed by Ascent and Pearl. Icebox has been played 8 times, the lowest of the current active maps.

Credit: Knights Arena