VALORANT Champions Seoul 2024: Opening Matches Preview and Predictions
With the group stages behind us, the VALORANT Champions Seoul 2024 playoffs are about to kick off, and the excitement is through the roof.
From an initial pool of 16 teams, only 8 remain, ready to clash in a double-elimination bracket for the coveted title of 2024 Champions. The stakes have never been higher as these teams vie for ultimate glory.
Read More: VALORANT Champions 2024 Playoffs: Format, Teams, Fixtures and more
DRX vs. Sentinels
The last hope of the Pacific Region, DRX have been outstanding and overachieving since Pacific Stage 2. With Kim "MaKo" Myeong-kwan leading his squad of young talents, two of whom are playing at an international stage for the first time, they are showing no signs of backing down.
Finishing top of their group, with fantastic performances by rookie Cho "Flashback" Min-hyuk and veteran Yu "BuZz" Byung-chul, against KRU and EMEA giants Fnatic, DRX have shown that there is more to them than meets the eye. And they will certainly be looking to carry forward with this momentum.
Sentinels, on the other hand, entered the tournament as underdogs after a shaky qualification. And after their opening 2-0 loss to Gen.G in the group stage only confirmed this bias. But with their backs against the wall, Sentinels showed a form reminiscent of their victory run in Masters Madrid.
Zachary "zekken" Patrone’s explosive play has been crucial, as Sentinels eliminated FunPlus Phoenix, and proceeded to knock Gen.G out of the competition in their own home soil, thus making it to playoffs and denying them a chance of a second international trophy. And with Gustavo "Sacy" Rossi also eyeing his second Champions trophy, Sentinels are now a force to be reckoned with.
Big stage experience is a key factor in matchups. And Sentinels, being one of the most experienced teams in this tournament, are our pick to win this matchup as well.
Trace Esports vs. EDward Gaming
People had little faith in Trace Esports, as they came into Seoul as the 3rd seed from VCT CN. But they have defied expectations, emerging from the shadows as VCT CN’s third seed to top their group in Seoul. Trace were not in danger. They were the danger.
Their victories over Team Vitality and Leviatan showcased their tenacity, with Lu "Kai" Zhinan leading the charge. This debut on the international stage has already solidified their status as a team to watch. And show the world that CN is not a region to be underestimated.
EDward Gaming, the top seed from VCT CN, entered with the weight of their region’s expectations. But after the conclusion of the group stage, it was evident that it wasn't the case this time. They had a weight lifted off their shoulders.
After facing a setback against G2, EDG came out swinging, and eliminated Pacific giants Paper Rex. And with Zhang "Smoggy" Zhao and Wan "CHICHOO" Shunzhi playing at peak performance, EDG will be looking to show their CN brethren that they are still the no.1 seed from their region.
Even though this matchup could go either way, it again comes down to the experience. And hence, EDG are our pick to win this series.
G2 Esports vs. Leviatan
G2 Esports can easily be regarded as one of, if not the most improved, teams in the 2024 season. Coming in as the second seed from the Americas, they also boast of being the only Ascension team to make it to Champions this season.
With stellar performances by the entire team in the group stage, they beat out heavy hitters like Paper Rex and EDG to finish at the top.
Credit has to be given to Jacob "valyn" Batio for bringing this roster to uncharted waters and posing a threat to the big boys. And if they continue on this trajectory, they just might create history.
Leviatan came into this tournament as the top seed from the Americas, but they were quickly humbled by Trace Esports.
But this loss only fired up the squad further. After taking out Vitality in a semi-dominant 2-0 win to secure playoffs, Lev are looking to make most of opportunity. And with a rematch of the Americas Grand Finals where they beat G2, the confidence is high.
Erick "aspas" Santos is always a threat on the server. And along with fantastic support performances from the team, him and Corbin "C0M" Lee will be looking to claim another Champions trophy.
G2 are a team that is constantly learning and evolving. And it would be unwise to think that they didn’t learn from their previous loss to Lev. So G2 are our pick to win this matchup.
Team Heretics vs. Fnatic
Team Heretics have always been playing second fiddle this year. Finishing in 3rd place finish in EMEA looked like it was the last straw for the team. Coming into Seoul with their full roster without any stand-ins, the squad is finally showing their full potential.
Finishing at the top of their group, beating out a resurgent Sentinels, and getting their revenge on Gen.G, Los Ninos are shredding through their competition.
The dynamic Turkish duo of Enes "RieNs" Ecirli and Mert "Wo0t" Alkan have been instrumental in their dominance. It does not matter who they face, Team Heretics will mow them all down.
Fnatic have always been touted as one of the best teams in the world. But their international records leave a lot to be desired. Now given another chance to rectify that, Fnatic will be bringing out the big guns.
With a blend of stellar performances by Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev and Emir "Alfajer" Beder, combined with a rising star in rookie Emirhan "hiro" Kat, they are determined to change that narrative. After a minor setback against DRX, Fnatic are ready to bring their A-game to the playoffs.
Team Heretics look like they are done settling for 2nd place. And what better way to prove that than beating the top seed from their region. So Heretics are our pick to win this series.
As the playoffs of VALORANT Champions Seoul 2024 commence, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown between some of the world’s best teams.
Each match is poised to be a spectacle of skill, strategy, and resilience, with every team eager to carve their name in the history books. Only one can emerge as the champion, and the journey to that title starts now!
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Featured Image Source: Riot Games
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