Tough to Watch: NA Valorant Challengers League Split 1 Week 5 Day 2 Summary Recap
This wasn’t it…
The North America (NA) Challenger League 2023 is comprised of 12 teams competing over the course of 2 splits during the year. The first split, set to run from the 1st of Feb until the 17th of Mar, will culminate in attendance to the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI).
The Moguls finally awaken and ORE face more frustrations. One more day of formalities to go, and the victors of the split are beginning to emerge.
Here is everything you may have missed from Week 5 Day 2 of the NA VCL:
Current NA VCL Standings (Week 5)
NA VCL Week 5 Group A Standings. Image Screenshot Strafe Esports.
NA VCL Week 5 Group B Standings. Image Screenshot Strafe Esports.NA VCL Week 5 Day 2
Match Results
OREsports vs MAD Lions [1-2]
The series begins on OREsports’ map pick of Pearl, where ORE quickly showed their familiarity with the map. Despite losing the pistol and conversion, ORE went on to claim six of the next seven rounds. Their ferocious attack side resulted in a strong 7-5 half for themselves. At the swap, they faced some difficulties as MAD began relying on their postplants and OP. Despite that, ORE would still maintain their lead calmly, and took Pearl 13-8.
Once more, Lotus proves to be the benchmark map, with OREsports struggling to hold against the Attack side of MAD. The Lions began the map with a 6-0 start, before closing the half at 7-5 thanks to a comeback from ORE. Once the swap occurred however, MAD would take 6 of the 7 rounds in clean fashion, with Lotus closed out 13-6 and little answers from the ORE side.
A ridiculous pistol round clutch from “Ange” was still not enough the quell ORE, as they posted a 7-5 half on Fracture, despite losing the pistol and conversion. Fracture looked far more comfortable for the ORE roster, however, they were unable to post more than 2 more rounds on their Attack side, with MAD clamping down with 8 of their own, and closed out Fracture and the series, 13-9.
Strafe Player of the Series: MAD N4RRATE
FaZe Clan vs Moist Moguls [0-2]
After a blistering 2-1 start to the season, FaZe have continued to falter, having fallen to Oxygen the week prior, and now Moist Moguls, both in 0-2 fashion.
Moist began with their map pick of Pearl. Despite the notable consistency of “BABYBAY” and “POISED”, FaZe continue to look shaky. Star controller “supamen” seems to have gone missing once more, with his incredible performances of weeks prior now seeming a distant memory. FaZe began with a pistol and conversion, however, still lost the first half 4-8, with remarkable holds from Moist as the crucial factor for the stalwart defense. Once swapped over, FaZe managed to post 5 more crucial rounds, however, the gap was too wide, and they were unable to catch up to a Moist that had claimed both pistols and both conversion rounds.
And once more, we arrive at Lotus. Despite being the map pick of FaZe, the roster would only manage a single point in the first half, with Moist scoring an 11-1 scoreline going into the second half. From there, FaZe managed to claw back 6 of the first 7 rounds of the second half, but it was far too late, as Moist closed out the map 13-7.
Strafe Player of the Series: MxM thief
Notable Stats from Week 5 of NA VCL
- M80’s loss to The Guard marks their first loss in the NA VCL since the start of the season.
- OREsports have made NA VCL history as the first team to go 0-5 in the regular season.
- As we close in on the end of the season, only two agents enjoy an over 50% pickrate, that being Jett and Killjoy. Both agents are enjoying the fruits of a post-Chamber meta, that saw both the OP and sentinel responsibilities shift hands.
- Astra is the highest picked controller at the event, with 44%
- Sova is the highest picked Initiator, with 43%
- As the regular season closes, two agents have stayed at a 0% pickrate, that being Reyna and Phoenix.
- “Kanpeki” continues to hold on to the top rated spot in the entire league. “TiGG” and “koalanoob” are in close second and third.
Image credit: Knights Arena