VALORANT Champions 2024 Seoul Winners Matches Preview

Valorant

5 Aug

Foo Zen-Wen

As a professional VALORANT player, there are perhaps few things as daunting as the opening series of a massive tournament such as Champions. Incalculable stakes on the line, the feeling of an entire season resting on a knife’s edge - how a team begins a tournament often determines so much. A strong first game sets a solid mood and boosts the confidence for the team. However, a bad start could spell disaster for the team’s morale.

With that said, VALORANT Champions 2024 is off to an incredible start. The 16 teams have clashed once each and 8 teams are now a step from qualification to the next stage - Playoffs. Within the next 2 days, 4 of these teams will emerge, one from each group, as the first to qualify for the VALORANT Champions 2024 Playoffs.

First to Ascend

It goes without saying that every team’s desire at this event is to do well and ideally lift the trophy for themselves, their fans and supporters, their organization, and their region. Starting tomorrow, 4 teams will be one step closer to that goal.

The following teams are currently in contention for qualification to the next stage:

Gen.G
Team Heretics
Fnatic
DRX
Leviatán
Trace Esports
EDward Gaming
G2 Esports

VALORANT Champions 2024 Seoul Winners Matches' Schedule

Gen.G vs Team Heretics [5pm KST | 6th July]

A callback to Shanghai’s Grand Finals, the two finalists find themselves facing one another in a scramble to be the first to qualify for top 8. Gen.G are seeking to prove true their growing legacy as the Golden Generation and the chosen ones to forge a path of triumph for the Pacific region and South Korean VALORANT.

Team Heretics, meanwhile, face their own demons after zero trophies throughout the entire year. Despite attending 3 Grand Finals, Heretics have walked away with a null sum in trophy count. Will this clash's outcome finally be the one to push Heretics into the higher gear they so desperately need?

Fnatic vs DRX [8pm KST | 6th July]

An old classic for 2022 fans. Before we had Gen.G and Paper Rex, we had Vision Striker, or as they are now known as - DRX. In 2022, DRX finally overcame their own mental block at Champions, reaching 4th place for the first time by eliminating Fnatic in the process.

The following year, Fnatic paid them back at Champions 2023, eliminating DRX in a close lower bracket series that eliminated the Korean giants in top 8. It seems almost appropriate then that the two clash once again in at Champions 2024.

Fnatic, coming off a heater of a season with a new member subbing in, will be looking to redeem themselves from their debacle of a performance at Shanghai. However, DRX are looking to do the opposite.

As fallen household names in the Pacific region, they have managed to reform some measure of pride and power in the region and will be looking to cement it with a strong win against EMEA’s best champion.

Leviatán vs Trace Esports [5pm KST | 7th July]

If Leviatán is absolute power, then Trace would be absolute macro. Their first debut at Champions has already resulted in EMEA’s no.2 seed - Vitality - falling to the wayside. While most praise their incredible tenacity and teamplay, it is the macro that has truly charmed the international community.

A deep understanding of map rotations resulted in Vitality finding themselves played like a fiddle. However, Leviatán will be a different beast altogether. Absolute power is likely the best way of describing them.

In their first battle against Talon, it looked like the Pacific representative would be pulling the first upset of the tournament. And yet, it was a classic case of, ‘they had another gear.’

There has yet to be a pass deep enough or a mountain tall enough that they cannot overcome with talent and skill, and the ones who will really be tested will be the green Trace squad in this battle of brawns vs brains.

EDward Gaming vs G2 Esports [8pm KST | 7th July]

Another first time encounter between two regional representatives and one that promises to be extremely exciting. EDG likes to identify themselves as a deeply tactical and default heavy roster, but in actuality their style can devolve into brawls very quickly.

Their individual members typically shine with strong pressure but 2024 has been a cruel year for them internationally. Silenced twice internationally, EDG are struggling to hit the same mark as they did in 2023 and this represents their last and best chance, starting off this time with a strong start and some roster changes that have shown some promise.

On the other side, we have G2 Esports, the almost perennially doubted. There isn’t a fan alive who isn’t aware of how deep G2 can run and yet, something about this squad strums the same strings as the plucky, underdog age old song.

We keep underestimating the depths this squad is capable of, and the absolutely ridiculous level of tenacity they can show when pushed into a corner. This will be an absolutely epic battle to watch and you can quote me on that.

Catch the action live on Twitch and YouTube. You can also watch the tournament on Valorantesports.com or follow the games on Strafe.

Follow Valorant Champions Tour on X/Twitter for latest updates on Champions 2024.

Stay tuned on Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conference and more.

Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

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