VALORANT Masters Madrid: Opening Games Preview and Predictions
VALORANT Masters Madrid 2024 kicks off tomorrow. The first stage of competition will feature the eight teams taking on each other in a SWISS format.
We have already covered the tournament format, schedule and teams attending here.
Out of the eight playing teams, four qualify for the second stage. The opening games for the SWISS will feature the following fixtures.
Karmine Corp vs. FunPlus Phoenix
Karmine Corp surprised the whole world when they took down the 2023 best team Fnatic to qualify for Madrid. They played amazing and have pieces that can win games on their own. The sheer talent on the young roster has no end.
FunPlus Phoenix did show some interesting Valorant, especially with Life’s Chamber dominating the competition, unfortunately, they fell to EDG in a 3-1 game and don’t look as solid as their peers.
If Karmine can reproduce their performance for VCT EMEA Kickoff playoffs, they will be heavy favorites to win. This will be Karmine’s game to lose.
The Strafe votes share the sentiment as 86% voters have chosen Karmine Corp as the winner of the game.
Gen.G vs. LOUD
Similar to Karmine, Gen.G took down the former best team in the VCT Pacific Kickoff grand finals. The synergy and the mechanical prowess of the roster was off the charts and despite the heavy opposition from Paper Rex, Gen.G came out on top.
But this time their opposition is LOUD, who despite losing Aspas have continued terrorizing Americas, losing only to Sentinels in the Grand Finals.
While there are gaps to exploit in LOUD, Gen.G would have to ensure they do not let the nerves take the front seat and play the same as they did against Paper Rex.
The game still favors LOUD as it is unclear what the team will run as a composition. Even if they continue running the Phoenix Flash comp they did, Gen.G needs to counter with confidence and not get overwhelmed.
87% of Strafe voters also have chosen LOUD as the winners for the game.
EDward Gaming vs. Paper Rex
EDward Gaming and Paper Rex have faced each other thrice in the past and the latter won all the three times.
Despite winning the title, EDG struggled to close out games in VCT China Kickoff, displaying cracks in the team’s fortress.
The same can be said about PRX who lost to Gen.G in the VCT Pacific Kickoff grand finals.
But facing the latter in a new meta is a challenge to all the big teams, moreover with how the last three games have concluded, Alecks seems to have figured out EDG and it definitely gives them an advantage, making PRX the favorite to win the duel the fourth time.
EDG needs to shut down their contemporaries effectively and make the first blow to win the game. Strafe voters do agree as 77% have voted Paper Rex as the winner.
Sentinels vs. Team Heretics
The toughest and the final opening game of the SWISS stage features two teams with amazing fandom.
To qualify for the Madrid, Sentinels fought hard against a tough Americas group and then the Play-ins stage, while Team Heretics almost breezed through.
But the international stage is a different ball game altogether. In terms of tactics, strategies, mechanical prowess, both teams should not be far apart.
The game, albeit a tough one, slightly favors Sentinels for the squad’s experience playing on the big stage, more so if Team Heretics decide to play with WoOt.
Strafe Voters also agree with the opinion as 84% of them have chosen Sentinels as the winner of the final opening game.
VCT Masters Madrid start 14th March with Karmine Corp taking on FunPlus Phoenix. You can follow the games on YouTube and Twitch. Follow Valorant Champions Tour on X/Twitter for the latest updates on the event.
You can also follow the event on Strafe.
Feature Image Credits: Riot Games