o7 - I was really excited about the 2026 Na'vi project with him :(

Yeah looks like we won't be seeing more the core project for 2026. They will probably rebuild as Rexxtoned and maybe Ninja leaves. GSR and Donatello will be ready for 2027. Since they both have late birthdays in the 2026 season.

Very neon heavy from what I can see but not a bad shout at all.

What are your no brainer picks for the 2026 season?

I'll start:

• Sand from Twisted Minds / Looking incredible on the sentinel role and is really dominating T2 at the moment.
• Rexxtoned from Team Liquid Academy / Being apart of that project is guaranteed to land you a spot or atleast a trial in tier 1. He is looking really good on the sentinel role.
• Takas from Mandatory / Definitely deserves another stint in T1. Maybe some consistency issues but other than that definitely isn't a bad pickup.
• Timotino from TSM / Definitely one of the better looking duelists in tier 2 at the moment. Very flexible on each of the duelists. I don't see how he is not playing t1 in the 2026 season.
• Pa1ze from Gamax / Danish bias of course but he is looking really good and has been for a while in tier 2. Trials at the minimum.
• Kajuks (Free agent) / He was tearing it up on a "mix team" in North//East. Definitely deserves to tear up tier 1!

Script: NRG wins game 1 over EDG. Losses to TL drops and drops down. Rematch EDG win over NRG.

If not the switch the win/loss with EDG. I'm 100% sure they will trade matches. Kangkang vs Mada will be cinema though.

+Okeanos +Desmo +Meco1e they had one stage to prove they were good and they did? It really just feels like teams are gambling at this point. Out with the old in with the new all the time...

Build a roster over time like Liquid and Fnatic have done replacing only singular players to still keep team dynamics???

Yeah for sure more detailed info inregards to what matters. I mean I would love to know personally how Apeks is 43rd rather than 48th if they haven't won anything at all...

EDIT: I can see that it is based on the placements on the leaderboard.

Yes but winning vs a team doesn't say much. Detailed map data is 100% available for them and they can definitely use that to create a much better rating system. TL 3-0 in EMEA and NRG 0-3 in NA and all because they won over a obvious struggling sentinels they get higher on the leaderboard?

Something just feels off about the list. Like I agree with some of it but the algorithm just seems flawed.

I was getting downvoted

To all the Americans confused as to why I'm putting their star boy on the overrated (And downvoting :) ). I won't neglect he was dominant. However in terms of what is being asked. Whom is overrated he DEFINITELY fits that category. Especially since he was a one trick, you can't argue with that. When you think of chamber, yay will instantly pop to your mind.

For comparison to EU's star boy in his rookie year on multiple agents (and a uncomfortable neon):

Yay:
2022 avg rating: 1.18
2022 avg ACS: 248
2022 avg K/D: 1.33
2022 avg KPR: 0.88

Kaajak (rookie year):
2025 avg rating: 1.13
2025 avg ACS: 234
2025 avg K/D: 1.23
2025 avg KPR: 0.81

Yay did not deserve the award. I may be persuaded for the nominee to be fair.

Overated: Yay. Said this before and will say it again. There is never a world where he should be winning Esports PC Player of the Year over Faker and S1mple. Chamber one trick.
Underrated: Sickrey. Honestly really deserves a spot in t1. Super talented initiator.

Incrementally more aces :O

Yearly highest aces:
Mada - 9 (2025)
ZmjjKK - 7 (2024)
Sayf - 6 (2023)
Derke - 5 (2022)
f0rsakeN - 4 (2021)

PRX 3 - 1 TL

Immo 1 Episode 3 & 4.

Played on and off ever since but watch nearly all challengers / VCT games now for multiple regions (500 hrs total playtime).

That part makes sense. However, I think the comments are being misunderstood or taken out of context. They haven’t released any players (unlike Apeks) which suggests there might be some "truth" to this. As I recall, franchised teams won’t be reconsidered until the end of 2026, so doing it at the end of 2025 wouldn’t make sense.

The post makes no sense. They don't hold an ascension spot lol?

Apeks and Gentle Mates have been relegated from VCT EMEA after failing to qualify for Champions 2025 and not meeting the criteria to qualify to Ascension. Therefore, the seventh- and eighth-best teams in Ascension Points will qualify in their stead.

• As a result, Ascension will promote two new teams to VCT for the next year.

I think they are sadly too inexperienced. Definitely given time this roster will show very good promise. Need some more consistency from the newer brought up players.

EMEA:
Nats - Sentinel (IGL)
Kaajak - Duelist
Riens - Initiator
Ruxic - Controller
Chronicle - Flex
Patitek - 6th man
LohaN - coach

AMER:
Sato - Duelist
Valyn - Controller IGL
N4rrate - Initiator
Skuba - Flex
JonahP - Flex
Babybay - 6th man
Bonkar - coach

China:
Nephh - Flex IGL
Chichoo - Sentinel
Whzy - Duelist
Rushia - Controller
Knight - Initiator
Happywei - 6th man
Bail - coach

APAC:
Something - Duelist
DH - Controller
F0rsaken - Flex IGL
Xferro - Sentinel
Patmen - Initiator
Primmie - 6th man
Alecks - coach

https://www.vlr.gg/pickem/b34ecab2

Script: https://www.vlr.gg/pickem/adaba8f8

My only concern for Fnatic is Kaajak. I think the pressure and expectations is getting to him. His neon is not looking too good and based on where their map pool is going it looks like we will be see more of that.

I really hope he finds his passion and form for champs.

It makes sense. They don't even get acsension meaning they are now a T2 team (with no players). Most of the players are hopeing for a new stint in T1. It also makes sense that APEKS focuses on a rebuild since the roster went through a lot of changes and downs since their last ascension run.

Imo for them to have a good chance they need to get either the full "Full box 200" roster or get a few of those players and build from there.

They looked good on a few maps against BLG but looked like they lost momentum or mentality half way through.

EDG about to pull a back to back. Jieni tournament MVP surpassing sensei Kangkang.

On a more realistic note:

• PRX stint again (they are running over pacific rn).
• If Kaajak "finds" enjoyment in the game and FNC coaching staff fix their map pool before then they are up there (so not happening).
• DRG going to make the underdog run this time.
• TL just makes sense to have a good run but I don't see them winning.

The roster makes sense. They just had a slow start to the stage. Especially also since they have both Happy and the mental coach in the booth to talk to if shit hits the fan.

On the other hand the Vitality roster makes no sense. Changing this much comes with consequences. The Fnatic rebuild way is much better instead of this fiesta and I definitely didn't help the stage 1 beef drama.

Heretics have a HUGE mentality problem. Especially if you saw their EWC stint. Someone needs to step up and be the vibe for the team. They had a good start (flawless groups) but a riseing BBL and a NAVI finally showing promise is dangerous to go up against if you have mentality problems.

2/7 :(

BBL mirror comp FNC on Ascent and FNC is better on Ascent than BBL. But I don't know about the icebox slander. Take a look at the statistics for Icebox, they are arguably one of the better EMEA teams on it.

It makes very good sense. There are certain guidelines that the teams have to follow. Riot is basically giving them money to be in the the "franchised" league. Therefore if they don't actually rebuild (if people steal) or do well as of Riot standard then that is completely fine. New talent and new possibilities for teams to give a good run and entertaining matches similarly to G2. No one wants to watch a guaranteed 0-2.

GX 2-0

GX ban Ascent
NAVI ban Lotus
GX pick Sunset (GX W)
Navi pick Corrode (GX W)
GX ban Icebox
Navi ban Haven
Decider Bind

Heretics + FNC + TL owning the region. Script: https://www.vlr.gg/pickem/aeed198e

FNC 2-1

FNC ban Sunset
BBL ban Bind
FNC pick Corrode (FNC w)
BBL pick Lotus (BBL w)
FNC ban Haven
BBL ban Ascent
Decider Icebox (FNC w)

Yeah quite sad but it just goes to show how competitive Pacific is.

Any of them could do a good run internationally.

I can't be the only one thinking you need to jinx all DFM opponents until they reach champs.

It's between them for sure but statistically and watching EMEA then PROFEK is the better dedicated smokes player. Keiko is flexing between duelist and smokes where I just need a 100% dedicated smoker on that roster.

Kaajak: Duelist
Wo0t: Flex
nAts: IGL and sentinel
PROFEK: Smokes
Riens: Initiator

HM and super sub:
LewN

My personal favourites:
ComeBack
Lar0k
Alfajer
King Kaajak
Marteen

Honorable mentions:
Canzerra
Invy
Jemkin
Juicy

For all the forum trolls:
FNC Boaster for TL Nats

Also after partnership (LOCK//IN and forward) the average placements for teams of regions are the following:
Americas: 8.03 avg
China: 9.66 avg
EMEA: 9.69 avg
PACIFC: 10.64 avg

EDIT: Can't spell.

Yes, even this shows perfectly how balanced the numbers are. Except for CHINA but tbh they will dominate the next years.

2021 Stage 2 Masters Reykjavík - Sentinels (NA) vs Fnatic (EMEA)
2021 Stage 3 Masters Berlin - Gambit Esports (EMEA) vs Team Envy (NA)
2021 Champions Berlin - Acend (EMEA) vs Gambit Esports (EMEA)
2022 Stage 1 Masters Reykjavík - OpTic Gaming (NA) vs LOUD (SA)
2022 Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen - FunPlus Phoenix (EMEA) vs Paper Rex (PACIFIC)
2022 Champions Istanbul - LOUD (SA) vs OpTic Gaming (NA)
2023 LOCK//IN São Paulo - Fnatic (EMEA) vs LOUD (SA)
2023 Masters Tokyo - Fnatic (EMEA) vs Evil Geniuses (NA)
2023 Champions Los Angeles - Evil Geniuses (NA) vs Paper Rex (PACIFIC)
2024 Masters Madrid - Sentinels (NA) vs Gen.G (PACIFIC)
2024 Masters Shanghai - Gen.G (PACIFIC) vs Team Heretics (EMEA)
2024 Champions Seoul - Edward Gaming (CHINA) vs Team Heretics (EMEA)
2025 Masters Bangkok - T1 (PACIFIC) vs G2 Esports (NA)
2025 Masters Toronto - Paper Rex (PACIFIC) vs Fnatic (EMEA)

EMEA - 10 apperances
NA - 8 apperances
SA - 3 apperances
PACIFIC - 6 apperances
China - 1 apperance

Yes the last 4 events were won by PACIFIC / Chinese teams but it doesn't seem like you are looking at the bigger picture. Especially since it wasn't dominant wins. Also as a european this masters was a disaster for viewing, I missed a ton of games due to the late playing times. And no I'm not hating on the idea because "I'm a EMEA fan". I enjoy watching other regions more due to the mechanical skills.

I like the 100T brand and Asuna is one of my favourite NA players. Big believer back in the day but they have honestly dissapointed me a little too many times. It is not a winning roster at all at the moment. SEN clears and G2 Clears. Especially also with the amount of talent there is to be scouted in Challengers (not all are matchfixers xd).

King Kaajak
Jinggg
BenjyFishy
Zeek
Nats

Edit:
-Tenz +BenjyFishy