One can hope, EG is still a big ? for me. Jawg do be nasty, I think it's more of a question of will Ethan and BCJ fit well with this team and potter as coach.

Whelp, didn't think they'd get 2-0'd, vit's map pool needs work

Because that's the stats? lol, ascent is their worst map.

Optic are my boys, but let's be honest, as soon as marved knew he didn't want to play in franchise his performance at champs was... not great. Spot on about FNS, maybe Ardis, xset did beat fpx.

hard to say, need to see Optic with Ardis, and SEN with the BR power. 100t def has the most potential to be a really really good team over the next few years, their all young. Wouldn't be surprised if they have an era at some point if they stick together.

This core of 100t has 38% winrate on ascent, every other map is way above that. I really haven't said much this tournament on here because anyone thinking this shows anything other then teams trying stuff out is braindead. There is really nothing on the line besides LAN practice.

100000%, but I do suspect that riot is getting tired of visa issues tied to that area recently. Hopefully when things calm down over there CIS league will be back.

Kru beat FKS on the head to head matchup, winning the tie breaker.

shoulda put prx instead of c9 on my list, I really hope they have a great year!

c9 vs liquid, 2-1 liquid wins, or 2-1 c9 wins, don't matter, 100T winning this event.

100t vs vit, 2-1 100T to finals.

1.100T (young guns, second favorite org outside of optic)
2.Fnatic (Fav EU team to watch)
3.Sentinals (Want to see if NA and BR mixed team works)
4.NRG/Navi (Want to see how both of these cores do with new stars)

5. C9 (Honestly just want to see if yay falls off or goes nutty on jett or whatever he ends up playing)

I don't really follow APAC, but I'm looking forward to whoever ends up becoming top dogs in that region. I think the full SA teams are not going to do that hot in the america's circuit, but I'm happy to be wrong.

not wrong, RIP optic, rip xset.

I'll wait and see, the only lineup worth anything as is is 100T, maybe Sen if they are actually taking shit serious again.

100T, not that I hate Sen or anything, but I've known Nadeshot and the Optic guys for most of my life.

Yeah, you're not wrong. I got tired with CS because it's not truly an international esport, and I've been looking forward to each international event. I'd even say franchising wasn't that bad of an idea for me until well, they rewarded optic as a team, the most consistent, and arguable the best valorant team to ever exist, with being forced to split after an amazing year.

I've gone from anger to just sad. I just don't get how they could pick EG up and do that to Optic... even if it was an org being denied, they should of forced EG to sign the whole team. I'll never see those 5 on the server together again, and knowing how much they liked playing for Optic, and Optic's history, I can only assume that Riot was playing favorites or holding some OLD ass shit over that org.

Sure did, your moms thick pussy lips. Tell her to shower more for me.

I mean I'd want them never to franchise and doing riot supported, or contracted LAN circuits like CSGO. It's the biggest FPS esport for a reason. And there is a reason why OW, Halo, and CoD don't have even close to it's number. If they had announced franchising before the esport scene had started for val, I would of at least been able to simply not get invested into the scene. Or have my heart broken when the team I love and follow has to split up over stupid fucking business decisions.

Why wouldn't it of been considered that they go the CSGO route with tournament organizers and Riot sponsored events? Every single FPS franchise league in esports sucks ass and is pretty much dead, OW, CoD, Halo. It's never successful. I'll agree that riot at least has a better format for franchise then they do but there is no guarantee that these super teams will even be made, or that all the players are deserving of a spot. Just like riot has favoritism, the team could simply reject more then qualified candidates based on beef, or that it would replace a favored son of an org.

Nah, I get to cry. I followed a team for a whole year of my life, every single match. Fell in love with them in and out of the server, and to watch them forced to split because of this stupid shit. It makes me hate riot so much I feel like I'm torn between supporting the players I cared so much about on their new teams, or supporting this shitty fucking mega corporation. Yeah I'm crying, big sadge, broken heart. They didn't deserve this fate.

If it's all going to be online, with low production and b tier casters and no watch parties... it's not going to be getting that much viewership. That being said the format for ascension is at least fair and skill based, so for the sake of young players and unknowns I hope it is a good experience and actually fun for viewers to occasionally tune into.

It seems more honest then using so many players and orgs to grow your scene, then drop them all for franchising.

Also when has franchising in any esport scene, ever been good. People are saying I'm coping... yet I've never seen a successful franchise rival CSGO or Dota. You could maybe say League? But the LCS viewership has stagnated and been going downhill the last time I checked.

You do have a point that the orgs probably did know, but that still doesn't justify riot using players that dedicated so much to the scene and game. Also they easily made a profit? What are you talking about money burner? Bruh each org got paid so much money from the champs bundle it's actually nutty. They could of done the same thing, champ bundles, and then org skins. Reward skill, dedication, good staffing, and the players. Not some board of shareholders with a fucking esport emblem on their lambo because they cried to riot that if their team can't make it to masters or champs they are losing money.

Not true, champions skin bundle.... Look at CS with sticker, or Dota. Riot is never going to put a flat sum down that's going to be bigger then what can be earned from community support.

Idk why franchising = more LAN events... literally they could of hosted the leagues this year at LAN, for whatever reason riot didn't want to. CSGO has a super healthy LAN scene from multiple organizers so it's not like Riot couldn't of contracted it out if it was too much work for them too. Now we get melted down scenes, that had nothing to do with actual skill, just whatever orgs riot are buddy buddy with. While also having no promise that the best are going to be selected for these teams that made it.

Orgs could set stupid buyout prices over spite for contracted players... then what happens when players stop trying or fall off? Riot made it clear you can't poach ascension teams, and the ascension league is the only part of the whole new VCT that's only skill based, and not clout based. Franchising is ass, no esport has had good franchising.

I really hope so, at the same time I feel like it's so up in the air this might make some really good players just completely retire if they are forced to find a tier 2 ascension team and slave away there for a year just at a chance at competing.

What I would of liked is for them to start the VCT off as a franchise league right off the bat rather then use players and orgs to grow their scene then drop them. Or you know, stuck with it being skill based ladder tournaments like it has been where skill>orgs.

Man I knew it was a bad idea as soon as it was announced and the way riot was going about it, but to see it go down like this... How can I even support this fucking game and competitive scene anymore?

1. No one knew shit until this year about franchising, and then everyone was still in the dark about who was getting in until after champs. So riot specifically used players they knew would be out of jobs to promote their competitive scene and tournaments, while hiding the truth from them, because they didn't want the players and orgs to leave.

2. It was a scumbag move, Riot should of been clear with their intentions from the start, and public about what teams where getting in. Most of the NA scene thought 7 was the minimum, and while that might not be a lot, that's still 10 more players + all their staff with actual jobs. How they justified cutting scenes in halves or thirds blows my mind, because it's not like NA was the only place to get the axe. Did anyone have an actual problem with how VCT was ran this year? Why couldn't it of stayed the same?

3. Look at the top NA rankings, all of our highest ranked teams outside of one didn't make it. It's a fucking disgrace to all those players that made our scene great, tried their hearts out, and actually showed up for the tournaments... not just stream farmed and said shit on twitter occasionally... but actually dedicated their lives to the game and the scene. It's fucking disgusting.

reasonable, but Yay is so good you kinda just build a team around that guy. I love the 100t roster too... but yeah, can't argue against his insane consistency and lan stats.

the problem is that they shouldn't of had to need to find new teams if riot actually cared about their players. Or rewarded people for dedication or skill.

What blows my mind, is that out of all the master/champ events... Only two teams made it that actually lifted trophies. Good job rewarding actual winners riot, biggest L I've seen in esports in a min.

It should be a certainty, not a prob. Like wtf is riot doing. Optic deserve so much better as a team then being forced to rely on POSSIBLE buyouts, POSSIBLE getting split up because of it, or going into tier 2 ascension for a whole year just to stay together. Riot basically told them to fuck off for an amazing year. blows my mind

bro... I can't believe optic didn't get in... I don't even want to watch valorant anymore, like how could they do this to the optic players... they didn't even give them the choice to stay together and be tier 1 or split, now it's all up to the whims and buyouts of other orgs. So sad man

For real, not only did 100t look like a great young team with an amazing coaching staff. XSET had an amazing tournament and have improved leaps and bounds. Optic is just nutty, period. Then you have LOUD and Lev probably joining, bruh.

Then all them free agents? Who knows what the above teams will look like and the rest of the teams in the league. That 30 team tournament next year to kick off the season is going to be so lit fam.

I could see this, would even say it's likely. However if Optic win the first map I think it's 3-0 as loud crumbles under pressure against optic every. single. time.

honestly, optic better then every team that's ever played this game. That consistency is just crazy.

sentinels is entertaining for the personalities and big names, always interesting to see if they do well.

As for gameplay tho, DRX/PRX

Honestly 100T are pretty entertaining too

Based list, tho tbf sometimes teams just get unlucky with who they face in these tournaments so the end result doesn't always reflect how good some teams are. Optic is by far just better then the rest of the teams this year in consistency, it's not even close. I don't think anyone can dispute that Yay isn't the MVP of this whole year, his stats on LAN are actually crazy.

Yeah I get that, I mainly just focus on the international competitions. I enjoy the NA rivalries going on in the scene for sure, but all I care about are the teams that will show up on LAN and try and create NA dominance on the biggest stages. 100T? They have the best coaching staff and young players our scene has to offer imho.

I want EDG to win, because of pickems... I didn't have LEV going through uppers, I had PRX going through and EDG in lowers. It's already fucked, but I need the extra points. https://www.vlr.gg/pickem/41377227

For me the teams I root for are Optic, 100T, Sen in that order. Why? I've been following Optic since it was an org in CoD, then CS. 100t? Mostly nadeshot, but also their initial hiko CSGO lineup had an interesting storyline, and finally I like SEN because of the players and content, but yeah that's just me. Hating on 100T is lame, their good reps for the NA scene.

Same, but I can see a world where zeta get out too, just depends if they get that fire going again to create that heroic underdog run

Expecting that fnatic vs 100t rematch, and I really hope 100t win again.... but that match is going to be wild

You could say maybe 100T is, I honestly think they win vs the optic that loud goes up against. Specially if marved doesn't show up for two maps. 100T got some nutty aim going on. That being said, it'll be interesting to see loud and 100t in playoffs if they can make it out.

Honestly, even though Optic went straight through, I think 100T look crisper on the server. They might actually be the strongest NA team here. Lev for sure looking really good right now too. I'm not sure where to put LOUD either, mostly because they look real good vs everyone that isn't optic lol.

Called the first one, ez

5th highest ACS
1st in K/D
4th in KAST
3rd in KPR
26 to 7 in First Kills to First Deaths.

Bruh, dude is sick with it.

zeta 2-1 boom
edg 2-1 liquid
fpx 2-1 xset

Yeah, like regardless optic is going to have to beat an EMEA team... which I don't think they can. Unless they need that best of 5 format. I actually think if they beat paper rex and go straight to finals they straight up lose against any team that's warmed up from the loser final bo5. Who knows, Optic is a strange team. I honestly thought they would exit early when Yay was still asleep but marved/crashies/victor/fns showed they don't really need him to beat some of the best in the world. Scary stuff.

I could see it. LOUD really needs to learn how to deal with losses tho. Seems like they crumble when the pressure is too high because their so used to winning domestically. I think franchising next year will make LOUD a real monster in the NA/SA league.

I think -tsm or -eg on the NA side. IF tsm is accepted then they'll probably accept FaZe too. If they don't accept tsm, I think it will be The Guard and EG

This, Honestly APAC>Korea. I wasn't expecting it, but it's true. Paper Rex are way more fun to watch and I honestly think their going to be hard to beat when franchising starts for the Asia region next year.

https://liquipedia.net/valorant/VCT/2022/Champions