BLG won 2-0 against NRG... they are no joke and Lotus is actually one of their 2 best maps. Furthermore it's one of the strongest attack sided maps.

BLG played with their full energy while Fnatic def. made
some not very perfect rounds, which was kinda unnecessary.

Giants are impressive. EDG is for sure one of the best teams
right now. I mean being ahead 9-3 on Split and finding that many solutions there against KangKangs AWP is really nice,
imo. You have to consider that this is the team that's always destroying BLG... who won 2-0 against NRG.

Bind will be very hard for Giants, though. Very unlikely that Giants will get through this insane group, but they're fighting.

I think Paper Rex with something is legit on another level compared to what they showed in Tokyo. When you watch the league finals against DRX you know what I mean.

I think they will win this 2-0 or 2-1...

EG was def. expected to win this, but FUT made some great plays. Especially not simply giving up after being down 0-8 or
whatever on both maps is a good thing.

Congrats to EG. I simply love Ethan and C0M... two absolutey wholesome dudes and amazing players.

Leo, Alfa and KangKang will become the best players of Champions I guess.

Alfajer just got 18 and Leo and KangKang are 19. Those 3 are too good.

Alfa and Leo are playing like Cyborgs.

I feel bad for Giants with their group. But hey... at least they get the chance to play.

2-0 EDG for sure

When I'm 100% honest, I thought DRX would march through this (considering their and NAVIs recent performance levels).

NAVI is delivering a good fight tonight.

Why do you care?

I feel bad for aspas. He always delivers.

aspas still is one of the best duelists in the world. When all the rumors from Sean Gares channel etc. are true, LOUD will def. have a tough time replacing him.

I mean they're not looking as super clean as they did in the regular season or at LOCKIN. Something might be going on there. I still hope they will play a good tournament, so we can see some great playoffs with only the big names.

I think they will defeat DRX tonight.

Edit: Okay, I guess I'm fcking bad at guessing. Already had LOUD for Tokyo winners in my last pickems and I picked all fights at UFC 291 wrong except Pereira vs. Blachowicz. Gambling addiction would def. not be the best addiction for me. When it comes to that point I will choose drugs.

Valorant currently got the quickest growing E-Sport section in the world.

Orgs like G2, FaZe etc. will probably sign a new Valorant roster again in the future.

Everyone gets a gun buddy and free drinks.

Okay, nice. Thanks. :)
I was already wondering if "only" 1 million USD would make sense for 16 teams, while Tokyo had the same pool for 12 teams.

Will it be the same as for Tokyo or Champions 2022 or even higher this year?

I wouldn't go that far to say that they have no chance. I mean both these teams are already safely qualified for Champions and LCQ won't give you any reward beside of that. I don't think any of these 2 teams are playing at 100%.

In Tokyo NAVI lost to EDG by 27-31 and also played not that bad against NRG (1-2). In the end they still have some of the best players in the world... they just seem kinda "fed up"?!

Giants are so good now. Their whole team works so much better than a few months ago, where they already had great fraggers but still some tactical issues. You can clearly see that hoody was an experienced CS:GO pro - his aim is so crisp. nukkye is insane as always and yeah... Giants are actually looking great while having fun.

I think NAVI are not giving their 100%, though. They smile and laugh after losing rounds, they don't seem to care THAT much... probably because both teams are safe and sound qualified for VCT Champions 2023.

Hard to guess. When NAVI plays with 100% and actually do some of their crazy strats and simply play like they used to, it would be kinda easy for them... but I think times are different now. KOI showed that they have a good collective now (great players anyway).

I say 3-2 KOI.

NAVI and Sentinels are so disappointing this year. Two teams stacked with awesome players who also achieved great success in the past, but their collective performances are so bad at the moment.

Congrats to KOI. trexx gets better and better... dude is insane (still also only 19 years young).

trexx is such a beast!

NAVI 3-2 GIA

ZETA 3-1 GEN.G

;)

Yeah, Champions will be tough... nice experience, though. But they also got a ticket for EMEA League 2024/25, so then they def. can improve a lot.

What is happening??? FeelsWeirdMan

A team that beats Acend 3-0 and now Apeks 3-0 in the GF deserves that place at Champions and becoming a Tier 1 team from now on. Hard work paid off!

Congrats!

Okay, I actually thought Acend had no will left to win the tournament. But in reality M8 just prepared their strats so insanely well after the loss against Acend in the Upper Semi.

M8 have such a great util usage and roaming now... it's amazing how that team works and improved during the last 2 series and the break afterwards.

Bro, you can tell Acend has no 100% ambitions anymore and that G8 has like 101% ambitions right now, to get a chance in the Grand Final.

Gut getippt. ;)

Apeks obviously too strong. Good performance of musashi, though.

In direct comparison with KangKang for sure, yes. But you should check his season rating, KD and ACS... on direct height with KangKang.

https://www.vlr.gg/event/stats/1610/fgc-valorant-invitational-2023-act-2

He is def. a good player. KangKang is probably the best operator duelist in the world right now (and somehow in the Top 3 duelists overall), so it's not armageddon when you are not as good as him. :D

whzy played a great season and when BLG faced EDG the last time (may this year), whzy had 48-49 in the end (with a much worse team behind him) and KangKang had 49-42.

But yeah, seems that whzy has no chance today - still no player who should be underestimated. EDGs lead in China is growing more and more, though.

KangKang vs. whzy
Duel of the Chinese duelist monsters! Can't wait... <3

405 ACS on Haven and 419 ACS on Bind... KangKang improves and improves. Young players like KangKang (19), Alfa (just got 18), Leo (19) etc. who are still so young, but already so insanely good def. didn't even reach their final potential yet.

I think EDG has the chance to win a major in the next years. From what I've heard they are insane in scrims.

Proud of these dudes! They did it. :)

I wonder why SCARZ thought a Reyna comp would be smart on Bind against BLEED. Only because it works for PRX - a team full of insane Tier 1 aim wonders - and worked somehow for EG, the 2nd best team in the world... doesn't mean it works for anyone.

They would have been better with a tactical meta comp, 100%. 0-14 is GODLESS.

I actually thought SCARZ would at least have a chance after beating Dplus.

Like from an Anime... the smart boys win the rematch against the evil criminals. :P

Let's go The Guard!
tex'net'trent (TNT) will solve any problems

Apeks should win it, but SAW and Gentle Mates def. have insanely talented players. That DaviH is a monster!

Let's go Guardians. :)

Yeeeees! What a match. :) So happy for the boys.

DaviH is such a great player. I want him in a Tier 1 team when SAW doesn't reach the EMEA league. He is so talented. I.g. there are a few crazy talents in EMEA, that didn't play in Tier 1 yet.

But yeah, Acend showed some good Valorant today. I think the win was deserved. SAW is an great team, though. They have a lot potential.

Congrats to the win, SAW. Good luck for the next matches.

I hope CGN and also MOUZ will have the needed confidence for the next season. Both teams have some really, really good players.

Did you watch Fancy vs. XERTIA? Bro... please stop talking.

:)

Both teams are very experienced on Ascent. Will be exciting.

Chronicle got the THESPIKE.gg MVP for Tokyo. ;)

The two Russians beasts on SCARZ will be the deciding factor I guess. When they play like against Orangutan, SCARZ will win.

2-0 Acend

*Edit: Okay, not really.

azury is sooo good! 1-1... so let's see how the 3rd map will go.

Yeah, absolutely. Keiko will be one of the next duelists everyone talks about. I'm quite sure about that.