And people mocked M8 for 2x 10-13 against NS... with marteen playing a 1.41 rating with +9 KD xD

2 map veto still pretty weird, they should've changed that for years. 1 map veto is totally enough.

NS and the Rb master calling is just a perfect begin for this season.

GG Deserved as hell for the boys of PRX!

Bro... it's AGAIN like yesterday. Keiko and skuba do the work and then people keep peeking 1 by 1 while PRX actually use comms to peek (easiest thing in the world you'd imagine). If mada would always play like round 10, they'd have no issues. But keiko is also looking really rough on Breeze so far (except 2 rounds).

It's GG... NRG don't follow the most simple rules anymore while the once most chaotic team is playing super calm with comms and all.

NRG could EASILY won Abyss when they'd stop panicking.
keiko and skuba were absolute great today (keiko i.g. is so good in 90% of the matches), but still... it was always a matter of seconds to throw away a fully controlled round. I have hopes that NRG can fix that for the next match.

NS looks super strong, tho. Very, very clutch. Rb is such a masterclass IGL - insanely experienced and just calm as hell.

I've meant all of them... I've read those comments from NA fans, from BBL fans, from M8 fans and even from PRX fans after another match. All of these people are braindead.

There is no doubt about G2 playing almost perfect Valorant today for the given Meta and they (obviously) won 100% deserved, but it's baffling how many people fall for (absolute normal in esports) trashtalking by 18 years old players who are playing their first international event ever and were basically floating on cloud nine after winning against Americas #1 Kickoff team and very closely losing to the current wold champions by 1:2 and OT. G2 is one of the most experienced teams out there - beside of PRX and T1 probably the most experienced still existing core because Fnatic is almost totally new at this point.

People need to chill more. Some braindead fellas out there, now wishing death etc. to Lar0k & co. think this is a war between nations or regions while it's honestly what's connecting nations... it's just competition.

The thing is... until now we didn't see the G2 that stood before elim again. So now this is their final form.
I'd honestly love to see Lar0k etc. to continue, but G2 are so strong...

I say 2:1 G2 as prediction.

GGs, awesome match!
Dambis movement: ← ↑ → ↓

marteen, Dambi, Lar0k, BABYBAY and invy are currently the most fun players to watch in my eyes (all for different reasons).

I have G2 vs. PRX in the GF in my pickems... still have the feeling it could happen. :P

BABYBAY is so damn good.

16 years and 17 years young prodigies going maniac again!

Jesus. kozzy and GSR are INSANE!

Because people thought other M8 players could play like marteen. xD

I'm honestly so glad starxo got humbled.

I honestly feel REALLY bad for marteen, he is an insane player... he deserves way more. I hope he realizes that this team is not as good as people thought.

marteen can play Omen, Brim, KAY/O, Breach as well - he would be a big addition for most teams. To NAVI for sociablEE or to Fnatic when Boaster goes coaching 2027... all good options.

GG AG, deserved win. M8 (except marteen) played 2 really bad maps. The mistakes from bipo shouldn't happen even in Tier 2 and the slow calling / strat exec from starxo and Minny was kinda weird.

I hope so much that Fnatic will sign marteen for 2027.
Somebody needs to save this insane player from choker teams.

GGs
Great match of both teams again.

Lar0k is insane!

Let's be real. BBL has several below 20 years young players and they are just hyped af. They made photos with NRG, Lar0k played with brawk and Keiko Ranked and they are cool with each other.

When Boostio trashtalked everyone found it funny but it's not okay with BBL?!

And also - I get why they hate this "superteam" questions. Neither is NRG a superteam, nor was Fnatic 2023 or Vitality is building one - yet every 2nd media dude is coming up with "SUPERTEAM". Every team is beatable. lovers rock just plain and simple answered that and I think it's correct. When you think about your opponent as an unbeatable giant, why are you even competing?! westside brought that up last year as well, when they as insane underdogs almost beat PRX and actually beat Sentinels.

G2 vs f4ngeer

What a match. The current world champions vs. a totally new team.

13-6
6-13
17-15

Insane match of both teams. GG!

Also... what people don't understand, he just got 18. First VCT major, first big stage. Like Wo0t 2024.
Of course you are nervous. But now... 2nd map and already way more comfy.

Lar0k super impressive.

Btw.: Lar0k played ranked with brawk and keiko a few days before and they are super cool with each other. No bad blood. Some people try to create hate where no hate is.

This was the match:
https://tracker.gg/valorant/match/29b46e37-b694-42d8-9e13-860da802943c
Lar0k = Jett / keiko = Viper / brawk = Sova

I think NRG 2:0 or 2:1 but no matter what, for this insanely young team of BBL it will be a great first taste of what the worlds best teams play like and so they can learn a lot. That's honestly a w/w situation for them.

Yeah, is my guess, too. Bacon9 doing a greta job coaching these guys.
I wonder why Fnatic is not building a Academy roster.

But I guess when crashies returns to NA to his family for 2027 and Boaster possibly going for a coaching role inhouse, Fnatic will rebuild around Kaajak, Alfajer and maybe Veqaj. Depends on how great this season will go for teams like BBL, M8 etc. so maybe some players there would sign a contract then is my guess (Lar0k, marteen... whoever).

Kicks VCT-Comeback will be nice. GSR, kozzy (just 16 years young), rexxtoned, Proxh also talented as hell.

BBL, too. Kaajak was a rookie last, year - mada, brawk and skuba, too.

Peak T2 is not worse talentwise - quite the opposite, in most cases the top 5 T2 players of each region will become insane VCT players in the future by a high chance.

marteen is the best Yoru on this planet. And sadly he is was let down by his team today. They felt a bit off, especially GLYPH, Minny and bipo.

But NS finally made the doubters shut up, which is awesome.

What I don't like is that starxo can't stop standing up and stuff like that... like KangKang. Bro, just concentrate on your game.

Beautiful Valorant!

GGs to FURIA, but I'm so happy for the PRX boys. Gotta love that team.

sanoj - next aspas? :P

I love BBL, but NRG are just a different level. But (!) very good experience for BBL here.
2:0 probably for NRG...

NS are insane. This match will be crazy.

Easy 2:0 G2.

So deserved. GGs

I think in the last years it was super close... and Americas, EMEA and Pacific all had crazy good and bad times between 2021 and 2025 - but every region had teams that could beat any team from all the other regions (except CN). But this year I think it's the first year where it seems to be VERY dominating by Americas when you look at teams. Pacific has PRX, EMEA has M8 and BBL - but no consistent performance internationally shown yet, Fnatic will be back for 2027 for sure and Vitality might be crazy for next season, too - but this season not so much... and Americas has NRG, G2 - 2 absolute beasts, then LEV, FURIA (similar to M8 / BBL) and then rebuilding Sentinels and KRÜ... so many insane teams.

So yeah, def. the best region on the paper. By far. But is that good for esports? No. Look at CS. Still insanely popular in NA, CN etc. and yet 95% of the success is made by EU teams. Not very cool. It was always so nice that Valorant had great athletes and orgs in every region... so many great events were carried by that fact.

I don't want an dominating region in Valorant. And when you look at Tier 2 in Americas, EMEA and Pacific I also doubt that there will be a fully dominating region for longer than a year. So many talents everywhere.

keiko 13:1 MiniBoo says it all

MiniBoo plays and thinks about it later.

NRG deserved 2:0.

kamo and wayne are the only smart players on TL with the ability to adapt. nAts is IGLing and doing a good job but Liquid never go for a proactive strat, they just lurk and try to dodge the best player on the opponent team (like they always dodging Alfajer) and nAts simply press repeat every round, that's true.

Against M8 they still tried the exact same def-push even after 7x getting destroyed - they then were going for an 8th push and getting wiped once more. Ah - and MiniBoo is just braindead pushing 24/7 and nobody can trade him, while kamo is actually trying to roam on Yoru, which is good. purp0's Sova is good, but he plays wayyyyyy to aggressive as an Ini.

G2 2:1

Keiko vs. nAts finally! :)
But this will be prob. a very clear 2-0 for NRG if Liquid plays just as they did against M8.

But Liquid also beat T1 2:0 and when they follow their ideas there and try even harder, they could have at least a chance. Nothing is impossible in this game. And MiniBoo and nAts already beat the best of the best, so... they need to forget everything they did against M8 and go for what they did against T1.

But yeah... I still think 2:0 NRG and if Liquid go for all-in maybe a 2:1 for NRG.

You can SEE that XLG are not even really calling anymore. I wonder how their comms vid would look like.

happywei def. needs a new team and Rarga, vo0kashu, stew etc. should join Americas / EMEA / Pacifica with better English speaking teams. The only team that has proper English calling ability in CN afaik is AG.

But whatever, jawgemo and trent are just such cool players. So damn smart.

*Edit: Caster: "BABYGAY" xD

So happy for him. Just like koalanoob... never stopped working hard for his dreams, loves to play Duelist but is great with other roles and never stops to learn etc. What a player.

I have a big tip for everyone betting: Use the opposite of my guess before the game. xD

GGs, nAts masterclass

No way Liquid has a chance here, right?!

I love nAts and MiniBoo and wayne look so good on their roles, but... I highly doubt they'll have a chance.

*Edit: Another absolute deaster tip from me. xD

G2 2:1 PRX

My guess... :)

This will be one of the most exciting matches.
*Edit: Yeah, I deserve downvotes. Bro, I'm so bad at guessing matches. xD

I wanted PRX to win, btw. - but after the NRG matches I thought G2 would be insane.

GGs

Keiko = monster!

GG

happywei and Rarga are crazy, WsLeo makes his name all honor and is a very smart player, but they won't have a chance. NRG are still one of the most dangerous teams at the moment - and with Keiko they're mechanically even more dangerous than before. But the new Meta won't ever allow anything like they did to Fnatic again... the map changes, the weapon changes etc. are too heavy.

I know what you mean, but I like when players are respectful towards each other but can still hype up the people and their team. His performance was great this match... not his fault, tbh. And he had only good words to say about marteen f.e.

Dunno... I like KangKang. He is a legend. But marteens clutch was crazy against Kangkangs Tour de Force.

Honestly... even though marteen is awesome, I doubt they win this and the betting rates are crazy. I think it will be EMEA's worst year and I think it could be Americas best year... they have so many strong teams.

But we will see...

I think this could be a 2:1 for EDG.

*Edit: Okay, I was absolutely wrong. GGs

kozzy is 15 or 16 and already this crazy... bro, some of these new players are insane.

Sayonara is still 17. He gets 18 in march... ;) That's when he is able to actually play VCT.

Wow. Mechanically ULF are def. better, but I feel even though s0pp looks amazing on the Neo, they maybe should put him on Yoru and play around that... like the meta. It's simply way more effective, the solo Neon needs way too much attention by the mates and trading is way harder. And I think they also won the map where s0pp was on Yoru and they played the double-duelist meta comp.

furiouss = seph1roth ?!

What a match. VIT played now the first match will their full roster where you could tell "this is crazy Valorant" and were able to suppress ULFs (especially s0pps) aggression. Sayonara played a true Viper masterclass and also on Sova... beautiful. 17 years young... it's insane.

Can't wait to see more of the full Vitality and ULF rosters. Especially Vitality cooking for Stage 1 will be interesting.

GG

Germany: G2

Bro, this match will be VCT level.

s0pp def. belongs to my fav. players at the moment... it's just so much fun to watch him play Neon.