Interesting that 2024 has been the only year where all 3 events were won through a 3 - 2 in the Grand Final.

FNC - 2 Wins, 1 Loss
SEN - 2 Wins
GMB - 1 Win, 1 Loss
ACE - 1 Win
OPTC - 1 Win, 2 Loss
FPX - 1 Win
LOUD - 1 Win, 2 Loss
EG - 1 Win, 1 Loss
GEN - 1 Win, 1 Loss
EDG - 1 Win
PRX - 2 Loss
TH - 2 Loss

The upper seed has won 5 times, the lower seed has won 4 times, and there was no upper/lower seed 3 times.
A 3 - 0 has happened 4 times, a 3 - 1 has happened 2 times, and a 3 - 2 has happened 6 times.

Here me out. Kuronami isn't a terrible skin but with how popular it is, it's gotta be the most overrated skinline of all time.

PRX also dropped out of groups this event.
OPTC did not in fact almost lose to BME. It was just one map. In that case I could mention a bunch of games where the underdog team won a map but still lost the series.
Can't mention rematches when I was talking about group stage. The playoffs of this event was equally crazy.
FNC vs. LEV was at Masters Copenhagen not Champions Istanbul...
XSET vs. LEV was also at Masters Copenhagen not Champions Istanbul...
The last two you mentioned were good but again, they were not in the group stage.

Extremely stacked playoffs but the group stage didn't yield as many unpredictable surprises.

Maybe in terms of production outside of the Top 4, those events could be better. Both Berlin events and LOCK//IN were mickey because of single elimination format. Reykjavík 2021 was naturally one of the least competitive events. Reykjavík 2022 was good but the matches were not close to Champions Seoul.

Not only was it the best Champions event of all time, it was the best international event in VCT history.

I would agree with you but I get downvoted for saying FNC look good on a map I guess...

Why am I getting downvoted for saying a team is interesting on a map...

Personally hate Split but the matches are crazy when you're watching as a neutral.

Fair enough. FNC on Haven is so interesting to watch as well.

Rb and zest to T1 to replace Sayaplayer and xccurate...

True. Icebox is leaving the map rotation as well. Maybe Vyse will be the Neon counter we need.

I agree but missing the mark with Neon is a huge fundamental setback that needs addressing. Everything else I'm sure will come with time.

Not sure about BuZz on initiator flex though. Might be easier to make him keep practicing or do what DRX did during Chamber meta and try to hard counter.

Or, just bring back Rb. I miss him and his Neon...

Practice playing Neon nonstop or countering Neon nonstop.
At Champions Seoul, DRX only ever lost maps when BuZz was on Neon or when the enemy duelist was on Neon. Specifically on Haven, Sunset, and Icebox.

At least Icebox had something fresh each time. 3 different comps were played between the 5 teams that played it.

Fracture needs to be brought back.

We need to work on Neon. DRX only ever lost maps when BuZz was on Neon or when the enemy duelist was on Neon. Specifically on Haven, Sunset, and Icebox.

Ascent should be removed from the competitive map pool and it desperately needs some reworks.
At Champions Seoul, Ascent was played a total of 4 times and not a single time in the playoffs. TE might genuinely be the best at Ascent because no teams are interested in playing it.
Yes, Ascent is a historic map with some of the best games ever. However, not only are fans bored of the static meta, even the teams don't want to play the same stale comp.

I had DRX going unbeaten and winning the entire event... I have no idea how I didn't do worse after they lost to SEN.

Top 1% with 183 points. I thought I had a disaster but everyone else did too.

TH win more convincingly on Icebox but LEV have better winrate.

In the current map pool, these are the best teams, based on Champions Seoul.

Abyss - DRX
Ascent - TE??? (Ascent was played 4 times in the entire event and never in playoffs)
Bind - FNC
Haven - SEN
Icebox - LEV
Lotus - EDG
Sunset - EDG

In terms of actually watching the matches, nothing comes close for neutrals.

How? In terms of games, what 3 events are better?

Champions Seoul 2024 is the best event of all time.
People will argue about the crowd before Top 4 and call it recency bias. However, in terms of the quality, entertainment, and competitiveness of games, there is absolutely no denying it. For neutrals, no event has ever matched this level and saying otherwise would have to be biased. Also, I would say that rather than recency bias being the problem, being blinded by nostalgia is more of an issue.

Every team needs to see this if they want to win events in 2025.

Single elimination with only 8 teams has to be mickey mouse.

I have the script. If you want to win Masters Bangkok and Masters Toronto, you must be the lower seed in Grand Finals. However, for Champions Paris, you must be the upper seed in Grand Finals.

The pattern so far has been:
Upper Win (SEN), Lower Win (OPTC), Lower Win (FPX), Upper Win (LOUD)
Upper Win (FNC), Lower Win (EG), Lower Win (SEN), Upper Win (GEN)
Upper Win (EDG)

Therefore, in 2025, the first two events will be lower seed wins, while the third will be an upper seed win.

When will teams start looking towards China Tier 1 and Tier 2 for players? Of course there are language barriers, however, if the competitive scene continues to grow then I feel there has to be some investment in Chinese imports.

He’s still around though. Probably crucial to EDG’s succest right now.

What former pro players do you wish could come back to the competitive scene?
For me, I miss xeta. Bring him back as a coach!

I completely agree with everything you just said. I am more so biased against you because it's fun seeing you cope constantly!

I feel like playoffs was still unpredictable. People started speculating TE to be shocking again but they flunked out. G2 were heavy favorites to go far but they also went out quick. Nobody expected EDG to be in the Grand Final, let alone do it as the upper seed. Also, the Grand Final hasn't even been played yet and who knows what will happen there.

I honestly think Wo0t on Jett shouts are still valid. TH are a squad with lots of flexibility and they like to try lots of ideas. However, I agree MiniBoo is heavily disrespected. His Raze and Neon are fantastic.

Easy to say in hindsight. Nobody expected DRX to be first seed in Group A, nobody expected GEN to be out in Group B, nobody expected TE to be first seed in Group C, nobody expected PRX to be out in Group D. Because of how unpredictable the group stage was, everybody was making wild guesses on how the playoffs would go.

Honestly praying for LOCK//IN 2026.

Ah, I see that's my mistake.
Also Leo Faria didn't make Top 4 either... He needs to leave that fraudulent team RIOT and join TH or EDG.

I agree they should've used INSPIRE Arena for the entire event. But saying most matches were wack? No other event has ever been this competitive.

Name another event with the same level of competitiveness and unpredictability.

Everybody else seems to hate LOCK//IN so it's honestly a surprise to see someone who appreciates it.

I've missed you sentinelmain377. I was going to put Masters Copenhagen higher but I remembered you and your NAVI flair exist. Also, which Berlin are you talking about? Both were honestly terrible because of 8 team single elimination format. At least LOCK//IN had every team.

I completely agree with everything except for Champions Seoul.

Another vintage "d0r*" troll classic...

Single elimination format is fraudulent but every team being able to participate is amazing? Never understood the LOCK//IN hate.

By far the most competitive event we've ever seen. Players have said that the crowd is great in the INSPIRE Arena and it should have been used. FNC didn't reach the Top 4 and Leo didn't even play so I don't know how he can say that.

S Tier - Champions Seoul 2024
A Tier - Champions Istanbul 2022, LOCK//IN São Paulo 2023
B Tier - Masters Copenhagen 2022, Masters Reykjavík 2022, Champions Los Angeles 2023
C Tier - Masters Berlin 2021, Masters Tokyo 2023, Champions Berlin 2021
F Tier - Masters Shanghai 2024, Masters Madrid 2024, Masters Reykjavík 2021

Drop your rankings below!

"d0r*" back at it again!

This also means lower seed will win Masters Bangkok and Masters Toronto but upper seed will win Champions Paris.