Talon Esports started their VALORANT Champions 2024 campaign with a 0-2 loss against one of the tournament favourites, Leviatan. Team Vitality were just as unsuccessful, albeit against one of the tournament underdogs, Trace Esports, who bested EMEA’s second seed 2-1.

There is not much to separate the two sides based on their first-round performances, although looking at the season stats, Team Vitality are the better squad. Jokūbas “ceNder” Labutis and co. were, however, a bit inconsistent in the second stage of VCT 2024 EMEA, dropping maps even against lesser opposition.

Vitality’s inconsistency should open opportunities for Talon Esports to do some damage. And while expecting the fourth seed from VCT Pacific to win is a bit too optimistic, this has the potential to be a close affair.

FUT Esports slipped up against EDward Gaming in the opening match of Group D. On the other side, Paper Rex proved to be no match against the young G2 Esports roster, who bested VALORANT Champions 2023 runners-up in one clean swoop.

The VCT 2024 Pacific Stage 1 champions are priced as favourites for this affair, which is not shocking considering this is a very experienced roster. But Paper Rex’s results leading into VALORANT Champions 2024 are very similar to that of FUT Esports.

Paper Rex have a better win rate on Sunset and marginally on Lotus, whereas FUT Esports are more efficient on Split and Ascent. At best, VALORANT betting sites should price this series closer to even money, so we will gladly side with the underdogs.

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This victory marks the second time G2 has bested Paper Rex, the first being a 2-1 win at the VCT Masters Shanghai playoffs.

The current G2 roster, which previously played under The Guard, made their debut at this prestigious VALORANT Champions Tour tournament.

G2 opened with a 3-1 lead on Paper Rex’s pick of Icebox, thanks to a Gekko bait play.

Despite a mid-solo-play attempt from Jonah “JonahP” Pulice, Paper Rex initially equalised at 4-4 but struggled to maintain momentum.

G2 secured the half at 8-4 and went on to win the map 13-8.

G2 dominated the early rounds on Lotus with a strong defence led by JonahP, who achieved a 1.45 rating and a 327 average combat score (ACS) in the first half.

They took a massive 9-3 lead into halftime, and even though Paper Rex managed to close the gap, they ultimately fell 13-9.

G2’s performance was praised by Josh “JoshRT” Lee, while Paper Rex’s coach, Alexandre “alecks” Sallé, lamented his team’s inability to follow their game plan.

G2 kicks off their #VALORANTChampions campaign with a clean sweep! #G2WIN pic.twitter.com/Z0F2d87Xat

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 4, 2024

EDward Gaming (EDG) triumphed over FUT Esports 2-0 (13-9, 13-10), winning both maps and advancing to the Group D winner’s match against G2 Esports.

EDG, seeking redemption after a year of disappointing results, showcased a strong performance reminiscent of their peak in 2023.

EDG chose Lotus and FUT picked Bind, with both maps favouring the Chinese representatives, who held strong records on both maps throughout the year.

EDG secured an 8-4 lead in the first half of Lotus, propelled by the performances of Zhang “Smoggy” Zhao and Wan “CHICHOO” Shunzhi.

Although FUT rallied in the second half, the Smoggy and CHICHOO dominance continued, as they posted server-high ratings of 1.27 and 1.26, respectively.

Despite a close match on Bind, EDG stabilised their economy late and clinched the map, securing a 2-0 series victory.

Edward Gaming wins their first series at #VALORANTChampions Seoul! pic.twitter.com/RTZ5UrqkZZ

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 4, 2024

EDG’s strategic use of mixed buys and half-armor proved effective, contrasting with FUT’s preference for full buys.

Despite FUT’s efforts, including strong individual performances from Eray “yetujey” Budak and Mehmet “cNed” Ya??z ?pek, EDG’s coordinated play and economic management led them to victory.

The upcoming matches in Group D will see G2 Esports facing EDward Gaming in the winner’s match, while FUT Esports will take on Paper Rex in the lower bracket, fighting to stay in the tournament.

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GIANTX will seek their fourth victory of the 2024 season on Wednesday with the help of their newest arrival, Ramses “Famsii” Koivukangas. But while some roster changes were due following a rough start to the stage, adding a new, unproven player at VCT level might not be enough to stop the hottest European squad.

Team Heretics have not slowed down since they reached the finals of VCT 2024 Masters Shanghai, beating Natus Vincere and FUT Esports in the first two weeks of Stage 2. With that, Heretics finished the most challenging part of their schedule with a perfect record.

Even last stage, GIANTX proved to be a resilient team, and the honeymoon phase with Famsii could lead to better performances. But it’s hard to believe that GIANTX are ready to face the strongest VALORANT esports team outside Asia.

FUT Esports are already through to the next stage, but they can still secure a top-two finish and a direct bye to the upper-bracket semifinals. And considering their schedule consists of only Gentle Mates and GIANTX, that should be easily achievable.

The Turks have done well this VALORANT Champions Tour season. They placed third in the last stage and top six in China, confirming their status as one of the top three teams in the region.

Gentle Mates have had their moments this season, but those have been few and far between. With a 3-4 combined record, they might be able to squeeze their way into the top six but are not expected to accomplish more.

As the offered odds on esports betting sites suggest, this game should be very lopsided.

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Team Heretics haven’t skipped a beat since returning from VCT 2024 Masters Shanghai, where they reached the finals. But even before their trip to China, Heretics showed a lot of good things domestically with a silver medal from VCT 2024 Stage 1.

Their run through the group stage last stage wasn’t too convincing, but that means very little given what they’ve produced since the start of May.

FUT Esports were incredible in the VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 group stage but ran out of steam in the playoffs and placed fifth-sixth in Shanghai. Those are still remarkable results, but nothing compared to Heretics, who are 2-0 up in the head-to-head and poised to add their third 2-0 sweep.

Team Vitality won their fourth game of the season on Thursday when they edged past Team Liquid with 13-10, 17-15. It was a solid performance, but Jokūbas “ceNder” Labutis and his crew have a lot more to prove before we can start talking about them as potential title contenders.

Fnatic didn’t look good last week when they needed three maps to defeat BBL Esports, but since they attended Masters Shanghai, fatigue might’ve had something to do with it. Fnatic are still a very strong team, but they’ve been consistently overrated despite not looking nearly as potent as they did in the 2023 VALORANT Champions Tour season.

Even though Fnatic should be favoured to win, $1.46 is way too short for a match that can easily extend to three maps.

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The tournament began with a much-anticipated clash between G2 Esports and T1, a rivalry that extends across multiple esports titles.

G2 emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, setting the stage for an intense competition.

G2 Esports win their opening series at #VALORANTMasters Shanghai! #G2ARMY pic.twitter.com/VsPvKhJn1J

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) May 23, 2024

The opening match took place on Breeze, where rounds were fiercely contested.

T1 initially showcased their prowess, taking the lead on what is considered their best map.

However, G2 Esports turned the tide after the side switch, dominating the sandy shores and securing the first map of the tournament.

T1 struck back on Icebox, delivering a near-perfect performance.

Their aggressive playstyle earned them 11 rounds on attack, while G2 could only manage one.

T1 continued their momentum on defence, quickly wrapping up the map with a 13-1 victory, levelling the series.

The decisive third game on Lotus was a spectacle of high-stakes VALORANT.

The teams traded rounds until they reached overtime, tied at 12-12.

G2 then demonstrated their resilience, winning the next two rounds decisively to clinch the match.

Another highlight of the day was FunPlus Phoenix’s (FPX) dramatic win over FUT Esports.

This series, which extended to three maps, showcased the strategic depth and resilience of FPX, marking their first international triumph.

The match began on Sunset, FUT’s chosen map, where they initially led.

However, FPX quickly adapted, ending the first half with a commanding 9-3 lead and eventually winning 13-7.

On Lotus, FPX’s pick, FUT fought back, closing the first half 8-4.

FPX, led by standout performances from Chang “BerLIN” Po-lin and Qu “Life” Donghao, launched a strong comeback, though FUT ultimately won 14-12 in overtime.

The decider map, Icebox, saw FUT take an early lead with an 8-4 first half.

Yet, FPX staged a remarkable turnaround, winning nine consecutive rounds to secure a 13-10 victory and a 2-1 series win.

FunPlus Phoenix defends their home turf and comes away with the series win! #VALORANTMasters pic.twitter.com/fExYdOWZaJ

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) May 23, 2024

This victory not only highlighted their potential as strong contenders but also set the tone for their campaign in Shanghai.

With the Swiss stage format, both G2 and FPX have taken crucial first steps towards the playoffs.

T1 and FUT Esports, despite their losses, still have opportunities to advance.

The Swiss stage leads to a do-or-die double-elimination bracket, ensuring that every match is critical.

FPX’s coach, Deng “NaThanD” Senqiao, emphasized the team’s readiness to adapt and counter their opponents’ strategies, showcasing their confidence and strategic flexibility.

FUT Esports, under coach GAIS, remains focused on growth and the bigger picture, aiming for qualification for VALORANT Champions.

VCT Masters Shanghai continues on Friday with two more matches set to take place.

Friday’s VCT Masters Shanghai series

• Gen.G ($1.53) vs Leviatan ($2.37) @ 4pm CST
• Team Heretics ($1.10) vs Dragon Ranger Gaming ($6.50) @ 7pm CST

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Although T1 placed third in VCT 2024 Pacific Stage 1, they were clearly weaker than Paper Rex and Gen.G. However, since Kevin “xccurate” Susanto took over as in-game leader, T1 seem much more capable of competing at the top level.

Esports betting sites have G2 Esports priced as strong favourites for this match. G2 earned their ticket to Shanghai by placing second in VCT 2024 Americas Stage 1, proving to be very resilient and able to deal with teams that boast strong firepower.

Their display in the VCT 2024 Americas Stage 1 finals showed G2 Esports can take on strong teams, but they tend to play to the level of their opponents. Considering T1’s recent improvement and G2’s style of play, this looks like a close game.

FunPlus Phoenix claimed a silver medal in VCT 2024 China Stage 1, and even though they and EDward Gaming were a class above everyone else, FPX aren’t expected to do well in the second VCT Masters event of the year. This mainly has to do with a lack of consistency.

FPX lost just one series throughout VCT 2024 China Stage 1, but in some of their wins, even against lesser opponents, they showed cracks. On a more positive note, they can play some unusual compositions which might catch other VALORANT esports teams off guard.

FUT Esports looked great in VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 but then fell apart in the playoffs. That’s not surprising; they didn’t show anything spectacular in their wins and instead relied on their opponents making mistakes, baiting them into favourable duels.

Like in the VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 Playoffs, FUT will get figured out, and since there’s a lot of film available on them, we can expect FPX to prepare for this fixture and force a closer series.

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Fnatic picked up their third victory of VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 last Friday when they defeated KOI with a 26-15 combined round record. Before that, they defeated Gentle Mates and GIANTX without any real issues.

With a 3-1 record, Fnatic look to be in a fine spot. They’ve only played against weaker teams, but a strong showing on Thursday would re-establish Jake “Boaster” Howlett and his crew as a serious threat to win the VCT EMEA title.

FUT Esports started Stage 1 hot with wins against Team Liquid and Karmine Corp, but they proved to be no match for Team Vitality. That 2-1 loss might suggest FUT aren’t ready to face bigger teams, but they’re still a very good squad.

Individually, Fnatic have two excellent players, Leo “Leo” Jannesson and Timofey “Chronicle” Khromov, who have been posting great numbers this split. But even that might not be enough to stop Mehmet “cNed” ?pek.

If FUT Esports can count on cNed to perform on Thursday, they should be in a good spot to win. But even if cNed doesn’t have one of his pop-off performances, FUT should be priced closer to even money for this match. Value is with the outsiders.

Natus Vincere are the only undefeated team in VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1, having already beaten Team Vitality, Team Liquid, and Karmine Corp. It might be too early to evaluate how far this roster can go, but these guys are playing as well as they did under the FunPlus Phoenix banner in 2022.

BBL Esports are holding on well and enter the fourth week of VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 with a 2-1 record. Their only defeat of the season happened in Week 1 when they lost to Gentle Mates, but they more than made up for it with wins against KOI and Team Heretics.

After beating Team Heretics, BBL Esports should feel confident in their ability to compete with Natus Vincere. But Heretics didn’t play well last week, so that win isn’t a strong indicator of BBL’s strength.

BBL Esports can be competitive, but Natus Vincere should be too much for them to handle.

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BBL Esports started VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 with a humiliating 0-2 loss against Gentle Mates but then surprised KOI with a quick 2-0 victory on Thursday. Beating KOI in the state they’re in isn’t too impressive, but at least BBL got their name on the board after a concerning start to the year.

With a runner-up finish in the VCT 2024 EMEA Kickoff, Team Heretics have made a strong case for themselves as one of Europe’s top VALORANT esports teams. They also defeated Fnatic in the first week of VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1; however, they suffered a rough 1-2 loss against Vitality last week.

Seeing Team Heretics lose to Vitality suggests they’re not as stable as they seemed, but they are still the better team in this contest.

Team Vitality finished the first two weeks of VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 with a 1-1 record. They lost to Natus Vincere in the opening week and shocked Team Heretics last Wednesday with one of the best performances we’ve seen from Jokūbas “ceNder” Labutis and co. this season.

FUT Esports have proven themselves as live underdogs to do some serious damage in VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1. They showed some glimpses of greatness during the VCT 2024 EMEA Kickoff and have looked even better across the first two weeks of Stage 1 with wins against Team Liquid and Karmine Corp.

Even though FUT Esports look good, they have a lot more to prove, so we don’t expect them to run over Team Vitality.

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Karmine Corp started VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 with a commanding 2-0 sweep of GIANTX. FUT Esports were just as successful in the opening week, scoring a two-map victory over Team Liquid.

FUT exceeded expectations by beating Liquid; however, there’s a real possibility they can take another big scalp this week. Even though Karmine Corp won the VCT 2024 EMEA Kickoff, they struggled against FUT Esports in February and came just a couple of rounds away from losing the series.

This won’t be an easy match for FUT, but they are in good touch and took a bite out of Karmine Corp the last time they met. At plus money, they’re worth backing to finish what they started.

Team Vitality couldn’t deliver in the first week of VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1, losing to Natus Vincere with a combined map record of 13-26. Vitality weren’t expected to win that game, but their performance on the day inspired very little confidence.

Team Heretics’ run to the finals of the EMEA Kickoff was considered a fluke, but last Thursday they again showed they could dance with the big boys with a 2-0 victory against Fnatic. Benjy “benjyfishy” Fish led the charge with a 1.33 performance rating, ahead of Ri?ardas “Boo” Luka?evi?ius with 1.17.

Assuming benjyfishy continues to post solid individual performances, Team Heretics should find themselves in the race for the VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 title. But even if he doesn’t show as much on Wednesday, it’s difficult to justify a wager on Vitality given what they’ve shown so far this season.

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FUT Esports finished the VCT 2024 EMEA Kickoff with just one victory against GIANTX and two losses against the eventual finalists, Team Heretics and Karmine Corp. That isn’t too bad, especially considering FUT Esports played very competitive series against Heretics and KC.

Team Liquid were far less successful in the season-opening tournament. They beat KOI in the first game but lost the rematch and also went down to Natus Vincere. In the first round of the VCT 2024 EMEA League, Liquid got their revenge against KOI but didn’t look great.

Team Liquid have faced only three different teams this season, so we can’t make any conclusions; however, they’ve not shown enough to earn the tag as favourites for this series. FUT Esports are the obvious choice at plus money.

BBL Esports had a terrible start to the 2024 VALORANT Champions Tour and posted the worst record of the EMEA Kickoff, finishing with two losses and a -20 round differential. It’s unfair to criticise BBL Esports too much since they have only two games under their belt, but it’s also tough to find many positives.

Gentle Mates had a very similar experience in the VCT 2024 EMEA Kickoff, where they lost both of their series against Team Vitality. However, GM still performed well; they kept the first game close and were reverse-swept in the rematch after losing in overtime on the second map.

This is a match between two weak VALORANT esports teams, so anything can happen. But at $1.81 with the top esports betting sites, siding with Gentle Mates is a far more appealing option.

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