KangKangs flicks are so quick... bro lives in x2 speed.

True. He just got 18, he is one of the best shooters in the world, he is sick with the operator... that dude is simply crazy. Today with Leo my fav. player of Fnatic.

Relax, bro. crashies is a great player and also a nice dude.

Just wow. Fnatic def. prepared well.

Fnatics worst map is Bind, I think NRG will win there and Split will be the deciding map.
*Edit: Okay, one user just posted they have 76% wins on Bind. Didn't check that. I just had that crazy loss on Bind against FUT in my mind.

But for real... Leo is insane. That dudes mechanics and gamesense are so damn good. I know he's the only player that was rated for every VCT year (all tournaments combined) under the best players (#4 in 2021, #2 in 2022 and atm. #1 for 2023), but he's really impressive everytime again.

People probably always think the player they're watching the most is the best. 100% objectively said there is no single "BEST" player in the world, since every role has to be played differently and also under the best duelists it's not easy to say that one specific player is "better" than another one, because of the different playstyles, which result in different ACS, K/D etc.

In the end of the day I think it's fair so say that Derke, Sayf, something, aspas, Demon1 and KangKang are the best known professional duelists right now. But as you just saw with Demon1 showing up in april, KangKang showing up now etc., there will be totally different names by the end of the year or next year (maybe Keiko, whzy, Filu etc.)

I mean it's insane. From losing to Furia etc. in the beginning of April to smashing LOUD 2-0 in a Major. EG is the incarnation of what confidence, hard work and an dedicated coach can achieve. In the beginning no one thought a Tier 2 / 3 duelist could do that to the current World Champion... but Demon1 tought them something else. It feels like EG is this brotherhood / family from a sports movie that would defeat the much better football teams. :D

NRG 2-1 FNC

EG will win Tokyo.

7? Including LOCKIN?
VCT 2021 + 2 masters
VCT 2022 + 2 masters
Those are 6. Where is the 7th?

When are Europeans get clapped? What is with League? It'a no competitive first-person shooter. CS:GO and Valorant are very similar games.
I don't even have anything against Brazil, you have some great players. Why u so mad?

I just used the Liquipedia statistics site.
https://liquipedia.net/counterstrike/Majors

Thanks for being the next dude for my Photoshop comp., with racist people like you, ranting over Valorant regions. Can't wait to post that on Reddit. Will be fun.

Game: CS:GO
Major trophies overall: 19
Majors won by region: 11x EU, 5x CIS, 3x NA
Gold medals by region: 66x EU, 15x CIS, 10x BR, 6x NA
Player titles: 65x EU, 15x CIS, 10x BR, 6x NA
MVP players: 13x EU, 3x CIS, 2x BR, 1x NA

Game: Valorant
VCT World Champion trophies: 2
VCT LOCKIN trophies: 1
VCT Masters trophies: 4
Major trophies overall: 7
VCT World Champions by region: 1x EU, 1x BR
Majors won by region: 3x EU, 2x NA, 1x CIS, 1x BR
MVP players: 19x EU, 19x NA, 13x KR, 9x APAC, 8x BR, 8x CIS, 7x LATAM, 6x JP
(some websites and casters say LOCKIN was a major, some people say it was not a major - I rate it separately)

East-Germany has a lot in common with Poland, Czech, Estonia etc. and do you know how many German-Russians and Polish-Germans exist? A lot. Of course there are differencies to Spain, France etc. - but Europeans still have a lot in common when it comes to daily life, hobbies etc.

Let me get this clear, now where this senseless thread went for a while: I have nothing against the USA and US-Americans. I have family living in the USA, Australia and Canada. I just got triggered by racist comments about which region is better because of a god damn video game. It doesn't get any more stupid, then coping 24/7 about your region in a damn video game.

Support a team and everything is cool, but those kids forget that that is the highest level of Valorant for now... when one insanely good team wins against another very good team (EG vs. DRX, NRG vs. NAVI), then it doesn't mean the other team is trash. DRX and NAVI would still clear every current Tier 2 teams worldwide. Have a nice day.

Btw.: FPX was a European team, look it up. HQ was in Europe and it was under EU flag and played in EU region league, not CIS.

Yes, Canadian. Not US-American. Canadians are damn awesome, educated and nice people. Spent their already 3 holidays...insane country. I'm talking about FaZe being an US-American team while no US-Americans play there. Carried by Europeans and a Canadian. And rest of CS:GO is basically Europe + a few great Russian players.

But hey... one day you hate Canadians, but when it fits they're your homies. Like with Americas league and Brazilians. They literally have nothing in common weith you, but when it helps arguing about a stupid video game, LOUD is an "Americas" team. xD

Cringe.

LOUD never beat Fnatic yet brother, but that doesn't matter. Anyone knows that LOUD is better than all the NA teams. aspas alone would 13-0 NRG.

Seems it works to provoke you with that, because you get angry. I just laugh my ass off while having dinner... far away from being mad. You guys try so hard to make this a region war without a reason because it's a damn video game. Do you know how cringe that is? Starting discussions about god damn video game and arguing which region is better... brother... WTF?! xD

Are you serious? Native Americans have nothing to do with White Americans.
Germans make 16% of the US population, English the same percentage. But hey... I mean, you probably never learned anything in school over there.

Without Europeans building up the USA it would still be the home of Native American Indians. ;) Your white ass would not exist.

100T are trash, get over it kiddo. They will never win anything.

I don't even care about Valorant, bro. I play mainly CS (the better game), where NA never won anything and gets spanked by EU teams daily (like in Dota 2, LoL etc. - NA is so bad at E-Sports). But still NA won no big Valorant tournament as well... only EU and Brazil.

USA = Created by Europeans. You guys wouldn't even exist without Europe.

US kids are the most funny people ever. Delusional drug addicts.

Reykjavik was fraud, because all EU and CIS teams had no prac time. You guys sucked at LOCKIN (Fnatic ate your best teams for breakfast) and a bunch of Brazilian players keep destroying you on your homeground in Los Angeles all the time.

World Champions 2021: EU
World Champions 2022: Brazil
LOCKIN: EU

And get a history lesson. Europeans built up the USA. You guys are nothing more than a mix out of European races. Hahahahahaha.

Valorant doesn't mean sh*t at the moment. The E-Sport in this game is still so young.

In CS:GO (the much harder game) Europe and CIS are owning. NA is the worst region in Counter-Strike (even FaZe only buys European players), in Dota, in LoL... in probably all big E-Sports. But I love how the Americans, who never won a big Valorant tournament (yes, only European and Brazilian teams did) think they're the best. You guys are the most delusional people ever.

EU + BR >>>> NA

Never said they were on the same level. I said NRG won deserved. I said on 2 maps they were KINDA on the same level. And to come back and make it a overtime win def. takes skill against the probably 3rd-4th best team in the world right now (would say Fnatic, LOUD, Paper Rex prob. Top 3 atm. - until EG comes xD).

To the age: ANGE1 had issues with performing in the league as well. 3 years ago he was going insane when he was the age of FNS. Dunno if he just had some bad months now or if his level is sinking slowly but surely. He's a legend for sure, I won't doubt that - just like FNS.

I said KINDA, not exactly. SUYGETSU and cNed made some crazy plays and it was 13-8... so 5 rounds difference, which is not like insanely much.

Check the Riot trailer, they're legit saying that and at the tournament when they got the trophy it also said "LOCKIn World Champions". I did not make it up, guys. Why should I? Furthermore at Masters Tokyo now, they also said "Fnatic LOCKIN World Champions".

Why? Maybe because it was the biggest Valorant tournament yet, with the 32 best teams in the world. But hey... call it whatever you want. LOCKIN Champions, World Champions, LOCKIN winners... I mean who gives a damn?! I think it doesn't even care anymore. Who cares what was won 4 months ago or last year or 2021? Only some fanboys are always pulling out wins from the past, but it has nothing to do with the current form.

Me2.

only love

That's actually true, but exactly THAT is Fnatics weakness - their discipline. Of course they have the best roster in the world and are able to beat every team. I mean they were 2-0 ahead against LOUD and then they stopped to com, were insanely aggressive and stopped peeking etc. - like they didn't care anymore. That's the reason why those teams NEED a loss from time to time, so they get remembered that they're not unbeatable. LOUD is more disciplined and they stay more calm. I hope for a rematch in Tokyo.

How can NA be on top when LOUD are VCT 2022 World Champions and Fnatic VCT LOCKIN 2023 World Champions?

There is a chance, that an NA team will become the best. I mean EG are basically doing a lot of pioneering work right now with creating a fully new playstyle - but they still have to manage to beat NRG and LOUD with this - and Fnatic beat LOUD the last time. When EG or NRG wins Tokyo, I'm with you - then NA is on top for the moment.

I actually hope that EG wins the tournament. We need fresh wind and these guys don't give a damn about these big teams. When they have the momentum, they're able to beat LOUD and Fnatic. But that didn't happen yet. ;)

They're doing so well. I mean MaKo and Rb are insane, but EG is just ONE UNIT. These dudes deserve all success.

I say 2-1 DRX, but EG will doing great - you have to love them. Potter is also so nice.

Ascent and Lotus were kinda the same level of both teams, but NRG was so much better on Split... deserved 2-1 victory.

Ah, and 34 years old ANGE1 should think about handling the IGL over to Shao and NAVI then sign a new player. That dude is not playing on this level.

SUYGETSU is insane. Wow.

At NRG you can really see how they perfected their team behavior. No player is shining over all maps, they're all doing their job incredibly well.

cNed kinda outsmarts himself with Your kinda often. For the opposite it's just annoying, nothing more. Jett is so much more powerful.

Yep, think so as well. If they won't pull out a crazy anti strategy, NRG will beat them. NRG used basically a mix of the Fnatic strategy and the LOUD strat on Ascent - was nice to watch.

NAVI didn't certain things good... Shao and SUYGETSU did really well, but cNed should not buy the Operator anymore for real. He was throwing the Op shots like against Fnatic. WIth the Phantom he's insane... better stick to that.

crashies and s0m are so good again.

Players
Duelists: cNed = ardiis
Initiators: Zyppan > crashies
Sentinels / Flex: SUYGETSU = Victor
Controllers: ANGE1 < s0m
Flex / Initiators: Shao > FNS
IGLs: ANGE1 = FNS

Team abilities
Experience: NAVI = NRG
Tactical variety: NAVI = NRG
Entry fragging: NAVI = NRG
Roaming / Lurking: NAVI > NRG
Anchoring: NAVI = NRG
Pistol: NAVI < NRG
Operator: NAVI ≤ NRG

Overall I'd say this will be by far the most exciting match of the qualifying for now. NRG won against LOUD, lost against EG and then won against them, then lost against LOUD... they played so many crazy difficult matches on the highest level in the past weeks, so they will probably start with a better momentum. NAVI had not their best matches in the last weeks with losing to FUT, Liquid and Fnatic - before of that they won against Giants, Liquid and FUT - so they can if they want. Both teams have several of the most experienced players in the world who won big tournaments.

Because of the current form, I see NRG with a small advantage - but NAVI can always be dangerous.

EU = Europe - Central, North, West, South
CIS = Commonwealth Independent States - which is East-Europe + Russia (also counted as Europe, since their capital is on European ground, but in games they obviously have their own servers because of the distance) + West-Asian countries, that are close with Russia

NAVI is def. European, since it belongs to the Ukraine

I don't need any help. You need help with your racist nonsense. Anyway, I have no demand to discuss with kids. Have a nice day.

.

"Alphabet" or "HFM" rgearding the internet, but he said he wants people to say the full name. xD

Guys, he's trolling. I bet he just sat there and wanted to see how many kiddos go full rage mode.
He is Czech btw... so European. :D

I'm really happy for EG, they're such a great team. I also like FUT and they still have a good chance via Lower Bracket to qualify. They're not out.

Btw.: Demon1 was def. not good in this match. Ethan, Boostio and C0M played incredible, though. Ethan is easily already one of the best NA players. That dude is crazily talented.

zeek was really good and when niesoW still played for Heretics that dude was cracked, I miss the old Heretics a lot. But niesoW is on break for almost 1 1/2 years now... dunno if he will ever come back.

True. Also Tokyo will have a totally different mental meaning to all the teams. Fnatic already forgot how to lose, they probably even needed this loss. They need to know they are not unbeatable (no team is) - that's the best foundation for Tokyo. And when you watched Paper Rex yesterday, I'm sure that it's even possible that no EMEA or Americas team could win Tokyo, but Paper Rex or DRX - those guys are cracked as well.

When Fnatic is overrated, every team is overrated. LOUD recently lost 0-2 against NRG and lost against Fnatic 2-3 on homeground a few weeks ago. No team is unbeatable and the Valorant pro scene is still ultra young. Compare it to the CS:GO scene, where all Top 20 teams are like insanely cracked, Valorant is still not even on the same level. Teams that got champions (VCT World, VCT LOCKIN etc.) in 2021, 2022 or even 2023 still can be not even top teams anymore in 2-3 years, when the skill ceiling gets higher and higher.

But what has the manager to do with the team and the coaching? Nothing. I mean, I have nothing against the USA... I have some American friends in Washington and Reno, but the argument of the manager is American doesn't have any American influence on the team, since it's a person who does orga stuff. It's a European team with a Euro coach and Euro players.

But beside of that the whole regional hating is so stupid. I have my chat completely off when I'm watching Valorant tournaments on Twitch. All these silver kiddos spamming "EU >>>>>>> NA", "aspas >>>>>>>>>>>>>> EU", "TenZ >>>>> Fnatic" and stuff are so annoying.

To be honest I see NRG and Cloud9 becoming much stronger in close future. NRG is basically a OpTic in BETTER. They just need their time in growing together, just like Fnatic needed it's time growing big from SUMN FC to now. I bet NRG will become the best NA team soon.

I checked everything and updated. ;)

Duelists:
Jett - aspas
Raze - Derke
Neon - leaf
Yoru - ???
Reyna - ScreaM
Phoenix - Victor

Initiators:
Sova - Leo
Fade - Shao
Skye - Jamppi
KAY/O - Zyppan
Breach - Chronicle
Gekko - Saadhak

Sentinels:
Killjoy - Alfajer
Cypher - nAts
Sage - sheydos
Chamber - yay

Controllers:
Viper - MaKo
Omen - Khalil
Brimstone - ATA KAPTAN
Astra - s0m
Harbor - Mazino

I think it's very hard to list an objective as possible overall Top 10, since players will always do varying performances on the different type of agents. A main duelist f.e. will not play the same ACS and KD(A) on Astra as he would do on Jett, so I think we always have to differentiate between duelists, sentinels etc. - just like "cryyBAE" did in his post. I will still do my best to also list my personal Top 10 in the end.

I know it's a long list, but thanks to fact that I'm on job search since 31th January, I had so much time and basically watched all Valorant tournaments and 90% of the Challengers matches from EMEA, Americas and Pacific region + the Challengers Split league of the DACH region.

So here is my try.
(HM = "Honorable Mention" of a very talented player (U23) from Tier 2 or Tier 3 tournaments, who didn't play a Major yet)

Duelists:
01) Derke | Fnatic
02) aspas | LOUD
03) Sayf | Liquid
04) leaf | Cloud9
05) Foxy9 | DRX
06) cNed | NAVI
07) qw1 | FUT
08) yay | Disguised
09) TenZ | Sentinels
10) QutionerX | BBL
HM: Keiko | Apeks

Initiators:
01) Leo | Fnatic
02) Chronicle¹ | Fnatic
03) Shao² | NAVI
04) Jamppi | Liquid
05) Zyppan | NAVI
06) zekken | Sentinels
07) cauanzin | LOUD
08) crashies | NRG
09) stax³ | DRX
10) Asuna | 100 Thieves
HM: trent | The Guard

Sentinels:
01) Alfajer | Fnatic
02) Less | LOUD
03) nAts | Liquid
04) BuZz | DRX
05) Victor | NRG
06) nukkye | Giants
07) k1Ng | Gen.G
08) sheydos | KOI
09) Zellsis | Cloud9
10) Munchkin | T1
HM: al0rante | MOUZ

Controllers:
01) MaKo | DRX
02) Chronicle¹ | Fnatic
03) Shao² | NAVI
04) s0m | NRG
05) kiNgg | Leviatán
06) Boaster⁴ | Fnatic
07) jakee | Cloud9
08) Khalil | FURIA
09) ATA KAPTAN | FUT
10) Rb | DRX
HM: kAdavra | Mandatory

IGLs:
01) Boaster⁴ | Fnatic
02) FNS | NRG
03) Saadhak | LOUD
04) stax³ | DRX
05) ANGE1 | NAVI
06) runi | Cloud9
07) Redgar | Liquid
08) stellar | 100 Thieves
09) mazin | FURIA
10) rhyme | Giants
HM: YaBoiLewis | FOKUS

Overall:
01) Derke | Fnatic
02) aspas | LOUD
03) Leo | Fnatic
04) Chronicle | Fnatic
05) MaKo | DRX
06) Sayf | Liquid
07) Shao | NAVI
08) Alfajer | Fnatic
09) leaf | Cloud9
10) Less | LOUD
11) nAts | Liquid
12) s0m | NRG
13) Jamppi | Liquid
14) Foxy9 | DRX
15) Zyppan | NAVI
16) BuZz | DRX
17) Victor | NRG
18) cNed | NAVI
19) zekken | Sentinels
20) nukkye | Giants
21) qw1 | FUT
22) k1Ng | Gen.G
23) cauanzin | LOUD
24) kiNgg | Leviatán
25) Boaster | Fnatic

Yeah, brother... we're getting OLD. ;)