Yeah, I was wrong about that. Still felt like a bit of an unnecessary risk, their Split looked a lot more solid. But then again, I guess they had less conifdence in the Split because of the role change so it makes sense.

But also, if Monyet doesn't win the 1v2 with the Sheriff, this series could easily be a 2-0. It was a very close map.

I'll stand by my point that there would have been better picks for PRX with less risk attached.

Why tf would I care what happened to random ass people who happen to be from the same country as me

TenZ 3-0 Magnum

He's your dad

Noneyet on Raze, Wonyet on Omen (also bruh, f0rsaken has no right being this insane on Raze)

Yeah, the lack of experience really showed on map 3. Benjy had an insane defense half and then went for silly plays on attack thinking he'll win them the game. Tough loss, especially considering how winnable the series against SEN was (not to say SEN didn't deserve the win, but it was super close).

But this team has hella potential if Woot slots in well.

It's been two years and you still don't understand the partnership system.

He's doing pretty well for a sub tbh. His util on Sunset was insane and won them a couple of rounds even if the frags weren't there.

He's probably not staying on the team after Madrid anyway.

Alfajer just got the chance to be in a top team earlier. I feel like RieNs now is more consistent than Alfa was in his first couple months on Fnatic (though tbf, RieNs did have a long off season to grow into this while Alfa was just kinda thrown into it mid season)

I wonder why that is

Why the fuck is PRX picking Sunset into TH? Surely TH win this

...Sentinels are looking unbeatable, TenZ is frying the competition, just 2-0ed Magnum. Lakia's Korean squad is the strongest Asian roster. Saadhak is struggling with his Brazilian team.

If this tournament ends with Sentinels beating KC 3-0 in the grand final, it's confirmed that the VCT script is actually on a 3-year loop.

And you know what this means.

KOI wins Champs.

After the first matches I have very little faith in PRX. Heretics looked strong against SEN, it was definitely winnable. Wouldn't be surprised if this is a quick 2-0 for TH

Bro needs to find the period button on his keyboard

The amount of hate he gets is insane, like he personally invented mandatory military service to get on the team or something

Count again

So your region is horrible at scouting?

CHIPI 💥💯🔊 CHIPI👍🥰🤪😋 CHAPA 💗💖🤪😋🔊 CHAPA 💯🥰👌💙 DUBI 🦄✨🧨💗😍 DUBI 😍😍😍🔊💯✨💖💖 DABA 👍💋🔊🤯🎉 DABA 🧨💗💖💖💙 MAGICÒ MÍ 🙋‍♂️💖💖💗🧨 DUBI 💙💙🎉🎉🦄 DUBI BOOM 🧨💥🧨 BOOM 🧨💥🧨 BOOM 🧨💥🧨 BOOM🧨💥🧨

I didn't forget Sunset, but TH is very good on that map as well. I felt like their setups looked a bit stronger at times. As for Ascent and Bind, SEN looked shaky on both maps at kickoff. TH played 0 Ascent and 1 Bind (which they won), so it's hard to predict. According to neilzinho, TH have a lot more prepped that they haven't yet shown at kickoff, and I wouldn't be surprised if they have at least something on Ascent. I feel like Ascent, Bind and Sunset could all go either way.

Just map theory wise, TH should be favoured here if they simply ban Split and Lotus. Of course individually SEN are worlds ahead, we don't really know if TH can keep up their good form, how their inexperienced players will perform under pressure, how Riens will do at LAN, etc.

I think this match is a way bigger question mark than people give it credit for. SEN haven't won a single series without dropping a map at kickoff, and with how their map pool is currently looking, I highly doubt they 2-0 this unless TH has a strong decline in individual performance.

Still think SEN take this 2-1, but I wouldn't bet my life savings on it.

The teams will play against all the other teams in their group.

Nah 8 team playoffs in a league with 11 teams would suck. Qualifying to playoffs with like 3 wins out of 10 matches is stupid, no team would take the regular season seriously.

It also doesn't make any sense.

Each team has 5 matches per split. This framing of two groups suggests that teams from group A have 6 matches in the first split and then 4 in the second split.

Finally a win for portable document format 🙏

That's probably the tradeoff for not having a buyout.

You're in a coma, StyrofoamOne. Please wake up. Please, the kids and I miss you so much

Say what you want about the 8 team format, but honestly I feel like this tournament will be such a banger. I haven't watched too much APAC and China, so I don't know how PRX, EDG, FPX and Gen.G are looking, but from the little I've seen, I feel like besides maybe FPX, every single team at Madrid has a decent chance at winning. Not saying they all have equal chances, but I don't think there'll be any game where you can guarantee in advance who will win.

The only correct analysis of this game

Chronicle missed all of 2022, he's not near the top in terms of appearances.

It's a pretty good game, but there's also plenty of mistakes on both sides. Honestly NRG's map theory looked much worse than various other teams. Even Heretics had better postplants on Sunset

They were favourites for the Americas league last year and won though

I've never been so hyped to watch an international tournament as an EU fan. Sure Americas look unbeatable, but KC and TH are so much more fun to watch than FNC/TL/NAVI, and I'm so tired of those teams going in with high expectations and going out while playing the most boring Valorant on earth.

Even if KC and TH don't win any games (and honestly they are looking more than capable of beating anyone) I feel like it'll be so much doper than EU at internationals in the last two years.

Enggh is a great coach, and so handsome too 🤤

They could, yeah. Loud would obviously be favoured in either duel though.

I mean they lost one bo3, while playing the exact same strats they've played for the last 14 months. Against a team that is looking very good.

CoJo said on Twitter that the plan was for FNC to peak at Champs, which makes sense given last year's trajectory. Saadhak also said that he wanted to do so much more stuff at Champs and he just didn't have the time. The schedule is tight and teams that do deep runs in masters won't be able to come up with much new stuff for Champs.

So this year FNC went with "we think we're good enough to win kickoff with old strats", which they were clearly wrong about. But also they will have other stuff cooked up for the rest of the year. Whether or not those things will work is up in the air, but reacting to this one bo3 like they all fell off and are shit players now is a bit silly.

based off of what exactly

The entirety of last year as a precedent

Americans interpret any result within EMEA as EMEA being shit, it's nothing new. If FNC had won, the reactions would be the same.

Yeah of course he was frying, he played OREsports and DSG. Put Qwerty against those and he drops 90

All it took for N4rrate to become good was a proper team of European chads around him

Stop thinking bro, it's clearly not working for you

He wanted a less stressful job

Until I find a smarter specimen I'm gonna have to go with you tbh

smartest american

They are tier 1 players.

unless on phantom

Surely a Viper who is about to ult doesn't buy a Vandal unless it's carried over from a previous round, right?

In his personal streams he's super annoying, constantly malding and whining about opponents and teammates and how bad everyone else is at the game.

I think on the broadcast he's fine though. Not the best we've got, but acceptable.

I think the biggest problem is that SA tier 2 can't scrim the tier 1 teams, which kind of prevents the region from developing properly. It's not that apparent yet, but after a few years of all the good SA teams being based in LA, it'll probably become more pronounced. IIRC Leo said Riot considered a rotating league which moves every year but decided against it for logistical reasons. Personally I think for the development of the scene that could have been a very good solution. EMEA teams (excluding sub-Saharan Africa, but there's nothing there in terms of Valorant anyway) can all scrim the partnered teams with a reasonable ping.

Lost to this team btw: https://www.vlr.gg/298697/bilibili-gaming-vs-wolves-esports-champions-tour-2024-china-kickoff-opening-c

Doping, it literally says it in the post bro

Americas - Chaadhak & Goatzin
EMEA - Vitality
Pacific - PRX
China - DRG

Yeah, because Loud knew exactly how to best set up qck and how to counter aspas.

yay also diffed everyone in 2022, but the second he left optic, he didn't diff anybody anymore. Almost like it's a team game :o