With the tightly contested FaZe Invitational completed, the next Ignition Series event is upon us. The Allied Esports Odyssey will feature some of the fiercest competition we've seen in the European scene to date. The event will be a first-showing at a top level for some, while for others, the event will be another chance to prove their dominance and prowess.

Six of the best teams in Europe will compete for a prize purse of €15,000 EUR, solidifying the hierarchy of the European Valorant scene and potentially providing a chance for new talent to rise against the giants.

Higher and Higher

There's little to be said that hasn't already been discussed about G2 Esports G2 Esports Inactive . Since the initial stages of its formation, G2 have been drummed up as one of the top teams in European Valorant and the global scene, and for good reason. As the only true international roster in the Tier 1 scene, G2 have overcome fellow rival fish123 and look unstoppable. The team has taken the crown as the best team in Europe—and potentially the world —from the British roster, with an 18-0 record to back it up.

Along with their perfect series record, G2 boast a perfect Ignition Series record as well, going three for three. Across their three Ignition Series appearances and 18 series wins, G2 have only dropped five maps; two to PartyParrots and one each to Prodigy, FABRIKEN, and Ninjas in Pyjamas.

But, as with fish123 before, G2's prestige and pride make them a prime target for contenders. With every event comes a chance for their 18-0 record to be stopped dead in its tracks. Now with their direct rival signed by the Tier 1 organization Team Liquid, and with the mysterious new roster ZyppanGoKill debuting this event, G2's victory may not be assured this time, but their era of dominance isn't yet in complete jeopardy.

The Last Fluke

Claiming the title of "Best Team in Europe" is no easy feat, and it's a title that was once associated with fish123 fish123 Inactive Kryptix James Affleck ScreaM Adil Benrlitom L1NK Travis Mendoza ec1s Adam Eccles soulcas Dom Sulcas . Initially formed during the game's beta, fish123 has become one of the most beloved and contentious teams in the region. Initially debuting #1 in Europe at the time of the game's full release, the team has since slid from their initial heights. The departure of Ardis " ardiis " Svarenieks to fellow rival G2 Esports, followed by multiple disappointing losses, have staggered the team's momentum.

The roster's first Ignition Series run in the WePlay! Invitational reinforced the team's strong standing from the beta scene. Along with ScreaM, who was then merely a stand-in, the team overcame the rising rosters of NiP and PartyParrots before falling to G2 2-0 in the grand finals.

However, the team's journey in the Mandatory.gg Cup was cut short. The brutal best-of-one format of the event led its way to a major upset against fish123 at the hands of TBD, who were later signed by Entropia.

Now under the venerated Team Liquid organization, the newly sponsored team are vying to reclaim their throne from G2 and clear their name. As one of the few rosters to be fully signed by a major organization, Liquid are in an advantageous but also precarious position.

With the round robin format of the group stage and the playoffs primarily being played in best-of-one matches, Liquid's dream of a grand finals rematch could be in peril. While it won't be a make-or-break for the newly signed roster, there are no second chances at first impressions.

The Next Superteam?

Little is known about the elusive roster of ZyppanGoKill ZyppanGoKill Inactive Shao Andrey Kiprsky ShadoW Tobias Flodström Meddo Johan Renbjörk Lundborg Zyppan Pontus Eek ANGE1 Kyrylo Karasov . The team's formation, coinciding with the first qualifier for this event, confirms part of Arran “Halo” Brown's report on the roster. However, remaining under the mix name of ZyppanGoKill, it's unknown if the team's true sponsor will come to light in the following days.

The superteam, featuring players from the former all-star rosters of PartyParrots and FABRIKEN, has shown themselves to be no slouches. After making quick work of ISOL-BULIL, the team narrowly squeezed past Inactive , with fierce resistance from Hqrdest .

They'll hope to shake off that close match and catapult themselves into the conversation of Europe's top teams in their debut tournament. The players on this roster come from two of the four teams to take maps off G2, giving the team a unique experience in cracking the juggernauts' armor.

With the roster's sponsorship status currently unconfirmed, the roster's debut will bring the players back to the forefront of the European scene.

Another Chance at the Bat

Few organizations have entered the European Valorant scene, and even fewer have already housed two different rosters under their banner. After parting ways with their former Paladins roster, Ninjas in Pyjamas Ninjas in Pyjamas Inactive dimasick Dmitriy Matvienko chiwa Egor Stepanyuk Jady Yaroslav Nikolaev rhyme Emir Muminovic have since signed rhyme, luckeRRR, and the HypHypHyp core in a complete overhaul.

The French-Bosnian-German squad have consistently performed in their Ignition Series appearances, making it to the semifinals of both the WePlay! Invitational and Mandatory.gg Cup.

In an interview with VLR.gg, Enzo “Fearoth” Mestari mentioned fish123 and G2 as two of the main teams that the roster are actively watching. With both rivals set to take on Fearoth's squad in the round robin group stage and potentially the playoffs, NiP's preparation and studying will be put to the test.

The Giants versus the Giants

Out of the all-star lineup in this event, one of the lesser-known of the teams—unless you live on the Iberian peninsula—will be ex-Giants Gaming ex-Giants Gaming Inactive Fit1nho Adolfo Gallego Yurii Salvador Gasco donQ Francesc Savall jonba Jon Baraiazarra eXerZ Miguel Marín , one of the few Spanish rosters under an organization. The Giants' Valorant roster first formed in late June, consisting of multiple Spanish former CS:GO players.

Despite success in their regional scene, winning the first two Guardianes GG Series cups in July, the Giants have sought international recognition in the Ignition Series. After failing to qualify for the WePlay! Invitational, dropping to OW players LUL and nolpenki in the two open qualifiers, the Spanish squad was guaranteed a spot in the Mandatory.gg Cup. The Mandatory.gg Cup was the first big event for the Giants, but an unlucky early encounter with G2 in the Round of 16 put their run to an end, losing Ascent to the dominant roster 13-8.

As one of the four teams invited to the Allied Esports Odyssey, the Giants have their work cut out for them if they want to prove themselves a worthy contender in the Tier 1 scene. With the Iberian challenger's first match up against Ninjas in Pyjamas, their neighboring rivals, the Giants are set to be the underdogs of the event.

Turkey on the Main Stage Once Again

Few countries in Eastern Europe have been able to procure talent and fans quite like Turkey. BBL Esports BBL Esports Europe Rank #34 Jamppi Elias Olkkonen sociablEE Volkan Yonal chiwa Egor Stepanyuk PROFEK Dawid Święć LewN Burak Alkan will rep their country in the team's second Ignition Series appearance to date, previously having made the semifinals of the Mandatory.gg Cup before falling to G2 in a competitive two-map series.

That Mandatory.gg Cup performance put Europe on notice to the strength of the BBL Esports squad, who have defeated the likes of need more DM, Rix.GG, and the roster now known as Entropiq. They then backed that performance up by beating bonk—the very same bonk that made it to the grand finals of the Mandatory.gg Cup—in the final match of the second Allied Odyssey qualifier.

BBL Esports have proven themselves worthy to compete with Europe's best after making deep runs in multiple Bo1 gauntlets. The tournament's group stage will give them a rare opportunity to take a break from constantly competing on the doorstep of elimination, but they cannot let themselves get complacent, lest they fall short of qualifying for the tournament's playoffs.