EMEA:
Vitality is definitely going to make playoffs, especially now that they have Trexx, their talent pool and ability to brawl especially in a meta which has leaned towards larger, messier team fights. I would be surprised if they looked bad.
KOI made a pretty good run for a team that was newly formed before the league started, I wouldn't be surprised if they make a deep run during split 1, the only issue is whether or not Starxo's IGLing can hold up.
FUT are currently being slept on right now because they got grouped in kickoff, but keep in mind they lost to a red-hot Team Heretics and a developed Karmine Corp, I would not be surprised if they make Shanghai over the likes of FNATIC and NAVI.
GiantX looked super solid during kickoff, they just happened to have the most stacked group of the tournament; redgar has always been a solid IGL, definitely less so since he has been comming in English, however I think that GiantX's established core can definitely do some damage during the season.
Americas:
100T are probably one of the bigger heavy hitters that people know, I just think they're going to make a deep run and to be honest, depending on how well NRG, LEV, and LOUD play, they may upset and make Shanghai
KRU have always been a good team and honestly I do not think that will change, Keznit is insane as always and the rest of the core is capable of keeping up, I doubt they will be winless throughout the year.
MIBr has been slept on a lot in kickoff, but they're clearly much better than Cloud9 and FURIA, which places them cleanly within the middle of the region. Beating G2, I think, separates them from the rest. Will they be able to play against the larger names like LEV, NRG, SEN, and LOUD? Probably not, but I think that fr0d will provide a strong coaching figure within this team and place them in the upper half of teams.
EG has shown very good antistratting and innovation within their map pool, I just would not be surprised if Potter is capable of creating her next championship level team.
Pacific:
Talon had a very strong showing at the beginning of kickoff, but dwindled towards the end, losing to a Team Secret that they had brutalized beforehand. With the extra time they have had during Madrid, I think they're capable of doing serious damage, as they were able to play well enough against DRX.
ZETA's managing has created something good with the team they currently have, I think that with the talent development of Carlao and the leadership of Laz, they will be able to make a deep run this split. If their rookies can keep up, I think they could even place above teams like T1 and DRX.
DRX is a name that a lot of people wouldn't think of for a surprise team, but the showing that they had in kickoff wasn't exactly the most prolific. A lot of people are sleeping on them as a roster, but taking in 2 rookies doesn't change that they have Stax, Buzz, and Mako; players that have proven themselves as the echelon of Korean VALORANT. Their rookies will allow them to play in a scrappier way than previously; the only issue now is whether or not Termi can coach within the best interest of the team, or regress the talent they have to being too structured for their own good.
RRQ have jemkin and estrella.
I wanted to make a funner thread just because I think it's interesting how good a lot of the teams now that aren't attending internationals are. I really only named 4 teams per region, but with how the talent development of each region is going, and how well everyone is playing, I would not be surprised if a lot of new faces start dominating the scene; something that can only help it.
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