Champs this year is really underwhelming, prob the most boring champs i have ever watched by far. The production, the matches, the storylines... just pale in comparison to last year for whatever reasons, hope this isn't just me tho.
Maybe in terms of production outside of the Top 4, those events could be better. Both Berlin events and LOCK//IN were mickey because of single elimination format. Reykjavík 2021 was naturally one of the least competitive events. Reykjavík 2022 was good but the matches were not close to Champions Seoul.
prx finalists of the last masters dropped out of groups
optic almost loses to boom first round and looked extremely beatable
loud vs optic in groups which would happen again in a rematch
fpx vs xset in groups which would happen again in a rematch
100T upsets fnatic in group stage before dying to them in a rematch
Fnatic vs lev gigabanger 3 map overtime enzo clutch
Xset vs lev insane haven map falling off a heaven
Xset vs fpx gigabanger turret incident
Drx vs fpx ardiis clutch best map of ascent/valorant of all time
I could go on and i havent even mentioned optic at all other than boom
PRX also dropped out of groups this event.
OPTC did not in fact almost lose to BME. It was just one map. In that case I could mention a bunch of games where the underdog team won a map but still lost the series.
Can't mention rematches when I was talking about group stage. The playoffs of this event was equally crazy.
FNC vs. LEV was at Masters Copenhagen not Champions Istanbul...
XSET vs. LEV was also at Masters Copenhagen not Champions Istanbul...
The last two you mentioned were good but again, they were not in the group stage.