I saw that no one else is doing this, and my opinion is the most valid and obviously everyone has been waiting for me to speak out so here are my rankings:
1.) G2 - They do look like the best team in the world but were shown to be beatable when SEN took two maps off of them while G2 had every possible advantage in the series. I do think that SEN wins that series on even footing, but I can't rate G2 any lower based on the dominance they've shown so far. Technically, I have them as the favorites, but I do not think there is much separation between the top 3, let alone the top 6.
2.) EDG - I don't watch much CN Valorant, but this EDG team has shown time and again how dangerous they are, and the roster changes they made last year elevated them so much. If they can keep up a good form they can beat any team on this list, and should be one of the favorites to win their second trophy.
3.) SEN - Really impressed me against G2. I do have some map pool concerns, but I think that this team showed the kind of team they could be when they played G2 so closely. I also believe that this team has the highest current ceiling of any team in this tournament. That is, if every team here plays to their absolute best possible current form, I believe that SEN will win. The question is if they can play to their top level consistently.
4.) DRX - Probably the best team play that I have seen from non-Americas teams, I don't really know how to feel about Pacific as a region, and I could be underrating both teams here, but I just trust the teams above them more at the moment. I do think that DRX can do a lot of damage, I just don't see them at the same danger level as the top 3 teams.
5.) TL - I don't believe it either but here we are. The teamplay has looked incredible compared to the rest of EMEA, and the players are also stepping up individually. I don't know if I trust that either of those elements is good enough to compete with the top teams from the other regions, but they keep proving me wrong and anything could happen.
6.) T1 - Same thing with DRX, I could definitely be underrating them, but I just don't feel as confident in their abilities as I do with teams from other regions. T1 has a lot of potential to be a very good team, I just don't see it happening quite yet.
7.) VIT - This one might be an overreaction to the TL game, but I'm not confident in their ability to beat well-structured teams after watching the first two maps of this series. Even if they come back to win, they have had some massive gaps exposed by Liquid in this game.
8.) Trace - Having Trace at 8 feels criminal, but besides EDG, CN has failed as a whole to compete with the best teams from the other regions, and I don't know if Trace has what it takes to become that second team from CN to do damage internationally.
I do think that any team on this list can get at least one win at Bangkok, and I wouldn't be shocked at any of the top 6 making it to the playoff stage. Kickoff is always so interesting, as we have no clue which teams are legit and which are not, and I think no matter what this will be an interesting tournament.
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