VCT NA Stage 1: Challengers - Post Week 3 Analysis

Week 3 of Valorant Champions Tour North America Stage 1: Challengers comes to an end with the current standings:

Group A:
The Guard         3W-0L
Cloud 9           3W-0L
Luminosity        2W-1L
XSET              1W-2L
100 Thieves       0W-3L
Evil Geniuses     0W-3L

Group B:
Version1          3W-0L
OpTic Gaming      2W-1L
Sentinels         2W-1L
Rise              1W-2L
Knights           1W-2L
NRG Esports       0W-3L

Group A has seen two extremes start to form as we see two teams dominate the rest of the competition.

1. The Guard has taken Valorant NA's Tier 1 Scene by storm, amassing three seemingly "easy" victories in the first weeks of the group stage. These wins have guaranteed them a spot in the main event, and they are expected to win their next match is against Group A's lowest placed team currently, EG, which will given them their fourth win. This all leads to an exciting Week 5 match against C9 with both competing for the first seed in Group A.

2. Cloud 9 have continued their impressive performance from Valorant Champions with three straight wins. Unlike TGRD, they have much more pressure on the shoulders from the many who have dubbed them "the best team in NA." However, just like TGRD, C9 are locked into the main event as they look towards their next two matched. They face LG next week and TGRD the week after.

3. Luminosity Gaming came back in the third map against 100T to get their second win in the group stage after Week 3. Although these two victories do not guarantee them a spot in the main event, it gives them a much better chance. They have a tough matches ahead of them against C9 and XSET, so these two wins give them a buffer and takes much of the pressure off of them going into Weeks 4 & 5.

4. XSET started the group stage strong with a 2-0 win against EG, but, after two devastating losses delivered by C9 and TGRD, they find themselves fourth in the Group A standings. Although fourth place is good enough to qualify for the main event, XSET will be looking to win against 100T and LG to secure a spot in the main event as the fourth position can change easily.

5. 100 Thieves have come off of another disappointing loss against LG adding up to a total of three in Group A. Their week 4 and 5 matches find themselves up against XSET and EG, two teams at the bottom of group currently who are looking to make a push in the last two matches and qualify for the playoffs. It is crucial that they win both of theses matches if they want to qualify for the main event.

6. Evil Geniuses find themselves at the bottom of leaderboard with three straight losses and little hope of qualifying. They find themselves in a similar situation as their Week 5 opponent, 100T, and desperately need to win both matches to qualify. Chances, however, look slim with their next match being against TGRD, who are hot on a winning streak in Challengers.

Group B has seen much tighter competition so far with five teams very close to that fourth place qualifying spot.

1. Version 1 have stormed ahead of the rest of Group B with three commanding victories in the first three weeks of the group stage. Although this doesn't guarantee them entry into the main event, there is little chance they will miss out on the opportunity to qualify for Masters. They have two tough games going into Weeks 4 & 5 as they have chance to prove themselves against some of NA's best, OG and SEN.

2. OpTic Gaming have reached second place in the group after an impressive win against SEN and don't have any intention to stop. A surprising loss against RISE in Week 1 gives them only 2 wins, but with the momentum built up from the last two weeks they look to win the next matches and take the top seed in Group B. OG play in V1 Week 4 and PK in Week 5.

3. Sentinels come off a loss in Week 3 against OG. They lost the momentum they had coming off two wins in the first two weeks of the group stage. If they defeat RISE next week in their match, they will guarantee themselves a spot in the main event. Their Week 5 match is against Group B's current top seed, V1.

4. Rise barely hang on to fourth place after a crushing loss against PK in Week 3. The team will be heading into their Week 4 match with back-to-back losses and will be looking to turn things around against SEN who are also coming off a loss. Their Week 5 match against NRG is also crucial if they want to guarantee a spot into the main event.

5. Knights find themselves only 4 rounds outside of the fourth place spot after defeating RISE in Week 3. After being crushed by V1 and SEN in the first two weeks of the group stage, they battle back to get their first win. They look to continue the streak in Weeks 4 & 5 against NRG and OG as PK look to climb up the Group B standings.

6. NRG Esports still have a chance in the last two weeks of the group stage to bounce back from their three straight losses. They are set to face PK in Week 4 and RISE in Week 5, two teams which are also close to that fourth place qualifying spot. Although winning these games does not guarantee them entry to the main event, both must be won for NRG to have a chance.

where the fuck is mitch in this report brah

100t have their backs against the wall :(

well done though

quality post

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Very good read!

bunnywarrior drop some sick predictions for week 4