ive watched a decent amount of games from every region attending masters so these are just my brief impressions. probably will do a more comprehensive writeup later
5) loud -- less
most standout player from vct brazil to me. top level mechanics + able to lock down sites singlehandedly, but his decision making impressed me more than his aim. strong sense of macro play/timings, the way he meticulously takes map control and sets himself up for lurks are basically the backbone of loud's success. has all the makings of a top level sentinel player, curious whether he can replicate that same influence over the map against teams hes unfamiliar against and when the pressure's on.
4) zeta division -- sugarz3ro
ive sung this guy's praises before. imo the second best player in japan (short of his teammate laz, who has to be first because of his terrifying consistency). the entire zeta roster leveled up, picking up 3 players that represent the apex of their respective roles. sugarz3ro is the lynchpin of their evolution, always finding the optimal way to support his teammates. talents of a top level duelist with the mindset of the most self-sacrificing support. viewers will overlook em but any team that underestimates this roster will get a rude awakening.
3) paper rex -- jingg
freak of nature. guy is on the same team as f0rsaken yet somehow stands out. on a man to man level can match any player at iceland and will come out on top most of the time. scary level of consistency as a foil to his counterpart's explosiveness make for a duo that has enough offensive force to break through any teams defense. paper rex have the most individuality out of any team and jingg thrives in the ecosystem of controlled chaos they generate. it's going to be entertaining to see him and forsaken barrel down enemy setups at 300 mph.
2) g2 esports -- nukkye
nukkye is simply one of the, if not the best at what he does. at a surface level it seems like he just goes around running over the opposition every map but in reality he has an exceedingly cerebral and methodical approach to how he plays the game. a monster of consistency, put him in a disadvantageous spot and it feels like he's hardwired to find the most optimal path as quickly and effectively as possible. watching him in a clutch scenario and seeing him procedurally dismantle the enemy team feels like something you should have to pay for.
1) the guard -- sayaplayer
i've been guilty of doubting the guard under the notion of lan inexperience potentially biting them. but if there's one player that is but destined to shine under pressure, it's sayaplayer. he knows what it feels like to carry the weight of his entire team on his back when it matters. only this time, he's accompanied by one of the most coordinated teams na has fielded since valorant's inception. he's already made a name for himself in north america, this is where his name is going to be recorded among the best in the world -- the star that deserved more in overwatch will reap his reward here instead.
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