G2 is playing with their coach while 100T is playing in the group of death and wasn't expected to make it out, I don't know why we are so doomer about this. Only one you can criticize imo is Sen since they haven't really figured out team synergy and defined roles after 8 - 9 months.

if its in terms of significance to the scene, Tenz should be on this list.

he'll be fine, he always shows up for worlds at this stage of his career.

as is tradition

Nah, that's a sign of a diehard fan, they're usually the first ones to bash their own team. Usually you can tell fans apart from haters by how they approach the criticism. If they're fans they will sound frustrated. If they're haters they will usually say stuff like T0nZ or Termite lmao, etc.

who do you want Sen to get in place of Zellsis?

I will say times have changed and the fragging firepower needed across the board has drastically risen from 2022, given that 100T also has Boostio who despite being a good igl has poor shooting.

I seriously don't understand why people think Group B is the easiest, when Group C looks easier on paper.

BBL gave Liquid a lot of trouble in their last two matchups and DRX are really good, not exactly sure why you think Sen has the easiest group. If anything, isn't this good for you as a DRX fan if you think this group is the easiest?

Jokes aside, if its just teams that have a consistent chance of making at least 1 international every year, I don't think KRU will ever win an international trophy.

who else is a good igl that they can get in the offseason? I'm assuming Saadhak is staying with KC for their long term project.

Its essentially the Haodong situation, it will definitely go down to his preference of being able to play or basically be retired as an assistant coach.

one of these things is not like the others...

Man reminds me of an old post from last year regarding how unlucky FPX got ( https://www.vlr.gg/398935/was-fpx-the-unluckiest-team-this-year), I swear if they win any one of those matchups, it would've drastically changed the course of Valorant Competitive.

They didn’t get swept at least.

What would team Russia look like? I know nAts and Chronicle would be locks on that team.

Besides G2 & NRG, who do you think is going to join them at Champs?

unironically this is one of the few times I wish they had tenz

They already won 2 trophies though…

Someone's gotta continue the curse for DRX since they're not here.

If we use the Heretics curse, whichever of PRX/Wolves ends up in the finals will be the tournament winner so it's all good.

long covid, can't play for extended periods of time

Good thing there's a bo3 and bo5 after this before they can even get to grand finals, so if they dont show up vs G2 and PRX/Wolves they won't be in grand finals.

round score too close to say that EMEA is a 0 team region, Sen can still choke this; I actually think icebox is one of their weaker maps

If I were to say every team that loses after having a significant lead, that would be everyone. I consider teams that get super close to the finish line (International Grand Finals) but never were able to cross it after multiple chances as chokers since that narrows it down. Otherwise I could call C9 NRG KRU chokers as well.

No, since they won a trophy already, that’s reserved for heretics and PRX until they win an international.

cost them the entire game

If Sen wins it though, they'll definitely call it Mickey Mouse since at bare minimum 4/6 wins will be against China.

where's EMEA in this triangle?

Think in English since SiufatBB keeps gassing Juicy up whenever we hear comms in English.

There were only 2 western teams that fell to lowers and they in turn took out 2 asian teams from contention in lowers, let's just enjoy the masters man without fighting.

He’s not even on a team atm.

They’re going to win it all aren’t they?

at the rate wolves are improving with an iron mentality that every other rookie squad this year didn’t have, I’ll believe just about anything happening during the tournament with them.

What about internationals? I know Sen vs GenG is one.

Well Wolves took out RRQ who’s the 1st APAC seed yet no one’s saying they’re better than GenG and PRX.

Looks like he just needed time to adjust, which most fans would never give to newly acquired players on teams.

Not like this…

Take out Chobra and RRQ is making every grand finals.

bruh they literally play PRX next

There’s no free path to the trophy, road goes through APAC.

Didn’t really have much of a choice, meteor left for T1 money.

SiufatBB did say they were really motivated to improve and worked on their mistakes following Sen, so that wasn't their full potential during the first match.

With the way things are going, your team is going to put the nail in the coffin for EMEA.

You have an NA org flair, maybe you should answer that question yourself.

If G2 loses to this version of XLG calling that shocking would be an understatement.

PRX are favored vs Sen, no?

No one wants the smoke from GenG atm, so they only had PRX left.

Who else is XLG going to pick? They're not going to pick PRX & GenG who were the strongest teams coming out of swiss, and Wolves are from their own region so picking them is seen as a cowardly move and no one wants same region match-ups. Only option they had that was respectable but gave them a perceived winning edge was Sen.

Ngl I can see people saying that PRX is the worst of the Pacific teams to say that Sen got lucky (RRQ and GenG on the other side of the bracket).