I won't count optic out of the tourney, they are a very beatable by any team though which people often forget. They also can beat any team.

Isn't this what you guys were screaming when Xerxia beat Optic? Nothing it decided yet.

In an actual serious answer. They are solid, I don't think they're quite the level of Kru yet, but Tacolilla is definitely a top player, and the addition of Shyy has been really good. I'd say they likely go 0-2, but with the right draw they can make top 6.

Yep

Actually I was wrong, Kru is better than LLLoud

You have got to be complete delusional to think this won't be a stomp.

KRU is garbage and they got stomped by leviatan. LOUD is at least 2 tiers above KRU on every single aspect of the game.

Not saying this as a fanboy or anything, it's just facts.

Lol, yes must avoid the curse

Should've been 9-3 , but Kru will always lose a couple rounds due to mistakes.

Looks like I was right.

Proof?

I can't I'm blind I just listen to them

Proof?

Especially since both Korea and Japan have higher support for esports in general.

Valorant sitting at 350k rn. Majority of the views are watch parties. Valorant is fine.

I would take crashies over stax, but that's about it.

American is not synonymous with just North America.

1. Kru was not taking stage 1 serious enough. They routinely played Phoenix and doing other dumb shit that obviously kept them out of form.
2. Kru still has the same roster as champions and still has the potential to go off in any game.
3. Kru played Optic and TL (2 teams that aren't pushovers)
4. Kru has nothing to lose. Everyone expects them to lose this game
5. Keznit

There is definitely potential for Kru to pull off the upset.

Optic*
My brain put LOUD for whatever reason.

Optic*
My bad

Also what makes me delusional? Care to elaborate? I'm still picking LOUD 2x0, I just think Kru won't get 13-6ed or worse.

Registered: June 29, 2022
Last post: July 1, 2022 at 4:32 PM
Posts: 5

This is the same Kru team that fought Optic and TL hard on Ascent. And the team is much better now than they were last stage. Also there is a definite rivalry here that will bring out the best in Keznit and Mazino (Mazino has been great as of late).

This doesn't mean I think Kru beats Loud, or even takes a map off of LOUD, but something like a 13-8 loss on LOUD's pick and overtime coinflip on Kru's pick is what I expect.

And a week before that everyone in Brazil was talking how NIP were gonna crush KRU.
I think this just proves you guys are a fickle bunch.

If kru upsets loud Brazil will probably just cease to exist.

Loud should 2-0 though

Xerxia 2-1 hopium

This is a hell of a first draw for both teams. I think Loud wins it, but I also think it's closer than most expect.

https://twitter.com/ValorantEsports/status/1542956290774913024

Group A
Optic Gaming vs. Guild Esports
LOUD vs. KRU Esports

Group B
FunPlus Phoenix vs. Xerxia
DRX vs. Northeption

man I love fwogs

Loud didn't choke, they just had to beat Optic twice, and that doesn't happen. FNS probably had your whole playbook memorized by game 2

Yes I am sure Valorant Japan decided to spend money on a massive venue, the set up, AND the fans, because that's a great way to make money.

Need to see Alfajer on LAN first, but the man is one of the best new player of the year.

You acting like they didn't just play in front of a crowd of 18k.

TL has not been good this season. Don't really know the answer to fixing it, but if it wasn't for FPX's problems, their season would be a complete disaster.

At least sentinels won something before their fans ran their mouth. Fnatic hadn't even won emea until this stage. It's fine to be excited for your team, but not act like fnatic has won it before they even stepped on the stage.

This. I want NA to win since that's my region, but I also don't want dominance to make the esport predictable and boring.
I hope a "minor" region wins it soon, and cements valorant as one of the most competitive esports in the world, and I think it's pretty close to that since any team can win it right now if they get hot at the right time.

Only way they fail to make it out of groups is a bad draw.

FNS was going off on twitter how people was saying he was washed before they even lost a game in NA. You don't think he's gonna try to use the heat they're getting now to motivate everyone?

FNS gonna have a field day with all this bulletin board material.

I don't know, but money talks.

Onur gonna get picked up by an NA or EMEA team if his track record keeps up.

Nah Keznit gonna hard carry Kru to at least make this competitive. No secret he's not a big Brazil fan lol. NIP's win condition is stop Keznit, so will be either a 3-1 or 3-2 series either way.

Kru's coach in Champs. LOUD's coach pre-Iceland. Leviatan's coach now. Every team he touches turns to gold.

There are some differences.

1. Kru is not out of it. Plays a pretty big part of it imo.
2. Leviatan has been nipping at Kru's heels since last stage, obviously Kru put those concerns to rest early on with 2 wins vs. Levi, but it was definitely possible that Levi could overtake Kru this stage, especially with Onur as coach. Latam is also a 4 team region now with Fusion and E-Xolos not being to far off of either Kru or Levi.
3. Shyy came in from Levi's academy team (I think) and has been lights out for them.
4. Zeta is the most recent cinderella and there are a lot of people refusing to give and props to Kru because of 0-2ing in Iceland.

I think this is the best description I've heard.

Watch parties draw away most of NA's audience.

That is correct. They've been the best NA team at the last three masters, but failed to win the NA Finals

Kru 3-1

They were dominant up until this game. I just think it's hard to beat the same teams consistently. This is the third time they played Lev this stage.

Lenny time

I like split in Pro play. Most other maps consist of the same comps, there is no set meta on Split though.

Not sure, Kru only dropped 2 maps going into this game, and won twice in dominant fashion against Lev. Lev just wants it more rn.