Triple initiator might even be viable

Sova + Fade + Breach/KAYO/Gekko + Omen/Astra + Killjoy

dont let i_love_less see this

The other thing is that Kess was good but never really played at a high level until he joined Lyon. And he's playing in a really weak region.

I don't think Kess is good enough to warrant keeping in a rebuild.

maybe just for clout, idk. I think his skill level cannot be better than anyone still on the roster; tenz at least played at an extremely high level as recently as 2024.

i like your logic, my only qualm is that I think deadlock is a more aim-centric agent than Harbor. There is some precedent with primmie being one of the most prolific Deadlock players in the history of VCT. So keiko Deadlock wouldn't be the worst decision. But I think mada learning a new agent is far more likely.

Who do you guys think the main 5 will be?

I think it is something like this:

eeiu - only recon player, possibly easiest lock.

mada - slump of form but best entry duelist possible, I think he's a lock.

Zander - I don't see a better candidate for IGL (maybe koala??)

koalanoob - most recently world-class (kickoff), I think he should get in based on talent.

That leaves TenZ, Marved, and JonahP left for the last slot. I think most likely we get TenZ just for reputation, but I could see Jonah.

The issue with an eeiu/mada/Zander/koala/TenZ roster is the lack of a sentinel player. One option is to put one of koala and TenZ (most likely koala) on perma Chamber. Another possibility is to utilize Zander as Viper on most maps and play no sentinel. I think between those options they will be fine - they can run double initiator with TenZ as the second initator, double duelist with TenZ/koala.

Possible comps could be: koala Chamber, eeiu Fade, mada Raze, TenZ Omen, Zander Viper
koala Omen, eeiu Skye, mada Raze, TenZ Jett, Zander Viper

etc.

Thoughts?

https://www.vlr.gg/681796/reject-vs-qt-dig-challengers-2026-japan-split-2-w4/?game=269897&tab=overview here's one example

I've seen it in a couple other tier 2 games too

I just remember seeing it in a couple of tier 2 games. Not sure about tier 1 but would not be surprised to see it.

What would the roles be if NRG played the Jett-Sova-Omen-Deadlock-Cypher Ascent comp that's been semi-popular recently?

To me there are 3 options:

1: brawk plays Deadlock. Then skuba Cypher, Ethan Sova, mada Jett, keiko Omen.

2: Ethan plays Deadlock. Then skuba Cypher, brawk Sova, mada Jett, keiko Omen.

3: keiko plays Deadlock. Then skuba Cypher, brawk Sova, mada Jett, Ethan Omen.

4?: mada plays Deadlock. Then skuba Cypher, brawk Sova, keiko Jett, Ethan Omen.

I think it was karam1l that had insane stats in the first stage or something? He's definitely going to be someone to watch.
Glad to see lf get a chance.

yeah I feel like izu could definitely be in the convo if they didnt have meteor play duelist sometimes as well

leaf is a good shout, you could argue the only player really going out of his role is babybay but since he's gone back to being primary senti I think you can count leaf as such a hyperflex. I don't remember G2 doing double init comps in a while tho

this was kind of what i was thinking of, thanks.

yea idk abt his viper lmao

What I mean by this is a team where there is one perma-duelist, one perma-sentinel, one perma-initiator, one perma-controller, and one hyperflex that fills whatever final slot there needs to be.

Is there a team that still has this structure?

Is smokes the hardest role to rank? There's often no consensus, personally I think it's mako but he hasnt won a ring and has been on mid teams for a large part of his career.

Sentinel - Less, Alfajer are probably the two biggest contenders unless I'm completely missing someone

Initiator - Leo or Sacy probably, then crashies, Shao, trent (am I forgetting someone?)

Duelist - aspas or Derke (potentially kangkang)

no i mean like a lot of fans just arent following that closely

bump

most ppl dont know enough abt map pools tbh

huge w

it's a community cup, not affiliated with vlr
but you should still check out the games, they should be streamed and the stats will be up similar to vlr!

Saw someone suggest this and the roles could make sense

KK Duelist
Smoggy permaflex (2nd duelist, 2nd initator, 2nd controller)
CHICHOO controller/sentinel
happywei sentinel/controller
nobody initiator

Smoggy already plays some 2nd duelist and jieni flexes to smokes, so roles-wise this makes sense, and firepower-wise its an insanely huge upgrade

obviously this is fantasy but its a cool idea

fair fair

are u upvoting your own posts bro

shaky from both sides. keiko played well but the team was all good on NRG's side, Ethan called some good rounds but FUT's shooting kept it close

true
like wtf is that why dont u clear krostaly

mada wasnt kidding, our macro is fine, we just cant win gunfights

NRG is happy with Haven tbh

get a MIBR tattoo on your ass

Does anybody know of good Thai t2 players that could possibly replace someone on FS?

Looking at vlr stats PTC is the only non-duelist with very good stats in SEA challengers. He's a pretty flexible player so you could replace him with just about anyone (jitboys? leviathan?)

Or is not replacing anyone a better idea?

this is all-time peaks tbf

Team 1: MaKo, Demon1, aspas, TenZ, johnqt (IGL), Chet HC
Team 2: valyn (IGL), Alfajer, KangKang, Shao, Leo, bonkar HC

that's true, it would have to take some really good strats

brawk Sova, Ethan Skye, keiko Omen, mada Harbor, skuba Viper

or for your barca,

GlobeX Harbor, stonezy Viper, Kajuks Omen, Fitinho Sova, Guardy Skye

that actually makes sense

you think Clove could work as an entry? I feel like you don't get that much out of them except for when they ult.
Harbor at least u have a cove to safe plant in

IGL: primmie (44 points)
Initiator: Jamppi (18 points)
Controller: kiNgg (18 points)
Sentinel: Neon (21 points)
Flex: KROSTALY (14 points)
Flex: Kr1stal (22 points)

unfortunately only KROSTALY and kr1stal are going to play a final match but I think I did pretty good overall

figures, i remember Omen duelist used to be a thing in 2022 but I think that was when Chamber could sort of be the other half of the duelist role.

Yeah I don't get why they chose Jitboys to be the second duelist? iirc Killua used to be a jett main

Jett, Sova, Omen, Harbor, Viper

or even Sova, KAY/O, Omen, Harbor, Viper, and basically let Omen be the Duelist

we know the potential of keiko and mada though. xeus and mada are actually quite similar where they have a very high ceiling but underperformed by a sizable margin in stage 1. s0pp is a different kind of player than keiko though, they will both get you kills but s0pp is more of the crazy entry Korean jett kind of player. I wouldn't put either duo above the other rn.

Really it just comes down to which team can keep the mental. I haven't been liking NRG's tendency to just falter individually in clutch moments.

oh i forgot abt that T_T

yeah the alternative is FS vs XLG and NRG vs FUT but I would love to see FS and NRG go at each other.

In: Icebox, Sunset (maybe Corrode)
Out: Haven, Split (maybe Pearl)

Icebox has been out the longest and Sunset second longest. Haven has been in the longest (since 2024 stage 2). Out of the remaining, Split/Pearl/Breeze have been in the next longest, all since the beginning of the year, but overall Pearl and Breeze have been out longer than Split.

shut up kuruk, hes trying his best

“hmm how do i bring ewc into this”

Keiko Phoenix, mada Jett/Waylay, Ethan Fade, brawk Vyse, skuba Astra. Or even Ethan Astra, skuba Vyse, brawk Sova. The plan is right there, I really don't know how we haven't made the switch yet,

10 things i hate about you

VCT equivalent of Haramball

calm down mate we still gotta win map 3

letsgooo

outside of bcj that’s like 4 superstars lmao