Knowing that in about 2 years that Riot will have to evaluate all the partnered teams and decide who stays and who goes, if this contract jail stuff is true with EG and they really aren't letting their players go because they want them to stay on with pay cuts, along with all this other stuff is slowly coming out about them, I could see Riot not wanting to give them another contract. Even despite the fact that they won champions, Riot have proven that just because you've had a good performance, it doesn't guarantee you a spot in franchising (e.g teams like The Guard, Xerxia and EMEA FPX not being picked up for the first season of franchising, though I might be wrong about FPX because I dont quite remember whether they planned the Chinese region swap before or after franchising EDIT: How the hell did I also forget about Optic). Not to mention they dropped G2 last minute at the start of last season because of the Tate incident, so Riot is also not scared to drop teams if they have bad PR or are just doing some questionable moves.

I hate this mentality that streamers are the ones at fault because they don't have delay. Streamers shouldn't have to sacrifice quality and live interaction in order to stop being cheated against by a stream sniper and a man who hasn't been able to go pro in 2 games because he is a dick.

From what I've seen by moist and dsg in valorant and also other games, they tend to actually cater pretty well towards their players so I would genuinely love to see either of them or both take the players from the Guard. However due to experience and a short history to go off of, I think its unlikely we will see them take the spot. It will most likely go to an org with experience and a long history in esports.

Not opposed to the idea at all, would love it, its just unlikely

For me the most likely options are rather G2 or Optic. Faze just dropped out of Valorant and with how their financial situation is right now, I doubt they would want to return, most likely going to persue other options in other games. TSM I have 0 clue, they could but I think their attention rn is on their new CS roster so they are still an option but I think unlikely. G2 already were technically approved for franchising and only fucked themselves up with the CEO/Tate incident, but now that they have a new CEO and the fact that they just nuked their roster in challengers, I think they are definitely the most likely. Optic dont have a pre-existing challengers roster atm so they are also likely, I just don't know whether they are ready to rejoin valorant just yet though.

Guard (management) L for not meeting deadlines and signing contracts or whatever it was,

Riot/VCT L for not giving the players an alternative to still play in VCT or not even giving M80 the slot.

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1101050368663765064/1145266651923759225/image.png?width=810&height=456

BM is respectable when you've earnt it. Sure they are playing well NOW, but EG are only at both of these events because of luck. If it weren't for MIBR beating 100T, this whole climb of theirs wouldn't exist. They've had a good presence at both Tokyo and LA, but they just pretend like the rest of the season didn't exist. I really hope Loud win cause my god I want to see every member of EG humbled ridiculously bad.

My brain realistically says Demon1, but every other part of me says something. God I fucking hate EG, full of ego thinking they are the shit, when they were in crisis mode only a few months ago and are only at both Tokyo and LA thanks to MIBR. I really hope Loud fucking destroy them in the lower bracket, I don't want to see EG even step foot on that grand final stage.

Just had to get that off my chest

The entire team just looks tired, I don't think any of them are bad or in need of replacing. There are two problems with being the best team in the world.

1. It is mentally exhausting - There is constant pressure to match the expectations placed on you (normally these expectations for teams like FNC are ridiculously high and demanding)
2. Teams prepare the MOST for you - Other teams understand the threat that FNC is, so they prepare A SHIT ton to beat them.

This team is still one of (if not) the best in the world. I can't see a single player being reasonably replaced/taken out of this team. It might just be copium cause im an FNC fan, but this team is still the best we have ever seen and will be back in top form after the break.

Although Loud have bounced back a decent bit from Tokyo, there is still some slop that I think FNC can pick up on and abuse. I also still fear that the internal issues in the team are gonna affect the Loud players mentality. They beat a shockingly underperforming Liquid and a decent looking Navi, but I still think there is more for them to do. FNC 2 - 0 LOUD

EG lose to EDG -> DRX beats BLG -> BLG send EG home.

It may not happen, but God I hope it does

I don't even think he performed that badly. But unfortunately the community has put him on such a high pedestal, that unless he was getting 3 - 5 kills every round, people would've said he played shit. Yes he definitely had a bit more chokes than normal, but overall he still was playing his part in the team, still getting kills, was the only player that series that got an ace, he played relatively well.

I've been saying this for a while, but all the praise the KK gets kind of pisses me off a little. Don't get me wrong, he is definitely still one of the best op players in the world, but I do think EDG is more the KK and when all the praise goes to him, it sadly undermines the rest of the team. Every player on EDG is good, maybe great and I want more people to realise that, hopefully this game (vs Giants) proved that to people.