This is awesome!

I'm a big fan of systems that are intended to weigh things objectively in sports in general, so naturally I really like the idea for VCT. I think the numbers you have in mind appear to make a lot of sense on paper.

Only slight change I'd personally make is probably upping Champs a bit. I view the event as about 1.5x as important as a Masters, and then numbers you have are roughly more like 1.2-1.25x. In my experience, it almost seems like the average viewer has Champs as closer to 2x a Masters event, which feels way too high for me. The ratio you've got is very reasonable, but a bit on the low side for me personally. Just depends what you think about comparing the 2 events. Everything else looks fantastic and pretty fairly divided up!

Internally, I've always weighted Champs as about 1.5x as much as Masters. The just feels correct to me. I do think that it's maybe worth reevaluating for the 8 team Masters and making it slightly less, now that they seem to be sticking with that, but not too sure.

I'd like the idea of Champs being upped to 1200, Masters 2 being 800, and Masters 1 either remaining at 800, or dropping slightly to 700.

I'd probably have to scrub my brain for the "real" answer, but 1st thought (among non obvious popular answers):

EDG / NAVI Tokyo 2023
First EDG international win, 2 absolute banger OT maps, Chichoo's kinda, 1st flash at being an insanely impactful player when they really need him

Cook

100% agree

It's totally possible to have a rotating map pool for pro play if they are set on the pool of 7 for pick/ban, while still having all 11 in ranked. Pros getting Fracture or Split as they mindlessly queue ranked isn't going to impact pro play when they're only scrimming and prepping the ones in the pool.

Provided they make it a bit more obvious what the timeline is in the future, I don't really see any downside for continuing to do this.

Helps pro teams prepare -> Better product for viewers
Premier/Team play has more prep time
Even for ranked it's convenient to have more for anyone that cares to prep the returning maps

Only bad thing I can think of is people will have longer to complain about the changes, but considering the map pool is ALWAYS a huge complaint, that doesn't really matter.

Patch 9.08

Prob gonna be mid-late October based on the typical patch history timeline. They just announced this one with like, 2 months earlier notice than they have in the past. Which I think is a good change and hope it's the new norm, but they weren't clear enough about it, considering there's so much confusion.

Can't see it as remotely realistic, but I love the idea of a theoretical G2 team with Derke. They can keep rolling with the Yoru comps on Abyss and Haven, and probably Pearl as well when it's back.

Not at all realistic

But the fit is actually really nice in theory. G2 really liked Yoru and Derke is probably? the best Yoru in tier 1. Team focused enough that it wouldn't force the rest of the team to abandon its identity, but still give a massive firepower increase.

I think Icy's been a bit over criticized and honestly don't think it'd be a bad idea for them to run it back with him, but I mean, top 5 duelist in the world lol (Obviously not happening tho)

Bold?

Bangkok - TH
Toronto - FPX
Champs - Loud

Is this meant to be for the year or just champs?

Including Texture for duelist makes me assume for the year? If that's the case, Karon is far and away the best smokes player. Arguably a top 3 player in the world for like 70% of the year. Smoggy also wasn't consistently playing smokes until the start of Split 2, so he's a good bit down for me I'm this conversation. Duelist would also be Texture for the year.

Everyone else works well for the year, at least to the point that you can make a reasonable argument. Everything else you've got would prob be my personal pick, apart from Boo, depending how you weight thing for IGL pick.

KK will get it for sure, just the way these things go.

I think Chichoo was the most impactful player over the course of the tournament for them. The amount of times he stepped up when they absolutely needed someone to was insane. But guy breaks kill record and goes nearly +40 in GF, he's definitely gonna get it.

I wasn't a viewer in 2021, but that generally seems to be the bottom ranked one by most, right?

Among the others, it's pretty easily last for me.

TH today was honestly the first time this event that I've felt a team was at the level a top tier team at champs should be. It's been fun viewing 100%, but I've generally been disappointed by the level of play compared to what I'd expect at champs.

7/10 for me considering everything. I'll never complain about watching an international tournament, but the level of play has been less than I expected.

They've played the map 4 times since it came back

They won close-ish games against KOI and GIA and lost close-ish games against SEN and VIT.

All due respect, but I really don't care how well they played the map in the past with a completely different roster minus Boo. I haven't seen anything recently to suggest it's not a weak map for them

I have a tough time seeing TH favored on Haven. EDG are by no means strong on the map, but it's prob the 2nd worst map for TH. Doubt they run that troll comp a 2nd time, but whatever variant of standard they would swap to, I think EDG should somewhat comfortably take the map if it's played. Sunset and Bind are both pretty close to 50/50s. EDG have been pretty good historically on Bind and have looked fairly impressive on it since they stopped trolling their comp on it around the start of stage 2, but there isn't enough of a sample size for me to say they should be favored. Pending seeing how they look today, I'd say TH will be favored on Abyss either slightly, or a decent amount. EDG look like they've got some pretty serious holes from their game vs LEV, but they also thrive when things get muddy, which is likely gonna happen on the new map.

Against LEV, I feel like Lotus and Bind are both, not quite sure wins, but kinda close, at least considering the context. I'd be pretty surprised if they lost either to LEV. Haven should go LEV's way, but it's def winnable for EDG. Sunset around a 50/50. Abyss I really don't know. On one hand, I feel like LEV shot themselves in the foot way more than EDG did in the UF, and EDG also barely won while having a 17-7 FB advantage, but I also think that the way they played the map is kinda easy for EDG to anti.

I feel like 3-1 EDG is the most likely outcome just based on how the maps work out against either opponent, but I wouldn't be at all shocked if LEV/TH win. If TH come out in the form they have so far today, I'd be extremely concerned.

Ascent/Icebox banned imo

EDG pick Lotus (Decently favored)
TH pick Sunset (Slightly favored)
EDG pick Haven (Decently favored, TH bad)
TH pick Abyss (Slightly favored, could be more based on how they play it today)
Bind Decider (50/50, maybe slightly favored for EDG since they've been really good after no longer trolling their Bind comp)

Edit: Favored towards whichever team picked the map, not saying EDG favored on every one KEKW

5th star would break Astra, but idk what else to do. I feel like lowering the recall cooldown also isn't enough to compete with Omen

Down with the Clove idea, but not that extreme. Either make it slightly more generous in the timer, or do what you said, but lower how much it decays.

Those are the 2 that stick out to me. I think Omen's balanced fine, even though the pick rate is so high. Brim will always be a map dependent pick unless they break him.

LEV 3-2 TH
Ascent/Bind Banned
LEV win Icebox, Haven, Sunset
TH win Lotus, Abyss

EDG 3-1 LEV
Ascent/Icebox Banned
EDG win Lotus, Bind, Sunset
LEV win Haven

Good thing Split wasn't the best map of any other teams or anything. Especially not the team that's in the GF. It sure would be silly to complain if that was the case.

LEV imo for the veto

EDG are always banning Ascent, which is doing SEN and TH a favor. Bind and Lotus should be extremely heavily favored towards EDG if they play LEV. Sunset/Abyss probably 50/50 or in that area at least. Haven idk.

I have erased their Icebox games from my memory KEKW, I do remember what you're referring to now though lmao

I really can't wait to see it happen again today!!! /s

Specifically at Champs:

FNC - Chronicle
DRX - Buzz
KRU - Keznit
BLG - Whzy (I guess, entire team was kinda cheeks, respectfully)

GENG - Meteor
TH - Reins
FPX - Autumn
SEN - Honestly Everyone

LEV - Aspas
VIT - Trexx
TE - Kai
TLN - Primmie

EDG - Chichoo
G2 - Trent (Idk, this one is rlly tough)
PRX - D4v41
FUT - Yetujey

In the past, I'd 100% agree, but throughout this event I really haven't noticed Nobody in the same bad ways you usually do. His mistakes have generally been way less "WTF ARE YOU DOING BRO?" than pretty much any time in the past.

I agree with what you say on Kangkang generally though. His trolling often consists of "Oh, you won us the round, sick! Oh, you let them back into the round, damn." and there's certainly worse things than that, but you'd think he'd know when to reel in in by now.

I think Kangkang is far and away no.1 rn. I was malding over stupid peeks and overheats he had during the entire series vs SEN.

Chichoo is easily last imo. I struggle to remember a time he made a decision that was in itself, troll.

Other 3 guys are pretty close.

Ranked:

1. Icebox
2. Pearl
3. Split

Pro Play:

1. Fracture
2. Lotus
3. Bind

G2, EDG, and PRX have all mid-bad at the map this year.

G2 always play LEV super close on the map, which could be due to several reasons, but they've pretty consistently looked bad on the map against other teams this year.

I wouldn't put it any higher than the 5th best map for EDG after watching them all year.

Imo it goes

Abyss - Up in the air
Ascent - LEV
Bind - EDG easily
Haven - LEV
Icebox - LEV easily
Lotus - EDG
Sunset - Actual 50/50

I think EDG would be wise to float Ascent and ban Icebox. Don't think LEV will be confident enough to pick Ascent, and EDG have a decent enough chance if they opt for Haven. Also opens up the chance LEV just pick Sunset and EDG get to play their 2 best maps 1st and 2nd. Though I don't think LEV's Icebox is anywhere near as strong as the record indicates, I don't think EDG have much of a chance on the map unless they're just aim diffing, LEV probably being the worst team to have that as a win condition against lmao.

LEV seem to have finally started perma-ing Bind (thank God), with that out of the pool, I think it's basically impossible that the veto doesn't sway their way.

Since EDG did the Icebox ban against SEN (though for different reasons), I think it's likely enough that I'll predict it here.

EDG ban Icebox
LEV ban Bind
EDG pick Lotus
LEV pick Haven
EDG ban Ascent
LEV ban Abyss
Sunset Decider

I'd expect a 2-1 for LEV, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised by any result here. Each map would be winnable for either team with this veto.

https://tracker.gg/valorant/profile/riot/Trevor31lv%232831/overview

I'm bad but I have fun playing, so worth