Depends on if their team translates to lan. Like gaurd beat 30 ping teams with Texas 2 ping. I don't know how much of a wifi buff XSET got, but if they get a wifi nerf or something they will genuinely perform better.

Like having a 60 ping Gus against a 2 ping larry is going to favour 2 ping Larry. Even if Larry is worse than Gus, it levels or even gives him an advantage over big Gus. And yes I know emea has shit ping, but they all have that and no single Gus is on any server.

Can we just all agree to, like, not talk about NA or Brazil being washed after Loud and Optic play? I'd like to retain some braincells and I feel like reading the aftermath of each sides toxicity will be enough to turn the average user into a further brain dead vegetable.

Uh..............

If Suygetsu wasn't cock blocked by a visa, FPX would have been able to fight against Fnatic but without them they can fight for second ig.

sentinels flair detected, factually incorrect opinion rejected

I will not take this.

My w streamer who plays the funny Mexican woman is gonna take over East Asia.

The cheater... wait wrong one... anyways DASH + UPDRAFT + SMOKE + HEADSHOT + SMOKE + 2K SPRAY CONTROL.

It's fine PRX solo's all of NA and EMEA and Brazil and Latam and Japan and Korea and everyone else.

I like that one I'm gonna take that

Prx low diffed xerxia. 8, 4, and 5 rounds on each map. If Xerxia was supposed to be a contender then PRX would have been the far and away favourite.

They're just my favourite. Funny men go kill, am I right lads!

Ange1 see a guys movement talking straight and finds a counterstrat for it.

But they have a sub so gg

that's a joke.

Dogs have a higher meat density, so they fry much better.

Can we all agree the best part of Cams is watching the coach either in an absolute pit of despair or at a level of excitement and hype not even matched by 100 BCJ's with a crowd of Zeta members?

I love seeing them so happy.

das a fair point right there

I'm a Paper Rex fan man, I just like my funny double duelists.

He dropped 5 map one, and 9 map 2.

Yesterday he dropped 8 map 1.

Agasit FPX, he dropped 13, 5 and 11.

btw FPX played very good, it was very entertaining to watch. I really hope Suygetsu gets his VISA mid masters so they can really fight Fnatic!

You're an emea fan. We both know Russ can't frag.

its a worse marketing play to lie to the fans

If Yay plays decent they beat loud hard 2-0 and Kru hard 2-0. If he's on true Masters level its a quick 2-0 on both. They lost to guild by 2 rounds while Yay had the worst game of his career.

let me say it again.

The best North American player had a monumentally bad game, unlike any performance he had before, and his team still only lost by 2 rounds.

let me say it a third time, from the diaphragm.

THE BEST PLAYER ON OPTIC HAD A NEVER BEFORE SEEN LEVEL OF TERRIBLE PLAY VERSUS THE TEAM WHO ENDED UP ADVANCING TO THE KNOCKOUTS AND HIS TEAM STILL ALMOST WON.

25 - 41. If yay dropped 20 on either map (like he usually does), Guild wouldn't have even got double digit score.

Welcome into Sentinals land. We have a museum of Zombs watches, a hall of Tenz's mouses, even a horror ride of Shaz's screams! but seriously. :

The Cast :
Shroud - Smokes (unless there is a viper)
Zellsis - Assumedly, his V1 role. Raze on those maps and Flash initiator on those maps.

now the tough ones :
Tenz - I'm gonna say the funny. Chamber? Maybe Jett? Probably no more / way less site diving than with past rosters, that's for Zellsis.
Shazham - Mix of Sova, Fade, and Breach.
Dapr - Idk. Might be a Chamber. Might be a Killjoy. Probably a Viper. Potentially an Initiator? I'm flexing him into everything.

So, Why Shroud and Zellsus (Yes, I'm putting him as Zellsus watch his stream and you'll know)
A good (Potentially great) Controller in the region with the best controllers - I.E. Marved, Bang, Supaman. All of them are global level talents.
A SECOND OPTION FOR FRAGGS OTHER THAN A DAPR POP OFF GAME!!!! Zellsis can kill people, still lots of pressure on Tenz for first picks.
Context : Sentinels are like top 3 in a 5v4. Had the least amount of 5v4's in Stage 2. Tenz was getting 40% of their First kills, while getting like 40% of their first deaths. At least if he dies trying to get the first pick, someone can help get them in now.

Comps :

With NS and Big Z, they will fall into Sick and Kenpeki's spots respectively. Dapr will operate on the Viper on maps like Breeze and Icebox. But, here's where it gets interesting. I think Dapr will flex into an initiator role on maps where he doesn't play viper and Zellsis plays Raze, as Tenz will be on the chamber (HOPEFULLY). He'd be the Kay/o or Skye where Shaz is a Fade / Sova / Breach. Tenz will be Tenz and Frag on Chamber or Jett. Simple.

bro im so fucking bored.

thanks

https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ

nah, they 4 and 5.

If YAY plays, Optic wins. IF yay stays in his bed like this game, LOUD win easy. Yay is still a top 3 player, he just had a bad game.

P.S. Derke and Alfajer are top 2. Fuck off. I'm an avid APAC enjoyer. They the top 2.

I'm just gonna blast music to the games and close chat instead of listening to the casters. All of them are based. Like, the EMEA one just spout emea shit and any comp started by their region is labeled as "stolen", and the NA ones just beat off about winning M1.

I'm just trying to cheer for my funny Reyna main streamer.... :(

Good news: I can stop hearing "oPtiC bESt tEaM IN tHE wORlD" and "oPTiC ; rEYkjaVík cHAMps"

Bad news: now I gotta read that Optic are washed on VLR

New goal: holy shit can an Asian team win so that we can shit on both EMEA and NA VLR nerds?

this is not going to be a fun few days on the forms or listening to the casters. Thanks. Bye.

FPX were EMEA #1 last stage, and #2 of stage two going into masters. FPX showed continued dominate over EMEA, eventually losing in the Grand Finals 3-0, but two of those games where a 15-13. Coming into masters 2, FPX's main concern was not the competition, it was themselves. Visa issues helped stop their Masters 1 appearance, and it was again a concern in Masters 2. This time, 4 of their members - Ardiis, Shao, Zyppan, and Ange1 - made it to Copenhagen. Who didn't? SUYGETSU, debatably the best in his position in the whole region.

So, my question. With such an important player gone, would FPX winning (or making finals) be a Cinderella run?

Personally, I'd say so. Even though the team is adjusted to subs. Even though it's a top 3 EMEA core. Suygetsu being gone just does so much. A guy like that is irreplaceable.

Cinderella run from FPX? Maybe. Fnatic winning M2? Almost assured. All I have to say, is...

Zyppan
Go
Kill

Last LCQ in NA was supposed to be Lan. Even if they don't have a crowd (which there is definitely a market for), an LCQ in Lan is necessary so FaZe can win while having Supaman, god of power outages.

I'm a stupid north American. Good to know there is viability for a LAN location. It also makes sense for Istanbul to hold LCQ cause Riot can use it as an electronic test for Champs.

BTW started the post thinking APAC would contain the East Asia teams. That's a separate LCQ. East Asia is in italics, APAC is in bold. Also, because of Brazil / LATAM lan stuffs, I'm gonna assume they'll have a LAN - the other regions just have a question mark.

If LCQ isn't on lan, I will genuinely be livid. I'm not talking about any region in particular, I'm talking about 3.

-APAC
-EMEA
-NA

Korea is already on Lan, Japan did top 4 on lan of S2, and Brazil / LATAM also did stuff on lan (to my knowledge). To send the 3 best teams from LCQ in 3 of the major regions (major regions are ones that send 2+ teams to masters, minor send only one, Brazil / LATAM are combined into a major region in this conversation. Anyways...) from an online tournament instead of on LAN is terrible. Of course, this does hold caveats. Obviously, EMEA has the thing, and it would most likely cause trouble for FPX and M3C. I'm not knowledgeable about Asian travel ability, but for the APAC and East Asia LCQ has sooooo many countries involved : China, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippians, Vietnam and Taiwan. So, those two have valid excuses as to why they couldn't do an LCQ. Where there is absolutely no excuse is NA. THEY TRAVEL TO BOOTCAMPS IN TEXAS LIKE 4 BLOCKS FROM EACHOTHER. No player has an excuse and no org has a valid reason not to organize the fucking LCQ as a lan. Riot doing it online just allows problems in the region where there is absolutely no reason not to. Holy fuck, they can make it a damn event. They can easily get 5k+ individuals to show up for it. Anyways, that's it. Any individuals from east Asia or the wider Asian pacific area with knowledge of their travel laws, please let me know the viability of cross country travel and any good places for an LCQ to be held. As for EMEA, yall have a great excuse and until Visa's become viable for travel out of Russia, simple to make it easier on (obviously) suygetsu, shao, and all the M3C guys. NA LCQ better exist on Lan with a crowd. All of those fuckers are going to be bootcamping in Texas, just hold it there with all the team amenities or throw it in LA like the basic place it is.

TL ; DR - would love an EMEA lcq for how good the play would be, an East Asia or APAC LCQ on Lan would also be cool - and slightly more viable - but the large amounts of countries give me doubts, NA LCQ better be in Austin, Texas with tickets going on sale Augusts 5th.

Just my opinions btw. Also my Major vs Minor region take is definitive.

This is honestly the best DRX has ever been. They have NTH, Xerixa, and like 2 of the main roster of FPX to face. DRX has MASSIVELY improved in major stats. Buzz is absolutely lethal on whatever sentinel he's on. Mako is more clutch than ever. Stax and Zest have picked up high-quality form. RB is showing as one of the best Neon's in the world. IF it has ever been their time for a top 4 finish, it is now. Don't forget they almost beat OpTic last masters. I'ma hype 'em up. I believe in them. It's them and PRX in a battle for 4th, but i'd say thats where either team maxes AS LONG AS Alfajer is able to get out to Copenhagen. Can't guarantee that Fnatic will win Masters without the second best player in the world.

P.S. Alfajer is the second best player in the world. First is Derke. Third is Yay. Fight me.

Not a hot take. IMO they are #6 :

5 - DRX

4 - FPX

3 - OpTic

2 - LOUD

1 - Fnatic

(PRX get 4th if Ange1 and Alfajer can't get to Masters 2)

So possible I don't even think it's a hot take. Xerxia could once again have Optics number. LOUD and FPX are two other top 4 teams that at least one of will most likely be facing OpTic. If any seeded stuff goes on (for example how out of the Major regions NA got 1st last masters, BR/LATAM got 2nd, APAC 3rd, EMEA 4th) It makes it even more likely for one of those two to be in their bracket. DRX is also a problem. They had never functioned as well in Korea as they had in Stage 2. This is the best DRX we've seen, and they could very well beat OpTic.

Side note: Major/Minor region is NOT based on skill, but based on Masters spots. Japan and Korea send 1, thus minor regions. EMEA, LATAM/BR, NA, and APAC are the major regions as they a) send more teams and b) contain more teams in the region.

TL ; DR - Xerxia beats OpTic a lot, FPX and LOUD are on OpTic's calliber, DRX showing their best and their not best almost beat OpTic.

everybody yelling about EMEA and NA

Me in the corner hoping DRX can shine this tourney!

Reminder that I forgot G2 went to Iceland

And the two teams who get through are forced into PRX and Fnatic

Literally decides the winner after round 1

I SAID THIS BEFIRE BUT IM SOOO PUSSED FOR LOUD THEY A TOP 4 TEAM GLOBALLY BUT IM SO HAPPY I GET TO WATCH 3 OF THE TOP 4 TEAMS (FPX, OPTIC, Fnatic only one who got a bye) PLAY IN THE IN GROUP STAGE, THATS GOING TO BE SO EXCITING + DRX WHO ARE PROBABLY TEAM #5 GLOBALLY.

IM SO PISSED FOR LOUD BUT HOLY HELL AM I GLAD I GET TO SEE THEM PLAY 2 EXTRA GAMES!!!!

hard agree

As a guy who watches a decent chunk of Valorant, and not just NA :

The True Contenders

1. Fnatic. BCJ just said "We have two players nobody else i the world has: Cryocells and Zekken". Welp. Ever watched the Avengers? This is the "I have a Army" moment. Fnatic has Alfajer and Derke. They are XSET++. Every position is arguable better than XSET is, but their two frag-masters are suprior. Fnatic losing Masters is an Upset.

2. Loud. Trust me. No team has dominated their region like Loud. This is a true super team, and can very well beat anybody, even Fnatic. They are number 2 because, well, they and Fnatic have something to prove. Both cores have been to masters before, and each squad has gotten second. They have a lot of motivation to win.

3. OpTic. Won last masters. LANimals. They can beat the two above, but why are they three? All they have pushing them is staying the best, and we all know, staying the best is way harder than becoming it. That is the sole reason they are 3, they just lack an extra UMPH to win it all, back to back.

4. FPX. Zyppan. Go. Kill. If that motherfuck decides to kill, he team is running away from 5 and way closer to 1. They can EASILY have the ability to beat OpTic, Fnatic and Loud. Why are they 4 then? Ange1, Shao, and Suygetsu are all involved with the european thing going on that I don't know if I can mention. I've heard tons of rumors regarding the three, notibly the IGL in Ange1's, ability to participate and travel to masters. On top of that, despite their dominance this is their first major. Between nerves and availibility it can send them spirallling downwards, but if they play OH LORD WILL THEY PLAY.

===========
"Got a great chance" Tier :

5. DRX. This could be Korea's time. If something happens with FPX they are a true competator. Just slightly outside of the top 4 IMO. Also, they didn't drop a map in Korea during stage 2.
6. PRX. If Forsaken can contenue his APAC form into masters, they are a very VERY important team to watch. Between Their fragging, and their additional improvement over stage 2, they can make a serious run if F0rsaken, Jingg, and d4v41 show up fragging wise. Plus funny walkouts!
   ===========
   Hot Virgins tier :
   7 and 8. Guild and XSET. It's their first lan. Younger squads. Just looking to get out LAN nerves from a champs run. They can of course do damage, but it'll be a suprise if they pull serious thing out against the teams above them.
   ===========
   Maybe playoffs tier :
7. Xerxia : it's Xerxia. they might do it with their experience. There is a chance. a chance
8. NIP. Idk maybe.
9. NTh. Again, idk maybe.
   ============
   LATAM tier :
10. Leviatan. Prove me wrong fuckers.

Literal loses a non-entity game. That was a fucking scrim for OpTic

I agree cause then its back to the 16 teams and that's way more fun.

Major region = Sends multiple teams
Minor region = Sends a single team

Minor and Major doesn't go on quality of teams, it's based on the amount of teams they send. It's fucking simple.

Japan and Korea play in groups? Brazil is literally one of the four major regions alone with APAC, EMEA, and NA? Why would DRX and NTH get a bye if they're in a minor region, like LATAM? I'm saying its wrong to not give a major region a bye spot, and make it based on a team they are clearly better than winning a series.

I looked deeper into them. Only top 10 team they've faced in XSET and they have gotten a max of 5 rounds on a map versus them. They seem like more of a mickey mouse trounce than a serious team at the moment. Love their development and strength as an academy team, but I really don't think they are near top 5, nor top 10. MAYBE top 15.

I saw them being high up on the leaderboard. They haven't participated in any open qualifier. Until then, I'ma keep them out. I know it's because they're an academy team so they can't participate in VCT due to that, but i'll give it until they can verse and beat any top 10 team to place them there.

1. Lan Optic
2. XSET
3. C9 when they are playing serious
4. Lan FaZe (Supa is a top 3 controller in NA when he doesn't have power issues)
5. 100T after Bang can commit full time to Valorant instead of also dealing with school.

Just cause:

6. NRG when they are VIBING
7. EG, just EG
8. Ghost when Nismo is on with whatever wack shit he was on in groups

Then, hopium.

9. Gaurd when they've dealt with whatever stopped them stage 2
10. Sentinals when they FUCKING EVENTUALLY DECIDE TO FUCKING SUPORT TENZ INSTEAD OF GETTING HIM TO RUN IN AND DIE EVERY ROUND WHEN THEY ARE ONE OF THE BEST 5V4 TEAMS BUT THEY SEND THEIR BEST FIRST BLOOD PLAYER IN TO JUST DIE WITHOUT A TRADE. ITS SO FUCKING UNIAGINABLE HOW USELESS THEY ARE SUPORTING THEIR BEST PLAYER. HE DOESN'T NEED TO BE ON CHAMBER, HE JUST NEEDS TO GET SOME SUPPORT AND THEY CAN FINALLY SUCCEED.

ok

Yeah, Sentinals and Gaurd if they figure shit out are top 10.

I think its fucked, Brazil is a much larger region which riot usually gives more favor to ahem, cough EMEA cough, ahem. Brazil should just get two slots and LATAM should be a one slot like Japan and Korea. The simple FACT that LOUD/any brazilian team that dominates their region can be forced into playoffs as a major region is just fucked.

1. PRX (fun team, crazy entertaining to watch)
2. DRX (Super creative and meta defining - also very entertaining to watch, i literally stayed up an extra 2 hours to watch them on nights they played)
   ====================================================================================================================
3. Fnatic (Marginally less cheered for, but they are, again, entertaining as well as the de facto best team in the world right now in my opinion. Also, very deserving of winning, I'd say they deserve it way more than anyone else, only two teams that are close are LOUD and FPX as one was second in the last masters while the other was snuffed while in their peak form)