Interesting take I feel like VIT are the ones who are scarier long term as they develop more chemistry and better maco play. If anything, I feel like right now is the best chance for TL to be better because their macro is ahead of VIT even if their firepower isnt

I'm kinda hyped, but less so than last year at Madrid. At least for me, the times for all the matches are pretty much unwatchable, so it's hard to get excited about matches I can't watch live

EDG 2-1 TL (EDG are better but I feel like TL steals a map)
SEN 2-1 DRX (DRX either wins 2-0 or loses)

I agree that VIT might be overrated and I was not impressed by their match against TL, and I personally have DRX as #4 for Bangkok, but I think that saying they look to be on par with G2 is a bit of a stretch to me. Not that its impossible for DRX to be better, but from what we know so far, G2 look to be the better team, at least from my perspective.

Region by region, it really depends on what you are looking for. I think that Americas has the best two teams, with G2 and SEN(who I have right above DRX but basically 50/50), and then a group of teams that haven't shown consistency, but have really high ceilings that can qualify them for internationals (100T, NRG, LOUD, LEV, KRU, MIBR). But then the region does also have multiple teams that are not good (C9 and EG), and some that suck (Furia and 2G).

I think Pacific has a similar breakdown with DRX and T1 at the top, then GENG, Talon, NR and RRQ are all teams that fall into the "high ceiling contenders to make internationals". The rest of the teams either look mid (DRM, PRX :(, GE, TS) or bad (ZETA, BOOM). So I would say its very close but would lean Americas as of now.

This being said, no international matches have happened yet and everything I think is likely incorrect.

It's legit the same exact format as Madrid lol

Idk Less won champs and was insane on LOUD the next year as well I don't think Suygetsu had a measurably better run. And idk what ur on but Less has been much better in recent years

I think its just across the board form. VIT has way more firepower than KC. VIT hasn't looked like they've had a strong macro game, which is the difference between sayf and saadhak at igl, but their much higher individual skill makes up for it, at least this early in the season.

Zaddy is just him ig. Wish he could've played this well at champs :)

Experience-wise yeah they're very similar, but in terms of value and current form, Less is steps ahead

A few years ago maybe but less has been another level of consistent the past couple of years, and I would take Less above Sugeytsu 10/10 times

I mean ur comparing derke and less to suygestsu and marteen

NOOOOO but im the most important and I need it to be perfect for meeeeeeee

Pacific hosted events are the death of me over here in PST, having the first games start at midnight or 1 AM is just not doable

Exactly, I'm just not convinced that their firepower is enough to overcome the macro deficit against the best teams

Yeah thats why I moved VIT down to 7 lol which could definitely be an overreaction, but I think that G2 should still be a tourney favorite. My reasoning is that VIT look like they are missing a lot in terms of structure and team play these maps that they are losing to Liquid, whereas G2 just looked like they got anti-d and beat by another really good team on the maps that they lost

So we agree that G2 is #1 ITW right now, but SEN, the team that took them to 5 maps while being at a severe disadvantage, shouldn't be top 3? Even if you have them lower I don't think it's a crazy take to have them that high, especially if we agree about how good G2 is.

Maybe, but it's hard for me to move them down until they lose. I do think that the top 3 teams are incredibly close to each other

Possibly, due to the firepower that they have, but I have a lot of concerns about the rest of their gameplay and overall team strucutre

1 win is definitely huge, cause you can then afford to lose a game. If you go into G2 round 1 and lose, you then have to win both of your next two games, at least one of which will be against a very strong team.

I mean 100T missed champs by 1 point last year

Fair. I've seen a ton of people disrespecting EDG, but they're definitely top 3 from a speculative standpoint. Anything could happen, but they should be viewed pretty highly going into Bangkok

Fair point lol it's hard to know until the regions actually play each other. I have the Americas teams so high because of the combination of the firepower that they have, as well as the structure and strong team play.

The firepower is more objective to judge because its not region-biased, but the team play can be, and I could definitely be overrating the American teams calling and structure and underrating that of say Pacific, but from the perspective of not seeing them compete against each other, I think that Americas looks the most structurally sound.

Just my opinion though, and would not be surprised to see either pacific team make it top 4.

Idk if I consider groups stage that highly seeing as they immediately bombed out of playoffs. If we are talking groups then BilliBilli is at the same level for dunking on FNS's arthritis-ridden joints.

I love FNS this is a joke but fr he needs to stop violently shaking his mouse every time he gets in a duel he's looking like me out there

Happy to provide

I saw that no one else is doing this, and my opinion is the most valid and obviously everyone has been waiting for me to speak out so here are my rankings:

1.) G2 - They do look like the best team in the world but were shown to be beatable when SEN took two maps off of them while G2 had every possible advantage in the series. I do think that SEN wins that series on even footing, but I can't rate G2 any lower based on the dominance they've shown so far. Technically, I have them as the favorites, but I do not think there is much separation between the top 3, let alone the top 6.

2.) EDG - I don't watch much CN Valorant, but this EDG team has shown time and again how dangerous they are, and the roster changes they made last year elevated them so much. If they can keep up a good form they can beat any team on this list, and should be one of the favorites to win their second trophy.

3.) SEN - Really impressed me against G2. I do have some map pool concerns, but I think that this team showed the kind of team they could be when they played G2 so closely. I also believe that this team has the highest current ceiling of any team in this tournament. That is, if every team here plays to their absolute best possible current form, I believe that SEN will win. The question is if they can play to their top level consistently.

4.) DRX - Probably the best team play that I have seen from non-Americas teams, I don't really know how to feel about Pacific as a region, and I could be underrating both teams here, but I just trust the teams above them more at the moment. I do think that DRX can do a lot of damage, I just don't see them at the same danger level as the top 3 teams.

5.) T1 - Same thing with DRX, I could definitely be underrating them, but I just don't feel as confident in their abilities as I do with teams from other regions. T1 has a lot of potential to be a very good team, I just don't see it happening quite yet.

6.) VIT - This one might be an overreaction to the TL game, but I'm not confident in their ability to beat well-structured teams. Even with the impressive comeback, they have had some massive gaps exposed by Liquid in the first two maps imo.

7.) TL - I don't believe it either but here we are. The teamplay has looked above a lot of the other teams in the rest of EMEA, and the players are also stepping up individually. The issue here is that I don't trust that either of those elements are good enough to compete with the top teams from the other regions, but they keep proving me wrong and anything could happen.

8.) Trace - Having Trace at 8 feels criminal, but besides EDG, CN has failed as a whole to compete with the best teams from the other regions, and I don't know if Trace has what it takes to become that second team from CN to do damage internationally.

I do think that any team on this list can get at least one win at Bangkok, and I wouldn't be shocked at any of the top 6 making it to the playoff stage. Kickoff is always so interesting, as we have no clue which teams are legit and which are not, and I think no matter what this will be an interesting tournament.

EDIT after the VIT TL game: This tournament is really wide open and I don' t think that are many massive gaps between the teams in this list. I moved VIT up from 7 to 6 and TL down from 5 to 7, but all of these teams are very close. Guess we shall see in Bangkok

I don't like this argument. Better seeding is big because getting a win in the first round of the swiss stage is huge. Also, the extra championship point, and getting the kickoff trophy are both good reasons for teams to try

I love SEN and don't hate the high ranking, but EDG should be higher for sure

Yeah its so difficult to know what is real. I think that TH can still be good but are not up to form right now. I currently have liquid in my third tier of teams for all of VCT, around the level of teams like Trace and GENG

In terms of who was in a better position I agree. I do think SEN showed the kind of team that they can be while at a severe disadvantage, but I also think that wasn't the best that G2 could have been. It was far from their floor, and probably close to their highest level, but there were moments where G2 wasn't as good as they could've been.

Fr lol who even knows. I just like exciting valorant where you don't know who is going to win for a given game.

Seems like VIT is getting exposed as a KRU-type team: Incredible firepower and individual skill, but a lack of discipline and strong calling. I do think they have a much higher ceiling than KRU and hopefully, I'm wrong about them, but it just seems like they are so behind the curve in teamplay.

Yeah, I do think Americas is looking like the strongest region so far, but its hard to tell before any international play. It does seem like SEN and G2 are way ahead in terms of having both firepower and good teamplay, so it'll be interesting to see how much the rest of the regions can improve and show out going into Bangkok.

No lol. G2 got both map bans and extra prep time while SEN had 3 games in 3 days. SEN can play better with more prep time and with better map priority, and G2 got tested for the first time but stepped up and closed it out. Both teams are really good (I still think G2 is the best itw rn), and both teams have the ability to make a run at Bangkok

This is why I love kickoff tournaments. So many unexpected wins and losses, and teams can prove themselves or fall apart.

I'm so confused on how good TL is. I thought that VIT was really good going into this and now Liquid is making them look like a mid-tier team. Is liquid really good? Is EMEA just not good? IS VIT overrated? Is this a parallel universe? Everything is very unclear.

Probably not, they're good but unlikely they're as dominant as early 2021 SEN or 2023 FNC

Honestly happy that SEN looked so much better today despite the loss. G2 had a double map ban and 3 unshown maps but SEN put up a hell of a fight to take it to 5. Definitely areas that need to be improved upon, but I'm a lot more confident in SEN's chances moving forward to make a run at Bangkok

johnqt tejo is insane

First seeds only play second seeds for the first match which can be the difference between playing EDG or playing Trace which is huge for the first game

G2 and SEN always shoot each others bodies its nothing new. He was crying not cause he was upset about other people being mean but cause he was disappointed that he played poorly

historically its defense sided, but its been more attack sided as of late with the new comps

Missed the TH Liquid game what the heck happened? Are TL actually good or is TH just terrible

Are you doing alright? You seem unnecessarily aggressive here

they played like shit and lost. And now look how Kaplan turned them around

either way they're in bangkok gf is just for seeding

yeah I think they're still finding their footing, I have liked a lot of their ideas, and they're finding out where the ideas work for them, and where its better for them to go more standard. Feels like they have a very high ceiling this year

idk if we can go that far lol

Kaplan is such a W coach, maybe not the type of coach who is known for crazy strats, but he always gets his players to play at their best

yeah idk tex and kingg are good, and demon1 looked a lot better in his last game which gives room for hope. If they can figure out their roles, I think Lev could for sure fight for top 3

I think it just means that SEN is closer to G2 than they showed. G2 is the best team rn don't get me wrong but SEN are better than they showed yesterday