1. APAC
   Undisputably the most stacked region, even if PRX chokes away another final. The 3 Korean teams are all formidable and every single one may win it all at their respective peaks. RRQ, Talon, even Secret can turn it up on their given days.

2. EMEA
   Yes, TH underperformed, but they folded to two upper final sides, so it's not nearly as bad as one should think. Liquid is unfortunate, but they managed to push PRX to the brink there. The Turkish teams are decent, and Vitality might bounce back too, so the potential is still there.

3. China ≈ Americas
   Difficult to say because Masters are so fucking short. SEN walked all 3 Chinese teams and so you can't quite put China squarely over Americas either. Talent-wise, about the same I'd say. MIBR is ass, but 100T and NRG are probably better than them coming into stage 2. For China, you can't count out EDG either. All and all, about equal if XLG and BLG can prove their levels internationally.

Actual braindead take when China has EXACTLY 01 good team per event.

They are trolling from winning positions. Literally uncoachable. That's the point of PRX, when everything clicks, they are the best team in the world. Take away that liberty and they'll never perform to the same high again.

Freesia.

No. He shits out 2 videos everyday, nobody can be fresh and entertaining if you have to listen to them for hours at a time. He has good vids, bad vids, and boring vids; but generally, he's a decent dude and has sensible takes. He isn't loud or obnoxious or takes himself too seriously. Not primetime entertainment, but something to put on when you're eating, I guess.

Shit tske, they're probably the most competitive region rn.

It's the shit format. I'm not convinced at all how every Seed 1 went out cold this time around, especially when they all won so convincingly their respective finals. 2-3 stage games' worth of warm-up against shitters would be invaluable.

Last year people excused it because FNC and PRX were on their unholy streak of form, so it wouldn't have mattered. But teams are so inconsistent this year that a slight dip can ruin the whole tournament.

Just give them 1 win's advantage in groups. No point keeping Swiss if teams play just 2-3 games like this year. Valorant always have the sparsest, most gimped format ever, because apparently Riot is so concerned of low viewcount that they wouldn't give us games in the first place.

Boaster is certified arrogant. Not in the sense that he trash talks anyone; but like G2 in League, his region is somewhat shit so delusion catches up with him everytime.

Honestly, they probably will.

Navi has a proper team structure. Maybe the closest would be G2 with kennys, peak Niko, peak hunter, nexa and amanek. That team was wild as fuck, but for the most part, they weren't as good as the sum of their constituents.

But yes, Valorant has much more leeway for skill (or unskilled) expression. Between dashes, utils, shotguns, and tighter maps, you can play quite unruly in Valorant and still generate some value.

Probably. We've seen peak FNC before. TH is full of wonderkids, they are still growing everyday.

I don't think FNC players are washed though. Just sometimes in esports, a change of environment is needed.

I am <3

I can't believe people actually name their kid JoJo.

Prime Navi, Spirit and G2 played nothing like PRX. There's been cassanova players since forever, but a functional team of 5, I've never seen any.

PRX is the antithesis of prime Astralis, if anything. But I've never known of a team so horribly lopsided, and still so good.

I mean SEA as in, SEA, mainland and maritime. Korea and Japan are only in the Pacific league because Riot has to gerrymander for slot distribution. Culturally and economically, we are nothing alike. Esports-wise, the East Asians are already veterans.

And yes, GPL was the shit back in the days.

My flair is for xccurate, btw. Probably the most talented SEA player since the creation of FPS.

Typical PRX, they troll on a subconscious level after a dominant half. That and their cheese is absolutely shit on defense. Every one of them (bar mindfreak) can be a dirty inter at any given point. I have no doubt mindfreak is capable of running it too, while he's not away baiting.

That's why they might never win silverware, but everyone knows deep down. These fuckers are the best in the business.

You've never seen an FPS game played this way, at this level, and never will again. It's a minor miracle PRX was so good so early in the competitive cycle; otherwise, I think the Pacific ecosystem would have rotten away like it did CS, Dota and League. Probably the only way the SEA animals could compete in top flight esport.

PRX is a nuclear org, it will fade away in time when this crop of players departs; but even then, I'm happy we have them, for as long as we did.

*I jinxed it.

Their comp is meme, and something is starving for an op. It's over when he finally gets one.

I don't really mind the 1st seed getting some advantage, but as of right now, they are getting so little airtime. It's baffling how neutered a Master is compared to literally every other esport's international.

Swiss is where you get a gauge for the level of competition and build satisfying narratives. 12 is fine for Swiss; it's nonsensical that they're doing 8. It's literally just Groups then.

He might be into scat.

TS literally had 2 less round difference than GENG. What the fuck are you yapping about? They could easily have topped their group.

If you think EG didn't deserve their Champs run last year, I have nothing to say to you. Go watch golf or someshit. High-variance sports aren't for you.

TS has the exact same scoreline as GENG, mind you, and they 2-0ed PRX just before playoffs. You are only saying they're shit in hindsight.

Crazy to say a team "gets lucky" in a tournament/qualification scenario. EG got lucky last year to even be at Champs. Of course there is an element of spontaneity, the better team on the day wins. It's not a static dick measuring contest. That's why there's a playoffs in the first place. Otherwise, just take the group results for granted, top down.

I think DRX is better than T1 too, but they had their chances.

It is what it is. Rough opponents for them, but both DRX and T1 had a chance to punch above their weight and score a ticket, and in DRX's case, 2 chances. T1 showed up, DRX didn't.

All the Eastern team, except for GENG. They have the most boring boilerplate gameplay in Pacifics, and they bounced DRX.

On a side note, pls send help the Koreans are taking over again... Don't @ my flair it's only there for xccurate.

That's just how sports be sometimes. If they win once just to dip for years like SEN, then I wouldn't want them to win ever.

If you're talking hardware degradation, it depends on the make, but you're looking at 5+ years. Laptops are quite hardy nowadays if you don't abuse them. The 4070 laptops usually run Valorant at 400fps max settings when given proper juice, so you'd have quite some headroom.

If you're talking consecutive hours of use, heat will be the primary bottleneck. 240fps @ 1080p is not particularly demanding to maintain, but you may have to consult specific reviews to see their thermal performances.

Something with 4070/7800XT minimum if you want to reliably squeeze 240fps from a laptop. Get something large and beefy and well-ventilated, but at that point, might as well get a real PC. Something like this will run you 1000 bucks, which honestly, is a decent deal, considering the GPU itself still costs upward of 600 nowadays.

https://slickdeals.net/f/17287651-asus-tuf-f15-15-6-fhd-144hz-i7-12700h-rtx-4070-16gb-ddr4-1tb-ssd-999-99?src=SiteSearchV2Algo1

https://slickdeals.net/f/17445426-hp-victus-16-1-laptop-13th-gen-intel-core-i7-13700h-geforce-rtx-4070-1100-or-4060-1000-1080p-144hz-costco-1099-99?src=SiteSearchV2Algo1

If you're not price conscious, the Legion 5i is probably everything you could ask for in a laptop. Probably much better value than a PC of equivalent hardware. Of course, you compromise upgradeability always.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125822086457?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5337259887&toolid=10001&customid=abaca8d809f911efb59d02fafdfe01860INT

What is UAE bro yapping about? Why haven't you bought an EU roster yet?

I've seen dudes on pacemakers and even they are not exempted. It's nigh impossible to skip NS without a proper excuse in SG. Maybe it's something psychological or mf has some spine issues. Anyway, hope it doesn't come up during his career.

Holy shit traitor arc going wild. If SEN wins with one the Bronzils should disown him.

Probably very soon. They have the best professional esports systems in the world. PRX is great and all, but Alecks has exposed his limitations and hubris.

So is SEN. But then, the exception is not the norm.

Swissed

Real. I usually tune out of Masters because of sheer boredom. There are only around 5-6 elite teams out of 12/16, so the chance of having actual good matchups early on is non-existent.

This one I watched every match and was left quite satisfied with each. The EDG game just now was the worst, but at least it was fast.

Real. I usually tune out of Masters because of sheer boredom. There are only around 5-6 elite teams out of 12/16, so the chance of having actual good matchups early on is non-existent.

This one I watched every match and was left quite satisfied with each. The EDG game just now was the worst, but at least it was fast.

I like this 8-team format for the first event of the year. It feels exclusive and intimate, there are no bottom tier shitters (China bros...), every game matters and makes sense narratively. Swiss is much more fun than groups, and with only 8 teams it feels just right.

He's no Jingg, but he's warming up. I still don't see the virtues of his Raze, but not bad all around.

Bad tournament for them. The chinese has a proper split to do soul-searching. Honestly, I'm convinced with that size of a gaming population, CN will get there no matter what.

;(

Monyet still shit, and PRX still overheated. Man, it's hard to breathe for Alecks.

What an unmitigated monster. You can't fuck with this man. F0rsaken plays anything to the absolute peak potential, he'll top your dad too if they share the same server.

So fucking bad that last round was won if he could click his ulti right.

And another one. I'm done watching this mf.

Something is going to singlehandedly bring this gun to pro play. Looks absolutely broken in his hand.

It is what it is. EU is still divided between CS & Valorant. With Overwatch on deathwatch, Americas playerbase is eating better than ever.

Jingg will not come back, he's from upper class Singaporean. His parents are filthy rich. He'll go to university and get a cushy job afterward.

I know it's hard to go from the best Raze in the world to a GE-level Raze, but PRX really has to retire this pick imo. Doesn't do Monyet any favour at all. He's absolutely griefing right now. Every ulti, every satchel, every bomb has been shit by him.

He's been shit all along, but now's he's warmed up and unlocked. It's doomed for all. The Moneyman is back.

PRX lost their star player, while EDG went through a hyperbolic training arc last off-season. It's an expected result.

It is a thought, but I think he's happy where he is. In a roster with his countrymen and hours away from home.

Also, I don't think he has to either. APAC is a gold mine of gaming talents. They have the Asian grindset and unlike CN/KR/JP, they speak English, and can actually form mixed-country rosters.