Predator Gaming has revealed the group draw for the upcoming APAC Predator League 2024 event in Manila.
PHILIPPINES – The groups for the APAC Predator League 2024 have been revealed ahead of the event’s start on January 11.
Sixteen teams, having navigated a lengthy qualification process across thirteen APAC sub-regions, have been sorted into four groups of four teams each.
Each participating team in the tournament will serve as the sole representative of their respective country. However, there is an exception for Indonesia and the Philippines, which will send their top two teams from the qualifying rounds, with an additional invitation allocated specifically for Team Secret, increasing the Philippines’ representation to three teams.
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The leading team from each group will advance to the single-elimination playoff bracket, scheduled for the final two days on January 13-14. The initial group stage of the Manila event will take place behind closed doors, followed by the SM Mall of Asia Arena hosting the top four teams.
Matches will be played out in best-of-ones series for the entirety of the tournament until the best-of-three grand final. The condensed format has become a topic of discussion within the APAC VALORANT community, as it is the first time such a format has been introduced in LAN events of this caliber, especially with US$100,000 at stake.
Ultimately, the victorious team will claim over half of the prize pool, pocketing US$65,000, while the runners-up will take home US$20,000. The third and fourth-placed teams will each secure US$7,500.
The teams for the APAC Predator League will be divided into the following groups:
Group A takes center stage with Oasis Gaming as the hometown heroes, having proudly represented their nation at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games and won the recent Predator League Philippines event. Xavier “xavi8k” Juan and co. leveraged the OFF//SEASON to their advantage by stepping in for Fancy United Esports at the main event of ESL Clash of Nations 2023 in Thailand. Joining them in this group are Lewis “WAT” Watson’s Antic Esports, NuClear from Korea, and Japan’s FAV Gaming.
In the next group, BOOM Esports become the favorites to come out of the group after securing a top-four position at VCT Ascension Pacific last year. The Indonesian representatives will share the same group with ESL Clash of Nations champions Team NKT. On the other hand, ZOL Esports are set to present their revamped roster featuring Franz “kevzii” Dingal, the champion of the 2022 Predator League Philippines with RRQ. Rounding out Group B will be Exceeli Esports from Bangladesh, who will have to pull off big upset performances to end at the top.
Group C boasts Yoon “Malix” Kyung-ho’s Team Flash who will share the stage with Indonesia’s ARF Team, and HK/TW representatives Oblivion Force and RNKKO Esports.
The real battleground is in Group D, where VCT Pacific’s Team Secret, who were handed out the sole invite, will be facing off against the likes of Sha “ZesBeeW” Mohtar’s Ender Dragon Gaming, Malaysian representatives Todak, and India’s No Salary Peek who formerly represented Orangutan.
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Cover photo courtesy of VCT Pacific
