Three VCT Masters finalists have been pitted against each other in a stacked Group B.
SOUTH KOREA — The group distribution and opening matchups have been announced for VALORANT Champions 2024, which is set to take place August 1-25 in Seoul and Incheon.
Sixteen teams are set to battle it out for their share of a US$$2,250,000 prize pool in VALORANT’s season-ending world championship, with US$1,000,000 of that set aside for the eventual winner. In addition, proceeds from the upcoming Champions skin bundle, available for purchase in the in-game store throughout the competition, will be divided among all 16 teams.
VALORANT Champions Seoul will kick off with a group stage featuring four groups, each with four teams competing in a GSL format from August 1-11. The top eight teams will advance to the double-elimination playoffs starting on August 14, culminating in a grand finale in a best-of-five series at the INSPIRE Arena on August 25. The detailed schedule will be released closer to the event.
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Bilibili Gaming return to the international stage with a new mastermind, former Bleed Esports IGL Marcus “nephh” Tan, and new controller player Luo “Flex1n” Rui. However, they are about to face a tough challenge upon arriving in Seoul, as they go up against FNATIC in the first round of Group A. Meanwhile, DRX and KRÜ Esports, the two teams that have participated in every Champions event since 2021, will face each other for the first time.
The most fascinating matchup of the opening round will see the two Masters champions this year in Sentinels and Gen.G facing off in Group B. On the opposing side of the bracket, Team Heretics will be taking on FunPlus Phoenix for the second time this year following their close encounter in the final Swiss round of Masters Shanghai. That match went the full distance with all maps and four overtimes in the last one, with Heretics ultimately coming out on top.
Group C features a standout matchup between Erick “aspas” Santos’ Leviatán and Talon Esports, adjusting to the recent addition of top APAC prospect Papaphat “Primmie” Sriprapha who debuted less than two weeks ago in the VCT Pacific Stage 2 playoffs. “I feel they’re a mid team,” LEV IGL Francisco “kiNgg” Aravena commented during the draw show held right after the VCT Americas Season Finals earlier today.
(Photo courtesy of Hara Amoros/Riot Games)
Paper Rex vs. G2 Esports is another headline matchup and a rematch of the Masters Shanghai Playoffs, where the Southeast Asian powerhouse chose the Americas Ascension winners for their first-round match but ultimately lost. “They’re a great team, but they’re bigger chokers than we are,” G2’s Jonah “JonahP” Pulice said. Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee and his team have a chance to seek revenge in Group D, which also features regular international opponent EDward Gaming, as well as FUT Esports.
The groups and opening matchups for VALORANT Champions Seoul are as follows:
Group A:
- 🇬🇧 FNATIC vs. 🇨🇳 Bilibili Gaming
- 🇰🇷 DRX vs. 🇨🇱 KRÜ Esports
Group B:
- 🇰🇷 Gen.G vs. 🇺🇸 Sentinels
- 🇨🇳 FunPlus Phoenix vs. 🇪🇸 Team Heretics
Group C:
- 🇨🇱 Leviatán vs. 🇹🇭 Talon Esports
- 🇫🇷 Team Vitality vs. 🇨🇳 Trace Esports
Group D:
- 🇨🇳 EDward Gaming vs. 🇹🇷 FUT Esports
- 🇺🇸 G2 Esports vs. 🇸🇬 Paper Rex
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Cover photo courtesy of VALORANT Esports
