Two VALORANT Masters Madrid spots are up for grabs. Who will emerge as the two representatives for the Pacific region in this year’s first international event?
SOUTH KOREA – The semi-finals of VCT Pacific KICKOFF are upon us, and we have prepared a preview of the bracket that will begin this Saturday. There will certainly be some intense series coming your way over the weekend!
The top four teams at VCT Pacific KICKOFF happen to comprise the same teams that reached the final four in last year’s inaugural league season, which concluded almost a year ago in May. Sustaining a leading position over the course of a year in the fast-paced world of VALORANT esports speaks volumes about their ability to navigate meta shifts, roster adjustments, and other factors that can influence team dynamics.
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Paper Rex
- 1st – VCT Pacific League 2023
- 3rd – VALORANT Masters Tokyo
- 2nd – VALORANT Champions Los Angeles
- 2nd – AfreecaTV VALORANT League
The reigning champions of VCT Pacific, Paper Rex remained mostly intact through last year and avoided massive roster changes despite the roster mania that claimed most teams during the OFF//SEASON as they should. As Wang “Jinggg” Jing Jie took a step back to a substitute position, it was a crucial moment for the squad, given the challenging nature of replacing the Crazy Raze Player would have been hard for anyone.
The acquisition of Cahya “Monyet” Nugraha from Global Esports appeared to be the most logical choice that Paper Rex could make, and it appears that the team has gelled well both in and out of the game, with Monyet confidently embodying the team’s W GAMING approach. The Southeast Asian powerhouse will want to continue their good form going into 2024, and qualification for VALORANT Masters Madrid must be their baseline while also setting their sights on clinching the trophy.
T1
- 3rd – VCT Pacific League 2023
- 9-10th – VALORANT Masters Tokyo
- 9-12th – VALORANT Champions Los Angeles
- 3rd-4th – AfreecaTV VALORANT League
T1 has exceeded everyone’s expectations with their recent performance, especially considering the bold decision to release three players after Champions LA and part ways with Lee “k1Ng” Seung-won and Son “xeta” Seon-ho at the beginning of the year before the season’s start.
Ham “iZu” Woo-joo truly stood out as one of the best performers in the Challengers JP circuit, showcasing exceptional skills as a main controller player. On the flip side, Daniel “Rossy” Abedrabbo didn’t have much experience at the tier-one level, and Kevin “xccurate” Susanto made a direct leap to the highest echelons of VALORANT after taking a year off from Counter-Strike. Coach Yoon “Autumn” Eu-teum’s decision to bring in these two players was a bold move, but it turned out to be a successful gamble.
The new T1 team have broken into the elite once more in a way that invites no criticism, with wins over the likes of EDward Gaming, Team Liquid, Bleed Esports, and ZETA DIVISION. All players looked in solid shape for their two KICKOFF games, particularly the Indonesian player with his Chamber. But their hopes for Madrid paint a story of a real challenge as they gear up to go head-to-head with the top dog of the tournament, Paper Rex.
Why you should watch PRX vs. T1?
- It’s the second Susanto Derby between Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto and Kevin “xccurate” Susanto, setting up a rematch of the Susanto Derby played at the AfreecaTV VALORANT League which PRX dominated 2-0
- The winner of this VCT Pacific KICKOFF match will automatically qualify for VALORANT Masters Madrid
DRX
- 2nd – VCT Pacific League 2023
- 7-8th – VALORANT Masters Tokyo
- 5-6th – VALORANT Champions Los Angeles
- 5-6th – AfreecaTV VALORANT League
DRX steps into the KICKOFF event with a point to prove, following a tough year where they once again couldn’t shake off the 5-6th place curse, despite breaking it earlier in São Paulo last year. The team’s slide down the rankings in the past season raised eyebrows. Shaking things up by bringing in new talent and bidding farewell to Goo “Rb” Sang-min and Kim “Zest” Gi-seok left fans scratching their heads at the team’s direction this year as they form a new identity.
The Kim “stax” Gu-taek-led side didn’t face much trouble cruising through the playoffs as expected against two of the lowest-ranked teams from last season: DetonatioN FocusMe and Talon Esports. However, if they manage to win against Gen.G in the semi-finals and secure a spot in Madrid, it will be the starting point for this specific composition to prove they still hold the powerhouse status they once held. As it stands, DRX remain the favored side to secure one of the two spots in Madrid.
Gen.G
- 4th – VCT Pacific League 2023
- 3rd – VCT Pacific Last Chance Qualifier 2023
- 3rd-4th – Convergence 2023
An exciting squad with some real firepower, Gen.G come out of a really tough draw in the group stage landing in the same group as Paper Rex. They did not have it easy. Despite a reverse-sweep loss to the 2023 Pacific champions, they bounced back with a win against RRQ to advance to the Play-In stage. In contrast to Paper Rex who only needed to win a series to qualify, Gen.G had to endure five games to secure their spot in the playoffs.
There is a lot more to like from Gen.G coming into the playoffs, especially with Kim “t3xture” Na-ra now being utilized to his full potential. You can’t help but wonder what went wrong with the 2023 roster of Global Esports, a team that had abundant experience and firepower but failed to meet the expectations of many.
However, what matters most is the present. With t3xture now in the right role, Kim “Lakia” Jong-min making a return to tier-one, Byeon “Munchkin” Sang-beom aiming to prove everyone, especially T1, wrong about the decision to drop him, and Kim “Karon” Won-tae making a loud entrance to the tier-one scene despite lacking any competitive experience in the past.
Why you should watch DRX vs. Gen.G?
- It’s a Korean Derby between two of the country’s biggest names
- Kim “Lakia” Jong-min will go head-to-head with some of his former Vision Strikers teammates
- It’s a reunion battle between the coaching staffs of DRX (Seon-ho “termi” Pyeon, Soon-woo “Argency” Kwon, Kim “glow” Min-soo) and Gen.G (Kang “solo” Keun-chul) who once shared the competitive stage in Counter-Strike under the MVP PK banner. Now, they find themselves in different roles, standing behind a new generation of players.
- The winner of this VCT Pacific KICKOFF match will automatically qualify for VALORANT Masters Madrid
The matchups for the VCT Pacific KICKOFF playoffs look as follows:
Saturday, February 24
- 4 PM SGT – 🇸🇬 Paper Rex vs. 🇰🇷 T1
- 6 PM SGT – 🇰🇷 DRX vs. 🇰🇷 Gen.G
Sunday, February 25
- 4 PM SGT – Grand finals
For more insights on the Asian VALORANT scene and upcoming content like this, be sure to like and follow VALO2ASIA on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
Cover photo courtesy of VCT Pacific
