The Favorites of VCT Challengers NA Stage 1

The North American VALORANT season has already begun. Some teams have already partaken in two tournaments, which has given them ample opportunity to prepare for the VALORANT Champions Tour 2021. The first Challengers stage is upon us and quite a few capable teams will fight for a place in the next phase.

Team Envy, NRG, Sentinels, Gen.G, Luminosity, Andbox, and XSET have qualified for the first leg of VCT – but leading the pack are none other than Immortals, who achieved a 3-1 Grand Finals finish against Envy in the Qualifier. On the last two maps in particular, they were miles ahead of Pujan “FNS” Mehta and his team, which obviously sets them up as favorites to win this event now. Between that series and the Opening Matches of VCT, there have only been four days, wich gives the teams little time to adapt and improve. So if things remain as they were, Immortals will definitely have the upper hand.

SENTINELS WANT TO FIGHT BACK

But things rarely ever stay the same. At the beginning of the year, Sentinels were still gunning for first place in their region and the results aren’t decisive enough for Immortals to feel safe. Last year, Shahzeeb “ShahZaM” Khan and his boys were at the top alongside TSM and 100T, so they are definitely not lacking any brain- or firepower.

In the Qualifier, they secured victories over Serenity, Built By Gamers, and Andbox, until Immortals finally stopped them in the Semi Finals. On the last map in particular, the 2-1 match wasn’t a close call, but at least the Sentinels managed to score a decisive win on Haven. Since January 31, they have had time to watch matches and analyze their opponents. However, it stands to question whether that will actually be enough to win entire series against Immortals.

DO GEN.G, NRG, AND LG HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BREAK THROUGH?

NRG Esports only failed to make it to the Grand Finals due to a 12-14 loss on Haven against Envy. Two rounds going the other way would have given them a fighting chance on the third map. Gen.G didn’t stand a chance against NRG, and Carpe Noctem, who had previously beaten a top-level team, quickly fell as as well.

Nonetheless, teams like Luminosity are dangerous. At the NSG Winter Invitational, they made first place, beating out even Sentinels. While many of the top rosters weren’t there to contest, the Best-of-Five victory proves that they have the skills to take on higher teams. They have one of the best Qualifier players on board in the form of Alex “aproto” Protopapas. With a 1.38 rating, he helped his team to a Quarter Finals appearance.

However, the biggest surprise of the VCT Challengers Qualifier was Shawn “Shawn” O’Riley of Gen.G Esports. The 1.66 rating made his the best player of the entire bracket by a sizable margin. He managed to hold a 1.74 KD ratio, even though his team went out in the Semi Finals with just 12 rounds to their name. While Gen.G, NRG, and LG don’t really have the capabilities on a team level to compete with Immortals or Envy, these talented individuals still make them immensely dangerous.

NO 100T, NO T1, NO TSM, NO C9

The number of top teams who haven’t made the Top 8 is almost larger than the list of participants itself. Right now, the 100 Thieves can’t depend on the services of Nick “nitr0” Canella, as the player became a father just a few days ago. In the meantime, the team is working with Jonathan “Silenx” Huntington, even though it’s not working out too great for them. In the first round of the VCT Qualifier, they already flunked out after two 11-13 maps against Carpe Noctem.

At least they have an excuse, but the rest should really have made the jump to the first Challengers Stage. TSM lost out to XSET, even though they at least made it to a close 13-15 scoreline on the last map. T1 were defeated by Andbox, who in doing so made their way to the event themselves. Cloud9 succumbed to Immortals and have apparently not yet compensated for the loss of Tyson “TenZ” Ngo.

Even though it obviously hurts fans to not see some of their most favorite faces at VCT Challengers, these eight qualifying teams more than deserve their place there. Immortals and Envy may be leading the pack, but Sentinels will attempt to reclaim the throne. Without TSM standing in their way, they might actually be able to do this.