Valorant Champions Seoul Groups: Can Fnatic, Gen.G Retain Regional Dominance?

Valorant fans rejoice! With the dust settled after Leviatán’s thrilling victory over G2 Esports at the VCT Americas Stage 2 grand finals, Riot Games has unveiled the highly anticipated groups for Valorant Champions Seoul, taking place August 1st to 25th.

Clash of the Titans: A Look at Each Group

The 16 qualified teams have been divided into four groups, each boasting a representative from the four major Valorant regions: EMEA, Pacific, Americas, and China. Let’s delve into each group and analyze the potential showdowns:

Group A: Fnatic Poised for Top Seed, DRX Vying for Second

Fnatic (EMEA Champions)
DRX (Pacific 2nd Seed)
KRÜ Esports (Americas 3rd Seed)
BiliBili Gaming (China 4th Seed)

Group A features Fnatic, the reigning VCT 2024 EMEA champions. Looking at their strong performance this split and a respectable fourth-place finish at last year’s Valorant Champions, Fnatic is the clear favorite to secure the group’s top seed. DRX, the South Korean powerhouse, shouldn’t be underestimated. Their consistent Top 3 and Top 6 finishes in the 2022 and 2023 editions, respectively, solidify them as contenders for the group’s second seed.

Group B: Sentinels vs. Gen.G – A Rematch Brewing

Gen.G Esports (Pacific Champions)
FunPlus Phoenix (China 2nd Seed)
Team Heretics (EMEA 3rd Seed)
Sentinels (Americas 4th Seed)

Group B promises fireworks right from the start, with a rematch between VCT Masters Madrid champions Sentinels and VCT Masters Shanghai champions Gen.G. Adding spice to the mix, Team Heretics, who defeated FunPlus Phoenix in Shanghai, will face their Chinese rivals once again. Predicting a clear favorite is difficult, but based on their recent form, Gen.G looks strong for the top seed. The battle for second place promises to be a tight race between Team Heretics, Sentinels, and FunPlus Phoenix.

Group C: Leviatán Leads the Pack, Newcomers Look to Impress

Leviatán (Americas Champions)
Team Vitality (EMEA 2nd Seed)
Trace Esports (China 3rd Seed)
Talon Esports (Pacific 4th Seed)

While Leviatán’s impressive Top 8 finish in 2022 makes them the group’s favorite on paper, the stage is set for an upset. All other teams in Group C – Team Vitality, Trace Esports, and Talon Esports – will be making their Valorant Champions debut in Seoul. This group presents a golden opportunity for newcomers to make a name for themselves on the international stage.

Group D: A Battle for Supremacy

EDward Gaming (China Champions)
G2 Esports (Americas 2nd Seed)
Paper Rex (Pacific 3rd Seed)
FUT Esports (EMEA 4th Seed)

Group D promises to be the most hotly contested. EDward Gaming, last year’s Top 6 finisher, has struggled internationally this season, making their path to dominance uncertain. G2 Esports, the sole Ascension team in the competition, will face a formidable challenge against last year’s grand finalists, Paper Rex. The opening match between EDward Gaming and the Turkish squad FUT Esports will be one to watch.

With the stage set and the groups revealed, Valorant fans can now gear up for an epic three weeks of competition. Will established powerhouses like Fnatic and Gen.G maintain their regional dominance, or will newcomers rise to the occasion and claim their share of the spotlight? Only time will tell!