Day one of many first worldwide VALORANT occasion of the 12 months saw comebacks and stomps—and day two might be set to observe in its footsteps.
The VCT LOCK//IN event continues at this time with Karmine Corp set to face off in opposition to FunPlus Phoenix whereas DRX will play BBL Esports and Cloud9 will tackle Paper Rex. Three of those groups can be despatched dwelling whereas the opposite three will proceed within the single-elimination Alpha bracket.
Listed below are my predictions for at this time’s matches on the VCT LOCK//IN event.
Karmine Corp vs. FunPlus Phoenix
I’m not going to faux I do know every little thing concerning the Chinese language groups coming into this occasion—I don’t suppose the vast majority of the gamers know a lot, both. Regardless of this, we now have some related outcomes to go off in the case of the caliber of the area.
EDward Gaming, who had been taken down by FunPlus Phoenix within the FGC VALORANT invitational event in December, took half in Champions 2022, probably the most prestigious occasion on the calendar. They’d a fairly tight sport in opposition to Paper Rex however had been ultimately defeated 2-1. In opposition to Liquid, it obtained dicey within the second map, however EDG had been defeated 2-0.
The issue is that we’re speaking about FPX, not EDG. Each groups look comparatively comparable on paper when it comes to talent degree, however we’ve by no means seen FPX on the worldwide stage, which is quite a bit completely different than regional matchups.
Karmine Corp, however, has one of the crucial recognized and prolific fraggers in FPS esports historical past in ScreaM, who really took up the in-game chief function for his crew. I don’t count on them to make it deep into the event, however this needs to be a win for them.
Karmine Corp has each ScreaM and Nivera, two gamers who’ve competed on the highest degree in VALORANT, whereas Ryad “SHIN” Ensaad was introduced in from the earlier KCorp iteration. He appeared strong contemplating he was taking part in a bunch of various brokers.
Former MAD Lions participant xms is on the KCorp roster, too, and he hard-carried his former crew. On the final event he competed in, the VRL France: Revolution – Stage Two, he had the very best score of any participant with a 1.32 and a good 250.9 common fight rating, in accordance with VLR.gg. I count on xms to be on the forefront of the roster’s firepower.
The blue wall is nothing to scoff at, they usually’ve obtained an honest roster to cheer for. I count on KCorp to take this match.
George’s prediction: 2-0 Karmine Corp
BBL Esports vs. DRX
DRX have loads of eyes on them at this occasion. They appear to solely lose in opposition to worldwide opponents and repeatedly dominate the APAC area. In spite of everything, the roster is the birthchild of the notorious Imaginative and prescient Strikers crew.
They should carry out nicely to interrupt by means of the ultimate hurdle that has stored them from a global trophy since their inception. Do I count on this to occur on the largest worldwide VALORANT event ever held? Perhaps.
DRX have a comparatively straightforward begin to the event, all issues thought-about. BBL Esports are fairly center of the pack within the EMEA area with mediocre outcomes. In the event that they had been arising in opposition to Crew Liquid, Natus Vincere, or Fnatic, I might’ve felt completely different.
BBL Esports had been defeated by Giants final November as their most up-to-date match. Alternatively, DRX took half within the ONE Professional Invitational event in December and gained each their matchups in opposition to DetonatioN FocusMe and ZETA Division.
I count on BBL Esports to place up a battle however I don’t see them taking a victory in opposition to among the finest groups on this planet.
Early prediction: DRX will bomb out of this event after the second or third spherical and go on to win Masters Tokyo later this 12 months in June. I do know, fairly daring, proper? Followers from throughout the globe can most likely share my sentiment, they should present they will hold with the easiest.
Nonetheless, I count on DRX to take first blood, on the very least.
George’s prediction: 2-0 DRX
Cloud9 vs. Paper Rex
Now, that is the large one. Right here’s a matchup that may see among the finest groups in North America come up in opposition to among the finest from APAC.
Cloud9 have some excessive expectations contemplating the group acquired one of the best participant on this planet on the time, yay, alongside Zellsis, who was among the finest initiator gamers on the time underneath Sentinels and Version1.
Paper Rex, however, have the identical core that’s dominated the APAC area and got here inches away from taking Masters Copenhagen in opposition to FunPlus Phoenix final 12 months.
On paper, you’d suppose that C9 are the higher crew. However Paper Rex are one of many groups that you just don’t need to underestimate underneath any circumstances, as a result of they’ve a novel fast-paced playstyle, one which yay has said makes Paper Rex “unpredictable.”
I’ll say that if C9 lose this match, I wouldn’t be stunned. Paper Rex are an extremely robust opponent to face in your opening sport. Paper Rex’s final matchup in opposition to a North American crew was OpTic Gaming at Masters Copenhagen in July 2022. They gained this match 2-1.
I’m simply saying, these guys are scary. For this reason I’m predicting the primary main upset of the event to be Paper Rex transferring ahead within the occasion with a victory in opposition to C9.
