VALORANT Champions Tour 2023: Masters Tokyo shall be Valorant’s second international worldwide this 12 months. Following the conclusion of regional leagues, rival groups are set for a brawl for a second time this season.
Masters Tokyo will characteristic double the prizepool of its predecessor VCT LOCK//IN Sao Paulo, sitting at $1,000,000 USD.
As is a convention, we put our Energy Rankings ahead per week forward of the occasion. Let’s set some expectations and provides our predictions to you.
VCT Masters Tokyo Energy Rankings
1. LOUD
Loud are the undisputed favorites to take the highest spot in Masters Tokyo. The workforce are the reigning 2022 Valorant Champions, and have constantly confirmed themselves this 12 months, securing 2nd place within the 2023 VCT LOCK//IN Sao Paulo, and just lately dominating the Americas League. LOUD managed to complete the common season within the Americas League virtually undefeated, 8-1, and later went on to additional show their dominance with a 3-0 end in opposition to NRG within the grand closing to assert first place.
2. Fnatic
Fnatic come a detailed second place as they have been the perfect workforce on the planet earlier within the 12 months, taking down LOUD 3-2 within the VCT LOCK//IN Sao Paulo within the finals to assert the highest spot. While Fnatic were very strong and managed to play constantly within the EMEA League, scoring an ideal 9-0 end within the common season, the workforce fumbled their grand closing recreation, shedding 1-3. Whereas Fnatic are definitely a powerful workforce, it’s attainable their psychological could also be misplaced after breaking their longtime successful streak.
Supply: @Fnatic | Twitter
3. Crew Liquid
Crew Liquid had a tough begin to the VCT EMEA League however shortly recovered because the competitors progressed. This was anticipated because the workforce signed two high tier superstars, nAts and Redgar, who needed to settle into not solely a brand new workforce however a very completely different area. With Crew Liquid having discovered their type by just lately taking down Fnatic within the finals within the EMEA League playoffs and ending first, Liquid are set to be a powerful international contender.
4. NRG Esports
Just like Crew Liquid, NRG had a shaky begin to the Americas League which led many to initially doubt them. This was but once more anticipated as NRG fully remade their roster round star participant s0m. The workforce shortly improved, recording a powerful string of 2-0 wins within the later half of the common season, together with giving LOUD their solely lack of the season.
5. DRX
Whereas DRX are within the group stage, they rank over Paper Rex as a result of their total distinctive efficiency within the 2023 VCT Pacific League. DRX have been capable of end the common season with solely a single defeat, 8-1. The workforce had additionally completed high 4 within the VCT LOCK//IN Sao Paulo and have proved themselves to be one of many strongest contenders globally.
Supply: @DRX_VS | Twitter
6. Paper Rex
Paper Rex have nice potential, however has demonstrated to be extremely inconsistent regardless of typically having robust home efficiency. Internationally, PRX completed within the backside half of the 2022 Valorant Champions occasion, and have been knocked out within the first match of the VCT LOCK//IN Sao Paulo, ending 17-32nd. Domestically, the workforce ended the Pacific League common season solely behind DRX with a 7-2 file, however later went on to defeat DRX within the grand finals in a particularly shut better of 5, ending of their favor 3-2.
7. Natus Vincere
Following a serious roster overhaul, many continued to doubt NAVI early within the 12 months given the workforce’s lack luster efficiency in 2022. Nonetheless, NAVI proved doubters improper by taking wins in opposition to high forces like Kru Esports, Crew Secret and Leviathan within the VCT LOCK//IN Sao Paolo, earlier than being knocked out by Fnatic to complete within the high 4. The workforce additionally carried out strongly within the EMEA League, ending a decent 7-2, however had fumbled final minute with again to again losses within the playoffs
8. Evil Geniuses
Evil Geniuses had initially been written off at the beginning of the VCT Americas League as a result of their sub-par efficiency, dropping video games to numerous low to mid tier groups.
EG barely certified to playoffs, with many anticipating them to drop out early on as a result of their powerful opponents to return. Surprising followers all throughout the Americas League, they have been capable of make quite a few achievements within the playoffs. The workforce in opposition to all odds managed to take down NRG within the higher bracket quarterfinals earlier than sweeping Cloud 9 2-0 within the semifinals, and occurring to take a map in opposition to LOUD, giving the eventual champions their solely map loss within the playoffs. Evil Geniuses clearly have robust potential, and with Demon1’s “bald buff”, who is aware of what the workforce can obtain subsequent.
9. FUT Esports
FUT have been beforehand the highest workforce within the 2022 Valorant Regional Leagues Finals and had completed within the higher half of the LOCK//IN in Sao Paolo. The workforce has additionally demonstrated to be a constant higher mid-tier pressure within the EMEA League, with distinct wins and losses with no main upsets going both method. The workforce additionally most notably knocked out Natus Vincere within the EMEA League playoffs, a high contender for in league.
10. Edward Gaming
EDG had constantly been a high Chinese language Valorant workforce with high 2 finishes in varied home occasions since 2022. This consists of their latest first place end within the FGC Valorant Invitational 2023: Act 2, the place the managed to roll their opponents Bilibili Gaming within the grand finals 3-0. Nonetheless, regardless of being robust domestically, they’ve struggled in opposition to worldwide competitors, successfully inserting final in each the 2022 Valorant Champions and 2023 VCT LOCK//IN Sao Paolo.
Supply: @EDG_Edward | Twitter
11. T1
T1 are a good workforce within the Pacific League however are clearly weaker in contrast the opposite extra distinguished groups like DRX and Paper Rex. Whereas they did give a problem to DRX within the playoffs stage of the latest 2023 VCT Pacific League, bringing it to the total better of 5, the workforce had constantly dropped video games in opposition to the highest groups. Whereas constant, their lack of success in opposition to the perfect groups paint a poor outlook for the workforce in a contest that gathers solely the perfect groups internationally.
12. ASE
Whereas ASE have been capable of take down EDG for the highest spot within the FGC Valorant Invitational 2023: Act 1, their latest third placement within the following FGC Valorant Invitational 2023: Act 2, and lack of expertise within the international stage locations them at an obstacle in comparison with different groups.
Learn subsequent: VCT Masters Tokyo - Schedule, Teams & Info
