This victory sent the Americas top seed down to the lower bracket final.

THE VCT CN KINGS ARE MOVING ON!

EDWARD GAMING IS HEADED TO THEIR FIRST GRAND FINALS IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION! #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/yEQFJbItxF

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 23, 2024

The series kicked off on Icebox, a map that LEVIAT��N had favoured, having won their last three matches on it, all in overtime.

LEVIAT��N, starting on defence, dominated the first half, taking nine rounds, largely thanks to Roberto “Mazino” Francisco Rivas Bugue?o��s strong performance on Harbor.

Despite EDG’s efforts, particularly in planting the spike seven times, they only secured one round in the first half.

However, EDG mounted a strong comeback in the second half, winning six consecutive rounds.

The teams were neck and neck until LEVIAT��N finally clinched a 16-14 victory in triple overtime, maintaining their unbeaten streak on Icebox.

EDG responded on their map pick, Lotus, with a dominant performance.

Starting on attack, they quickly established control, finishing the half with an 8-4 lead.

The second half saw more of the same, with EDG securing a 13-4 victory.

Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang, EDG��s star player, showcased his skills with Neon, while Zhang “Smoggy” Zhao led the server with 19 kills.

The final map, Abyss, was a nail-biter.

The first half ended in a 6-6 tie, and both teams fought fiercely in the second half.

EDG trailed 10-7 before calling their final timeout, after which they managed to tie the game at 11-11.

In the end, EDG closed out the map 13-11, earning their place in the grand finals, marking the first time a Chinese team has reached an international VALORANT grand final.

LEVIAT��N will now face the winner of the lower final between Team Heretics and Sentinels.

Team Heretics advanced to the lower finals by defeating Sentinels 2-1 in their elimination match at the INSPIRE Arena.

LOS NI?OS KEEP THEIR #VALORANTChampions DREAMS ALIVE IN SEOUL!

TEAM HERETICS TAKE DOWN SEN CITY! #VamosHeretics pic.twitter.com/k6EXebk6Wk

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 23, 2024

In the Heretics and Sentinels match, Sentinels started strong on Haven, with Tyson “TenZ” Van Ngo leading the charge with 29 kills, securing a 13-8 victory.

Heretics bounced back on Icebox, winning 13-9 after a strong second half led by Ri?ardas “Boo” Luka?evi?ius.

The deciding map, Abyss, saw Heretics dominate with an 8-4 lead at halftime, eventually closing out the map 13-7.

Enes “RieNs” Ecirli and Dominykas “MiniBoo” Luka?evi?ius played crucial roles in securing Heretics�� victory and a spot in the lower finals against LEVIAT��N.

The lower final will determine who faces EDG in the grand final, with LEVIAT��N looking to avenge their earlier loss and Team Heretics aiming for a chance at the title.

The grand final is set for Sunday at 4pm KST.

VALORANT Champions lower final

• Leviatan ($2.00) vs Team Heretics ($1.72) @ 4pm KST

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Once again, EDward Gaming have exceeded expectations at the season-culminating event. Now guaranteed a top-three finish, the Chinese VALORANT team have looked solid with wins against FUT Esports, Paper Rex, Trace Esports, and Sentinels. Yet their most formidable challenge comes on Friday.

Leviatan were one of the favourites on the outright betting markets, and they have lived up to that tag. The VCT Americas champions had a few close calls in the group stage, but they have found more consistency as the tournament has progressed.

EDward Gaming are no pushovers, with a strong map pool, and are more than capable of putting up a fight against any VALORANT team. That might not be enough to surpass the surging Leviatan, but we can expect a close series.

Team Heretics and Sentinels made it to the VALORANT Champions 2024 lower-bracket semifinals with a few close calls. Heretics have dropped five maps over five series played, while Sentinels have let four slip.

However, both sides have put in solid performances, beating some of the tournament favourites. The North Americans, in particular, have exceeded expectations, proving how much damage an experienced lineup can do. Yet the best VALORANT betting sites still have Sentinels priced as outsiders for this series.

Team Heretics have a stronger win rate on Abyss, Lotus, and Haven, whereas Sentinels have proved more efficient on Split, Icebox, and Sunset. And as there is no significant difference in the players’ stats this tournament, another tight fixture is to be expected.

Depending on the map picks, Sentinels might be worth a look at plus money.

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This was the fourth international meeting between the two teams, with Sentinels leading the head-to-head record heading into the second round lower bracket clash.

The elimination match was played across Sunset, Bind, and Lotus.

Sentinels chose Sunset, Fnatic picked Bind, and Lotus served as the decider.

The opening map, Sunset, saw Fnatic take a commanding 8-4 lead at halftime, thanks to solid team play and superior post-plant setups.

However, Sentinels’ IGL, Mohamed “johnqt” Amine Ouarid, made pivotal mid-game adjustments, enabling a strong comeback.

They edged out Fnatic 13-11 on the back of johnqt’s standout performance, where he led the server with 23 kills.

Fnatic responded on Bind, their map pick, dominating their attack half to secure a 13-9 victory.

Their execution on the B site in Round 20 was particularly impressive, leaving Sentinels’ economy in shambles for the remainder of the map.

The decider on Lotus was a more one-sided affair, with Sentinels controlling both halves.

Their clean attack led to an 8-4 halftime lead, and they swiftly closed out the map 13-6.

Despite Fnatic’s attempts to mount a comeback, they couldn’t overcome Sentinels’ economic and strategic advantage.

Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev finished with the most kills in the series at 61, but it wasn’t enough to keep Fnatic’s Champions campaign alive.

Sentinels now advance to the lower bracket semifinals at INSPIRE Arena, where they will face Team Heretics, who stunned DRX in another intense elimination series.

THE LOWER BRACKET RUN IS ON FOR SEN CITY!

SENTINELS LOCK IN TOP 4 AT #VALORANTChampions SEOUL! pic.twitter.com/3QCr8mr0yF

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 18, 2024

Team Heretics vs. DRX was a clash of two teams undergoing roster turmoil throughout 2024.

Heretics entered Champions with momentum, despite their challenges, while DRX, on home soil, sought redemption.

The map veto slightly favoured Heretics, and the series began on Abyss, where DRX looked strong, winning 13-5 after a dominant defensive showing.

Heretics bounced back on Sunset, tying the series 1-1 with a commanding 13-5 victory of their own.

Their ability to suffocate DRX’s offence, combined with well-executed defensive strategies, set the stage for a thrilling decider on Icebox.

Icebox was a back-and-forth affair, but Heretics ultimately prevailed 13-10.

They capitalized on DRX’s weakened economy and used their ultimates effectively to secure the final rounds.

Heretics’ standout player, Dominykas “MiniBoo” Luka?evi?ius, topped the server in rating (1.30), kills (59), average combat score (260), and ADR (165), helping his team achieve a 2-1 victory and a top-four finish at their first Champions appearance.

TEAM HERETICS SURVIVES!

THEY ARE GOING TO THE INSPIRE AT #VALORANTChampions SEOUL! pic.twitter.com/HHy6nRYz41

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 18, 2024

Now, Heretics and Sentinels will face off in the lower semifinal.

Both teams have been Masters finalists this year, but only Sentinels have claimed an international title.

This rematch of their earlier clash at Masters sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown, with a spot in the lower bracket final on the line.

Meanwhile, DRX’s home tournament ended in disappointment, as they were eliminated in the top six, mirroring their previous Champions performance.

VALORANT Champions will continue on Friday, August 23, with EDward Gaming and Leviatan kicking off the day in the upper bracket final before Sentinels and Team Heretics play off for the right to take on the loser in the lower bracket final.

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This match marked the first-ever showdown between the two regional giants, both of whom had won their previous playoff matches with a 2-0 scoreline.

The winner would clinch their first top-three finish at a Champions event.

HISTORY FOR EDWARD GAMING!

THEY DEFEAT SENTINELS AND EARN THEIR HIGHEST PLACEMENT IN GLOBAL COMPETITION! #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/yYLthQu7gK

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 17, 2024

EDG kicked off the series on Haven with a pistol-round win but quickly fell behind as Sentinels responded with a dominant seven-round streak.

Tyson “TenZ” Van Ngo spearheaded Sentinels’ attack with a stunning 17 kills in the first half, propelling his team to an 8-4 lead.

Although EDG showed signs of life, including a strong showing by Hsieh “S1mon” Meng-hsun, Sentinels closed out Haven 13�C9.

While both Zachary “zekken” Jude Patrone and Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang recorded 23 kills, zekken��s 9-1 first blood record had a greater impact.

The momentum shifted on Lotus, where Sentinels took an early lead, but EDG clawed back to tie the half 6-6.

EDG gained control in the second half, leading 10-6 after securing the pistol and bonus rounds.

Although Sentinels fought back, EDG’s strong A-site defence helped them take the map 13�C9, forcing a decider on Sunset.

Sunset turned out to be the most lopsided map of the series, with EDG dominating the first half 10-2, focusing heavily on B post-plants.

They closed out the map 13-6, thanks to Wan “CHICHOO” Shunzhi��s impressive 23 kills, 333 ACS, and a 1.72 rating.

EDG��s victory secured them the first-ever top-three placement for a Chinese team at a global VALORANT event.

Sentinels now face FNATIC in the lower bracket in a rematch of their VCT Masters Reykjavik grand final.

LEVIAT��N CLAIMS THEIR SPOT IN THE UPPER BRACKET FINALS BY DEFEATING TEAM HERETICS! #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/PdD6ddSutj

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 17, 2024

In the second upper semifinal, Americas’ top seed, LEVIAT��N, swept Team Heretics 2-0 to advance to the upper final against EDG.

LEVIAT��N started strong on Icebox with a 7-1 lead but had to fend off a fierce comeback from Heretics to win the map 15-13 in overtime.

On Lotus, Heretics led 8-4 at halftime, but LEVIAT��N stormed back, winning seven straight rounds to secure a 13-10 victory.

LEVIAT��N will face EDward Gaming in the upper final, while Team Heretics drops to the lower bracket to face DRX.

Sunday’s VALORANT Champions fixtures

• Sentinels ($2.10) vs Fnatic ($1.66) @ 5pm KST
• Team Heretics ($1.53) vs DRX ($2.37) @ 8pm KST

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The two-map series was contested on Sunset and Haven, with Sentinels picking Sunset, DRX picking Haven, and Icebox as the decider, which wasn’t needed.

SENTINELS WIN THEIR FIRST PLAYOFF MATCH OF #VALORANTChampions SEOUL! pic.twitter.com/1brgBzRMIc

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 14, 2024

Sunset, the first map, was a nail-biter, ending 15�C13 in Sentinels’ favour.

DRX found a five-round streak to reach map point at 12-11 after being down 11-7, but Sentinels narrowly clinched the map in overtime.

One of the standout moments was Zachary “Zekken” Jude Patrone’s VALORANT Champions Tour debut on Neon, where he delivered a stunning ace in the first half, his first in international competition this year.

Zekken dominated the map with a 27-23 scoreline and eight first-bloods, outdueling DRX’s Yu “BuZz” Byung-chul, who also played Neon.

Despite the victory, DRX head coach Pyeon “termi” Seon-ho noted that his team could have won if they had remained calm in key moments.

The loss of a 5v3 in the final rounds of regulation highlighted the tense nature of the match.

Haven, the second map, saw Zekken again on Neon.

DRX’s defence initially held strong, winning six rounds on a map typically considered attack-sided.

However, Sentinels’ defensive reads proved crucial, particularly in their ability to hold A site.

A flawless Round 19, featuring a triple kill from Zekken, brought Sentinels to match point.

They quickly closed out the map 13-8, with DRX’s Jung “Foxy9” Jae-sung admitting that hopes faded when they were down 7-12 with only one player remaining against Sentinels’ four.

Sentinels’ head coach kaplan commented on the similarities between Gen.G and DRX, noting their structured playstyles and preference for repeating strategies.

Zekken finished with a server-leading 54 kills across the two maps, while DRX’s Cho “Flashback” Min-hyuk led his team with 39.

When asked about his Neon pick, Zekken jokingly attributed it to “feeling really Filipino today,” adding that the team had been preparing Neon for some time and was confident in using her.

EDWARD IS GAMING!

EDG WINS THE BATTLE OF CN AT #VALORANTChampions SEOUL! pic.twitter.com/yJP3p0XHem

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 14, 2024

EDward Gaming, after defeating Trace Esports 2-0, joined Sentinels in the next stage of the VALORANT event.

EDG’s victory was powered by standout performances from Wang “nobody” Senxu, Zhang “Smoggy” Zhao, and Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang, with each player securing over 30 kills across the two maps.

EDG’s dominance on Bind and Sunset, including ZmjjKK’s ace on Sunset, led to comfortable halftime leads of 10-2 on both maps.

Despite a spirited comeback attempt from Trace Esports on both maps, EDG closed out Bind 13-7 and Sunset 13-10.

EDG’s standout performances included nobody’s 1.60 rating and 206 ADR on Bind and ZmjjKK’s 28-kill showing on Sunset.

Now, EDward Gaming and Sentinels will face off in the upper semifinals on August 17.

EDG, aiming to break past the top six for the first time in their history, will be looking to overcome Sentinels, who are on a three-match win streak, including victories over both of Korea’s representatives, Gen.G and DRX.

Thursday’s VALORANT Champions fixtures

• G2 Esports ($1.72) vs Leviatan ($2.00) @ 5pm KST
• Team Heretics ($1.66) vs Fnatic ($2.10) @ 8pm KST

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Sentinels enter the VALORANT Champions 2024 playoffs with a huge target on their back after the North American squad eliminated the tournament favourites, Gen.G, on Saturday. Like Sentinels, DRX also exceeded expectations by beating KRU Esports and Fnatic in Group A.

VALORANT betting sites have priced Sentinels as favourites for this series. That may be down to their humiliation of Gen.G, who DRX have not beaten once since VCT Pacific 2024 Stage 1.

However, while Sentinels performed well in the previous round, it was more Gen.G not playing as well as they should have. Moreover, DRX are better on Abyss and Sunset and usually do well on Sentinels’ best maps. So, unless we see a complete blunder from one of the two sides, this has the potential to be a close affair.

EDward Gaming and Trace Esports both shocked the world by reaching the VALORANT Champions 2024 playoffs. Yet the spotlight is on VCT China’s fourth seed, who were prime candidates to crash out of the group stage but instead placed first with wins against Leviatan and Team Vitality.

Like Trace, EDward Gaming made a massive splash by beating FUT Esports and Paper Rex. And according to the latest betting odds, they should win this series without major issues.

Wang “nobody” Senxu and his crew are 3-0 in the head-to-head with Trace Esports, which plays into the odds on this match. Still, the underdogs have shown immense improvement over the last couple of weeks, so it is hard to justify fading them at the offered price.

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Sentinels redeemed themselves in a decisive 2-0 sweep against FPX, securing their spot in the group B decider match.

SEN CITY LIVES TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY! #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/DQMMNCdi3D

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 8, 2024

Coming off a tough 2-0 loss to Gen.G, Sentinels were determined to bounce back against FPX, who themselves had narrowly lost to Team Heretics in a thrilling 2-1 series.

FPX’s pick of Bind, where they had previously excelled with a unique Yoru and Chamber composition, initially looked promising as they took an 8-4 lead in the first half.

However, Sentinels made key adjustments, and they rallied to win nine consecutive rounds, closing out the map at 13-8.

Zachary “zekken” Jude Patrone led the charge with 20 kills, and Kale “Autumn” Dunne was the only player from FPX who could match his performance.

On Lotus, Sentinels continued their momentum, exploiting FPX’s unconventional composition, which lacked a duelist.

FPX struggled to break Sentinels’ defensive setups, allowing Sentinels to secure a dominant 9-3 half.

Zekken and Tyson “TenZ” Van Ngo were the stars of the show, with TenZ contributing 19 kills to help Sentinels finish the map 13-5.

With this victory, Sentinels eliminated FPX and advanced to a rematch against Gen.G for a spot in the playoffs.

KR�� Esports also delivered a commanding performance, eliminating Bilibili Gaming with a 2-0 victory.

KR��’s map veto favoured them, forcing Bilibili to play on weaker maps.

Despite Bilibili taking an early lead on Lotus, KR��’s resilience showed as they turned the tide with a near-flawless second half to close out the map 13-9.

Fabian “Shyy” Patricio Usnayo’s triple kill in the final round was crucial in securing KR��’s victory.

Moving on to Bilibili’s pick, Icebox, KR�� dominated from the start, with Nicol��s “mta” Gonz��lez and Angelo “keznit” Mori leading the charge.

Despite Bilibili’s efforts to adapt, KR��’s aggressive playstyle proved too much, and they wrapped up the map with a decisive 13-4 scoreline.

KR��’s victory set them up for a high-profile rematch against Fnatic, a team they famously defeated at Champions 2021.

For both Sentinels and KR�� Esports, these victories were vital in keeping their tournament hopes alive.

Sentinels will face Gen.G in a do-or-die match, while KR�� will look to continue their run against Fnatic.

KR�� KEEPS THEIR #VALORANTChampions DREAMS ALIVE! pic.twitter.com/8xiyQEUW7p

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 8, 2024

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Sentinels had a very tough start to VALORANT Champions 2024, as they had to face the top team in the world, Gen.G, and lost in two maps. FunPlus Phoenix did not have it much easier, as they lost to Team Heretics in overtime.

FunPlus Phoenix showed more than expected against Team Heretics, although the latter side did not perform at 100% on the day. As such, it is fair to question whether FunPlus Phoenix are actually good.

Sentinels, with their roster, should not be losing games like this. But as FunPlus Phoenix proved in Shanghai and last week, they can hang with the best. Expect a close series.

Bilibili Gaming kicked off their tournament run with a 0-2 loss against Fnatic; however, they showed a pulse on Bind, where the VCT China representatives won nine rounds. Lotus was much more one-sided, but it is not like Bilibili have ever been good on that map.

Bilibili Gaming do not have to worry about Lotus for this series, as it is one of their opponents’ weakest maps, along with Abyss — as shown in KRU Esports�� defeat against DRX in the opening series.

VALORANT betting sites have KRU as big favourites for this match. But based on the teams�� performances in the first round, it is easy to believe Bilibili Gaming can leave a dent in VCT Americas�� fourth seed.

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Gen.G dominated a gallant Sentinels squad in the opening series of the event, while Team Heretics and FunPlus Phoenix played out a nail-biting contest.

For the tournament��s opening match, Gen.G, playing on home turf, dominated Sentinels in a decisive 2-0 (13-8, 13-7) victory, settling the score after their loss in the VALORANT Champions Tour Masters Madrid grand final.

Revenge taken!

Gen.G wins the rematch vs Sentinels to kick off their #VALORANTChampions run! #GenGWIN pic.twitter.com/WjyINxMOS1

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 1, 2024

The Korean squad��s aggressive playstyle and impeccable teamwork proved too much for the North American giants.

In particular, Kim “t3xture” Na-ra, the Gen.G duelist, was a standout performer, pushing Sentinels to their limit throughout the series.

Sentinels were unable to win their pick on Haven, and Gen.G, known as the world’s best team on Ascent, proved way too good on their choice.

Kim “Meteor” Tae-o secured a 1v3 clutch in the first round on defence, setting the tone for the match on Haven.

Gen.G showcased excellent retakes and individual heroics, flipping crucial rounds in their favour.

T3xture ended the game with a KDA of 24/12/4 and an average combat score (ACS) of 305 and led his team to victory.

Sentinels tried a team composition with Deadlock and Cypher on Ascent but struggled against Gen.G’s coordinated attack.

The VALORANT esports rookie sensation, Kim “Karon” Won-tae, secured a remarkable 4K with a sheriff in the second round before going on to lead his team to a 13-7 victory.

Gen.G’s victory sets them up to face Team Heretics in the upper bracket, while Sentinels will face FunPlus Phoenix in a must-win lower bracket match.

If the first match was a showcase of dominance, the second was a masterclass in resilience and determination as Team Heretics and FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) engaged in a thrilling battle that showcased their highest level of gameplay.

Heretics won on Abyss with a scoreline of 14-12 in overtime, with both teams trading early rounds on the newest addition to the map pool.

Enes “RieNs” Ecirli finished with the highest rating of 1.53, 202 ADR, and a +16 differential.

The Turkish-born rifler led his team with 28 kills, including a standout 4K with the guardian.

FPX returned serve with a 13-9 victory on Bind, ending the map with three straight round wins to end Heretics’ late comeback.

FPX dominated with a double-controller and Chamber-based composition, taking an 8-4 lead and eventually winning 13-9.

Both teams traded 6-6 halves to send the final map of Lotus to overtime before Heretics clinched the map 15-13.

RieNs continued his dominant form and ended the series with a server-high 1.34 rating and +27 kill/death differential across the three maps.

Team Heretics walk away with the series win against FPX at #VALORANTChampions Seoul! #VamosHeretics pic.twitter.com/tHihcenhnu

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 1, 2024

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It is no surprise that Gen.G are outright title favourites on VALORANT betting sites. They placed second at VCT 2024 Masters Madrid, won in Shanghai, and ended the season with VCT 2024 Pacific Stage 2 title.

That is admirable, but it��s fair to question whether Gen.G should be priced at $1.36 to win this bout. Also, they recently started banning Sunset, which used to be their best map, indicating a lack of confidence in their pool.

Sentinels have not won as much this season, but they��ve only struggled at the final hurdles and have done relatively well domestically. But while Sentinels�� results don��t look excellent, this is still a very experienced roster, and they dominated the opposition in their only international tournament this season. This is a winnable match for Sentinels.

FunPlus Phoenix are one of the lowest-rated teams travelling to South Korea, but they have done well in the past international tournaments. Notably, FPX barely missed the playoffs in Shanghai, with two close defeats against the eventual finalists — Team Heretics and Gen.G — and placed top eight at VCT 2024 Masters Madrid.

Team Heretics are one of the most consistent VALORANT Champions Tour teams of the season, with two silver medals from VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 and Masters Shanghai and a third-place finish in Stage 2. Heretics slowed down a bit in the final stage, but that can be attributed to the fatigue of the long season.

FunPlus Phoenix are no pushovers, but Team Heretics should prove to be too much to handle for the Chinese squad.

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