Following the conclusion of the VCT Masters Madrid and the presentation of Clove, Valorant fans are looking forward to what the players can do with the game's first non-binary agent.
Out of the four top-flight regional divisions in Valorant's competitive circuit, the VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 will be the first one to kick off. Here's everything you need to know about the first split of the season!
Format
The format for the VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 will be slightly different to the one seen in the VCT 2024 EMEA Kickoff.
Group Stage
The eleven teams in the competition have been split into two groups called Group Alpha and Group Omega according to their performances during Kickoff. Therefore, the Kickoff winners Karmine Corp have been placed in Group Alpha, while Team Heretics have been placed in Group Omega.
Each group also includes one Kickoff semifinalist, one of the two teams that were eliminated in the Play-In, a team that didn't finish at the bottom of their group stage, and one or two rosters who finished in last place of their group stage.
Each group will follow a single round-robin format with BO3 matches. After that, the best three sides from each group will move to the double-elimination playoff as follows:
- 1st seeds: The first seed from each group will move to the Upper Bracket Semifinals.
- 2nd and 3rd seeds: The second and third seeds from each group will move to the Knockout Round.
Playoffs
While the first seeds wait in the Upper Bracket Semifinals, the second seed from Group Alpha will play against the third seed from Group Omega and vice versa.
The two winners of the Upper Bracket Semifinals will meet in the Upper Bracket Final and will become the first two sides to qualify for the VCT Masters Shanghai. Meanwhile, the third VCT Masters Shanghai spot will be given to the Lower Bracket Semifinal winner.
All the playoff matches will follow a BO3 format except for the Lower Bracket Final and the Grand Final, which will be a BO5 series.
Dates
The VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 will kick off on Apr. 3 and will run until May 12. Unfortunately, the official calendar for the first split of the season hasn't been unveiled yet. All of the matches will be played in Berlin, Germany, at the Riot Games Arena.
Teams
Here's a brief look at all of the teams competing in the VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1:
Karmine Corp
Karmine Corp was one of the big upsets of the VCT 2024 EMEA Kickoff. Since the roster's defeat against Team Heretics in the group stage, the French powerhouse has looked unstoppable in their home region. After the team's victories against Fnatic and the Spanish organization, Karmine Corp unexpectedly took EMEA's first seed to compete in the VCT Madrid Master.
Unfortunately for them, the roster couldn't make the Top 4 in Madrid as the team's initial 2-0 victory against FunPlus Phoenix was followed by defeats against Sentinels and Paper Rex. Now, Karmine Corp's next goal is to qualify for Shanghai.
Fnatic
Fnatic missing out on the VCT Masters Madrid was something not many fans saw coming. After the team's 2-0 victory against Team Vitality in the group stage, the orange brand lost to Karmine Corp as the French powerhouse upset the Valorant Champions 2023 Top 4 roster.
Despite not playing in Madrid, Spain, Fnatic decided to not make any roster changes as the last one dates back to Nov. 2022, when the team signed Timofey "Chronicle" Khromov. Now, the Europeans are one of the favorites to qualify for the VCT Masters Shanghai.
Team Vitality
Team Vitality's inconsistency during the early stages of the season has been met with regional disappointment. Their win against Gentle Mates was followed by a defeat against Fnatic and a second victory against the French roster.
Eventually, Team Vitality's defeat against Karmine Corp was followed by a flawless victory against Movistar KOI, which was not enough to see the bees moving to the regional playoff.
Team Liquid
Historically, Team Liquid is one of the region's powerhouses. The Blue Cavalry won the VCT 2023 EMEA League, qualified for the VCT Masters Tokyo, and competed in the Valorant Champions 2023.
However, since the additions of Georgio "Keiko" Sanassy and James "Mistic" Orfila, Team Liquid has looked inconsistent. The team's initial victory against Movistar KOI in the Kickoff was followed by a flawless defeat against Natus Vincere and a tight loss against the Spanish organization.
Despite missing out on the VCT Masters Madrid, the Blue Cavalry should be expected to finish among the best three sides in Group Alpha after having played together for almost five months now.
BBL Esports
BBL Esports is the Cinderella of Group Alpha. Fans don't expect much from the Turkish side considering the caliber of the rest of the teams in the group.
Coming from a Kickoff stage where they only played two matches, which ended in defeats against Natus Vincere and Movistar KOI, BBL Esports will have to make some real progress in order to move to the playoffs.
Team Heretics
Team Heretics were the big surprise of the season alongside Karmine Corp after the Spanish organization qualified for their home event, the VCT Masters Madrid.
The black roster looked completely unstoppable in their initial matches in the Kickoff as they ran over FUT Esports and the eventual regional champions, Karmine Corp. After beating Natus Vincere in the playoffs, Team Heretics clinched a spot to compete in the VCT Masters Madrid.
Unfortunately, Heretics couldn't deliver in Madrid as they lost against Paper Rex and Sentinels by 1-2 scores, who ended up finishing in third and first place, respectively.
Natus Vincere
Natus Vincere was one match away from qualifying for the VCT Masters Madrid as an unbeaten group stage run was followed by a 0-2 defeat against Team Heretics.
The yellow and black roster, who competed in the Valorant Champions 2023, are one of the favorites to top the standings of Group Omega.
Movistar KOI
Although Movistar KOI's new roster had a great start to the Kickoff stage, the Spanish organization lost it in the Play-in phase as they couldn't win a single map. Eventually, KOI finished the Play-in phase with a round difference of -26 in only four maps played.
Now, the Spanish organization will have a second chance to qualify for an international competition as they will try to sneak into the group's Top 3.
FUT Esports
The Valorant Champions 2023-bound didn't have a good start to the season as they couldn't qualify for the VCT Masters Madrid.
Potentially, both FUT Esports and Movistar KOI will play for the third spot in Group Omega, with Team Heretics and Natus Vincere being the favorites to take the first two seeds.
Gentle Mates
The Ascension winners will make a debut in the VCT EMEA 2024 League after a very brief first top-flight appearance in the Kickoff stage. So far, the French squad has only played against Team Vitality, with both games ending in defeats.
GIANTX
While GIANTX's finished at the bottom of the standings of their Kickoff group after losing their two matches, much could have gone differently for them as both games ended in 1-2 scores — against FUT Esports and the eventual Kickoff champions Karmine Corp.
The Valorant Champions 2023 bound could become the tournament Cinderella in what's probably the weakest group in the tournament.
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