Listed below are our predictions for the upcoming VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff
The Americas Kickoff will deliver 11 of the most effective groups within the area to compete for 2 issues: spots within the upcoming Masters and factors to safe Champions 2024. There have been plenty of roster modifications within the OFF//SEASON. Due to this fact, your favourite groups final 12 months could face early elimination whereas new names make waves on the occasion.
After contemplating all of the roster modifications within the area and the previous efficiency of all of the groups, listed below are our official predictions on the match winners, favorites and underdogs.
VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff Predictions: Winner
We’re going with NRG because the Americas League winner because of the roster members’ abilities alone.
Nrg
Austin “crashies” Roberts
Victor “Victor” Wong
Max “Demon1” Mazanov
Ethan “Ethan” Arnold
Jimmy “Marved” Nguyen
Chet “Chet” Singh (Coach)
Apart from Champions 2023, NRG did fairly nicely final 12 months with three members from the previous OpTic core. Though they’re going to compete this season with out famend IGL Pujan “FNS” Mehta within the squad, there are robust new additions that may deliver NRG their first S-tier trophy.
We expect NRG to place up an amazing present with two former Evil Geniuses gamers on the roster. Demon1 was the MVP of Champions 2023 and in addition one among our greatest gamers of 2023. Ethan, alternatively, was additionally the most effective Initiator participant we noticed final 12 months. Lastly, we do not want a lot introduction about Marved, who was a part of the previous OpTic core and is taken into account to be probably the greatest Controller gamers on this planet.
Together with these three, there’s the legendary Victor-crashies duo. Beneath Chet’s teaching, this roster has the potential to dominate this season not solely in North America but additionally in worldwide occasions.
VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff Predictions: Different Favorites
Apart from NRG, LOUD, and Sentinels are our different favorites to safe the highest 3 spots on the occasion.
LOUD
Felipe “Much less” Basso
Matias “Saadhak” Delipetro
Cauan “cauanzin” Pereira
Arthur “tuyz” Vieira
Gabriel “qck” Lima
Pedro “peu” Lopes (Coach)
Though the Brazilians have parted methods with their star participant, Erick “aspas” Santos, we expect this roster remains to be able to hovering the skies. Whereas LOUD confronted some disappointing ends in 2023’s Masters Tokyo, they nonetheless have a few of the most outstanding Valorant gamers, together with Much less, who proved himself to be one of the crucial constant gamers on this planet.
qck is the brand new addition, who was an unbelievable Duelist in Furia final 12 months. Whereas his information should not as unbelievable because the participant he is changing, we expect him to get significantly better underneath Sadhaak.
We’re predicting LOUD to be one of many high three groups in Kickoff. It is possible that we could not see the identical dominating kind that the Brazilians had in 2023’s Americas League, however they continue to be one of many high canines of the area.
Sentinels
Zachary “zekken” Patrone
Bryan “pANcada” Luna
Gustavo “Sacy” Rossi
Tyson “TenZ” Ngo
Mouhamed “johnqt” Ouarid
Jordan “Zellsis” Montemurro (Substitute)
Adam “kaplan” Kaplan (Coach)
After tasting glory in 2021, this North American group has been struggling to impress in each regional and worldwide occasions. Nevertheless, their latest victory within the AfreecaTV Valorant League towards dominating forces like Paper Rex has proven an indication of hope as they step into the Americas League.
TenZ has been extra snug in supporting roles like KAY/O and Omen, and zekken has persistently confirmed himself to be a rare Duelist. Champions winners Sacy and pANcada’s potential is unmatched as a consequence of their immense expertise. Lastly, johnqt’s IGLing abilities have already come to fruition within the AfreecaTV occasion, and his time in M80 has additionally been nothing wanting spectacular.
Zellsis, their substitute, may doubtlessly proceed enjoying within the place of pANcada as he has been displaying nice kind in latest OFF//SEASON tournaments. General, they’ve a strong roster the place every member has a sea of expertise.
VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff Predictions: Darkish Horses
These squads haven’t gained main trophies but, however they’ve the potential to deliver big upsets within the upcoming battle:
Leviatán
Francisco “kiNgg” Aravena
Corbin “C0M” Lee
Roberto “Mazino” Bugueño
Erick “aspas” Santos
Ian “tex” Botsch
Agustin “Nozwerr” Ibarra (Substitute)
Alex “goked” Kie (Coach)
Final 12 months, Leviatán did fairly nicely within the early weeks of the Americas League however could not safe any wins within the Playoffs. In the event that they had been to proceed with the identical roster, we might’ve predicted that they’d have a brief journey this season. Nevertheless, the group introduced some nice additions that may deliver significant outcomes of their journey.
First up, we’ve got aspas, who has arguably been the most effective Jett participant within the final two years. He alone has the power to deliver significant outcomes to the squad. Furthermore, he’s accompanied by the 2023 Champions winner, C0M, whose efficiency final 12 months allowed EG to have the most effective Cinderella story in Valorant. These two members, alongside proficient present gamers, are going to be a powerful drive on this competitors.
G2 Esports
Jonah “JonahP” Pulice
Michael “neT” Bernet
Jacob “valyn” Batio
Trent “trent” Cairns
Nathan “leaf” Orf
Josh “JoshRT” Lee (Coach)
G2, previously The Guard, confirmed plenty of potential and consistency in tier 2 Valorant. Furthermore, with former Cloud9 Duelist leaf on the roster, this group has the power to deliver large upsets now that they are going to be dueling the tier 1 contenders of the world.
VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff Predictions: Early Exits
We’re predicting these groups to get eradicated early from the Group Stage:
KRÜ Esports
Nicolás “Klaus” Ferrari
Marco “Melser” Machuca
Angelo “keznit” Mori
Nicolás “mta” González
Fabian “Shyy” Usnayo
Jorge “Atom” Noriega (Coach)
The Latin People had a disappointing, winless run at VCT Americas final 12 months, and nobody anticipated them to carry out nicely within the LCQ. Nevertheless, they shockingly confirmed their most interesting type of the 12 months on the Americas LCQ, successful all the pieces to clinch their Champions spot. Nonetheless, their ends in worldwide competitions remained poor.
Though this group shocked everybody within the LCQ final 12 months, their total efficiency all year long was lower than common, and we’re predicting them to be crushed by the giants of the Americas.
MIBR
João Pedro “jzz” Silva
Leandro “frz” Gomes
Matheus “RgLM” Rodigoli
Arthur “artzin” Araujo
Matheus “mazin” Araújo
Daniel “fRoD” Montaner (Coach)
Matheus “bzkA” Tarasconi (Coach)
Having fRoD and bzkA as coaches on the identical group is a superb signal of hope. Nevertheless, MIBR lacks world-class gamers who can take the squad to nice lengths. We want to see this squad deliver some upsets on the occasion on account of having two of the most effective coaches within the area, but it surely’s going to be difficult towards a few of the robust groups.
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