The VALORANT Champions tournament kicked off with a bang as Group B, often touted as the toughest of them all, lived up to the hype. One match was a dominant display of skill and strategy, the other a nail-biting affair that pushed the limits of both teams.
For the tournament’s opening match, Gen.G, playing on home turf, dominated Sentinels in a decisive 2-0 victory, settling the score after the VCT Masters Madrid grand final loss. The Korean squad’s aggressive playstyle and impeccable teamwork proved too much for the North American giants. In particular, T3xture, the Gen.G duelist, was a standout performer, pushing Sentinels to their limit time and time again. And despite their reputation as a global VALORANT powerhouse, the NA team found themselves on the back foot throughout the series.
If the first match was a showcase of dominance, the second was a masterclass in resilience and determination as Team Heretics and FunPlus Phoenix engaged in a thrilling battle that showcased their highest level of gameplay.
Abyss—making its debut on the international stage—-set the tone for the whole match as both teams traded rounds blow for blow, forcing the map into overtime. TH ultimately emerged victorious, but the match was far from over. FPX bounced back on Bind, demonstrating their ability to adapt and execute a different strategy through an unconventional agent composition that fielded Chamber. FPX’s decision to run Chamber on Bind was a strategic choice based on successful practice, as the team would later say during the post-match press conference.
The decider map, Split, was another nailbiter, with both teams pushing each other to their limits; in the end, TH prevailed. Their victory sets up a highly anticipated clash against Gen.G—a rematch of the Masters Shanghai Grand Final—with a spot in the upper bracket and a crucial step towards the playoffs on the line. Looking ahead, TH are eager to face Gen.G, a team they describe as the “most consistent” and “strongest” in the world. However, the EMEA representatives are confident in their ability to avenge their loss at Masters Shanghai.
Meanwhile, Sentinels and FPX will face each other in a must-win match in the lower bracket of Group B, as defeat would mean elimination from the tournament. The road to the championship is long and arduous, but fans can look forward to it if it’s going to be as entertaining all the way as its first day was.
