In a surprising turn of events, Sentinels, the victors of the Masters in Madrid, have failed to qualify for the upcoming VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Masters in Shanghai after falling short in the group stage of VCT Americas.
The Americas phase of the VCT kicked off on April 8, following their conquest at the international Masters event held in Madrid earlier this year. This phase serves as the battleground to determine the American representatives at the Masters in Shanghai, China.
Each victory holds significance as the top three teams not only secure spots at the next international tournament but also accumulate points towards the VALORANT Champions Tour. Like other regions, America will field four clubs: three from performance in the second phase and one via points accumulation, making this stage pivotal.
Leviatán Triumphs Over KRÜ Esports
The VCT Americas regular season concluded with Leviatán securing a hard-fought victory over KRÜ Esports in a closely contested 1-2 match, preventing the ex-footballer Sergio Agüero’s team from ending undefeated.
The series began with Leviatán’s stellar performance on Ascent from the defensive side, establishing a commanding lead in the first half, resulting in a 4-13 scoreline.
Breeze witnessed a nail-biting encounter, nearly ending 2-0 until KRÜ rallied as defenders, forcing an overtime where they emerged victorious with a 14-12 score. The battle on Lotus was equally intense until the team led by Alex “goked” Kie secured four attacking rounds to seal the 10-13 victory.
Sentinels’ Unexpected Downfall
Sentinels, who clinched the Masters in Madrid, found themselves out of contention for Shanghai after failing to advance from the group stage. Despite their 2-0 victory against FURIA Esports in the final round, Sentinels needed two additional factors: NRG and G2 Esports losing and having a negative round differential.
Both scenarios unfolded as 100 Thieves and LOUD emerged victorious, but for Tyson “TenZ” Ngo’s squad, it was too little, too late. G2 secured the third playoff spot by a slim two-round differential over NRG.
LOUD’s victory also carried significance for Brazilian VALORANT, as the 2022 world champions secured a playoff spot in the final week. With a win against G2, they salvaged pride for a nation that saw two of its representatives exit without a victory, leaving Evil Geniuses as a collateral casualty.
Week’s Results
- Sentinels 2-0 FURIA Esports
- NRG 0-2 100 Thieves
- KRÜ Esports 1-2 Leviatán
- Cloud9 2-0 MIBR
- G2 Esports 0-2 LOUD
VCT Americas Playoffs Schedule
The VCT Americas playoffs follow a single-elimination format followed by a double-elimination bracket. Teams start in the upper bracket and, if defeated, have a second chance in the lower bracket.
- May 8
- First Elimination Round: Cloud9 vs G2 Esports, 23:00
- May 9
- Second Elimination Round: 100 Thieves vs LOUD, 20:00
- First Upper Bracket Semifinal: KRÜ Esports vs Winner of Cloud9-G2, 23:00
- May 10
- Second Upper Bracket Semifinal: Leviatán vs Winner of 100 Thieves-LOUD, 02:00
- Upper Bracket Final at 23:00
- May 11
- Lower Bracket Semifinal at 02:00
- Lower Bracket Final at 23:00
- May 12
- Grand Final at 23:00
The time has finally come. Here's your #VCTAmericas Mid-Season Playoffs schedule!
Which teams will seal their tickets to #VALORANTMasters Shanghai, and who will take the lead as the champions? Don't miss it from May 8-12th! pic.twitter.com/Bo0FajGCyq
— VALORANT Esports NA (@valesports_na) May 6, 2024
Standings
Despite uneven group sizes, only the top three teams from each group secure spots in the VCT Americas playoffs. Beyond this, clubs on the podium advance to the next international VALORANT tournament. The division into Alpha and Omega groups does not prevent clubs from facing off against those from the opposite group.
Group Alpha
- KRÜ Esports: 5-1
- Cloud9: 5-1
- G2 Esports: 3-3
- NRG Esports: 3-3
- Sentinels: 3-3
Group Omega
- Leviatán: 4-1
- 100 Thieves: 3-2
- LOUD: 2-3
- Evil Geniuses: 2-3
- FURIA Esports: 0-5
- MIBR: 0-5
Conclusion
The VCT Americas playoffs promise intense matchups as teams vie for spots in the prestigious VALORANT Champions Tour. Despite Sentinels’ unexpected exit, the stage is set for thrilling battles and unforeseen outcomes in the quest for glory and international recognition. Stay tuned for gripping action and pivotal moments as the tournament unfolds.
For updates and highlights from the VCT Americas playoffs, stay tuned to the official VALORANT channels and broadcasts.