All twelve teams competing in the VCT 2024: Masters Shanghai have been confirmed. Who's ready for rumble?
With the conclusion of VCT Split 1, all twelve teams for the VALORANT Champions Tour 2024: Masters Shanghai have been confirmed. Three teams from each region of VCT will compete for the all-important three VCT points and a $1,000,000 prize pool.
With the Champions' date nearing, every VCT point becomes more critical by the day. Due to the new regulations from the VCT, all twelve teams will need the points to secure their spot in the VALORANT Champions 2024.
So, who are the twelve teams attending the VCT 2024: Masters Shanghai? What's their story coming into the tournaments?
VCT Americas: 100 Thieves, G2 Esports, Leviatan
VCT Americas was one of the most unpredictable regions coming into Shanghai. The three teams were 100 Thieves, G2 Esports, and Leviatan. Besides 100 Thieves, which looked strong but surprisingly missed the Masters Madrid, the two other teams proved they shouldn't be an afterthought.
Newly promoted G2 Esports was one of the best examples of this. The signing of Icy proved to be a masterstroke for the team. While the score didn't look too menacing in the group stage, only amassing a 3-3, they felt confident with their Agent picks and decision-making. A respectable runner-up finish was a great sign for the future.
On the other hand, Leviatan has been a team to watch since the arrival of C0M. With aspas also coming in before the start of the season, Leviatan looked very promising to be one of the powerhouses in the VCT Americas. However, they didn't realise that potential in the Kickoff series. When Stage 1 started, however, they proved their capabilities.
Last but not least was the Champion, who arguably had one of the best performances in the Grand Final of VCT Americas, 100 Thieves. The team with the most hype behind it as they brought Boostio to their lineup, filling their needed leadership to the team. With that gap filled, the team could perform at its maximum potential.
VCT EMEA: Fnatic, Team Heretics, FUT Esports
Perhaps the one region with three of the most expected teams to perform in the league. Fnatic, Team Heretics, and FUT Esports are the three that are attending Masters Shanghai. Fnatic was just their usual class act, while the other two teams give little insight regarding Turkish VALORANT as the next significant region.
Is EMEA Fnatic, or is Fnatic EMEA? That was the question as they represented the region once again. They proved once again that they are the best in the area. After getting dropped by Team Heretics to the lower bracket, Boaster and the team returned and got revenge on the Grand Final.
The following two teams were a great example of how much the Turkish VALORANT scene has improved. FUT Esports is a team consisting of all-Turkish players who, for the second year in a row, brought their A game in clutch moments like VALORANT Champions 2023 and 2024 Masters Shanghai qualification.
Meanwhile, Team Heretics was one of the favourites to proceed to the Masters based on their performance in Masters Madrid, and they didn't disappoint. The team again dominated the VCT 2024 EMEA: Stage 1, not losing any maps until the very last day, when they narrowly missed the trophy and three crucial VCT Points.
VCT Pacific: Paper Rex, Gen.G Esports, T1
Paper Rex, Gen.G Esports, and the tournament's surprise, T1, will represent VCT Pacific in the upcoming VCT 2024: Masters Shanghai. Two teams were the usual suspects for going to the Masters and representing the Pacifics; however, that's not the case for T1, who missed narrowly in the Kickoff league.
Paper Rex, with the return of Jinggg, shows what they can do when reaching their full potential. Not to throw Monyet under the bus, who just joined Rex Regum Qeon, but Paper Rex with Jinggg is a different breed of monster. His unpredictability was the key to the team's extremely successful performance in VCT Champions 2023 and Stage 1 2024.
Gen.G Esports was the most improved team in the new season, with a completely new Lineup besides Meteor after missing the VCT Champions 2023. The new squad looked impressive during the Kickoff, placing first in the league and taking runner-up in Masters: Madrid. In Stage 1, Gen.G still looked dominant, only narrowly losing to Paper Rex in a 3-2 loss.
One of the surprises of the tournament was how T1 performed this year. Including f0rsaken's older brother and former CS: GO pro, Xccurate to the team, T1 performed admirably, losing only to the Grand Finalist in the playoff. They are undoubtedly the dark horse of the Masters.
VCT China: EDward Gaming, FunPlus Phoenix, Dragon Ranger Gaming
The newest region and, possibly, the most unpredictable teams, performance-wise, in the upcoming Masters. EDward Gaming, FunPlus Phoenix, and Dragon Ranger Gaming were the representatives of VCT China in VCT 2024: Masters Shanghai. The three brought a sense of uncertainty to the tournament with their aggressive setup and unique strategy known only to the wackiest.
EDward Gaming's name, without a doubt, was the most popular in the region. This popularity came because no one can predict which player will rise to the occasion. Every series will be a guessing game of which one will amaze the crowd with their clutch play. On the flip side, this unpredictability has bit the team's hand repeatedly.
FunPlus Phoenix was the Yin of EDG's Yang. They are the usual suspect of representing China in the VCT scene since the VCT Champions 2023. Maintaining their Kickoff roster while adding Guigui was the key to their success in the league. They shut their opponent in the group phase, took down EDG twice in the league, and eased to the Grand Final before losing 3-1 to EDward Gaming.
Perhaps the underdog and the most unpredictable team of the tournament, Dragon Ranger Gaming was a new team in the VCT 2024 season, coming from Ascension 2023. vo0kashu has already shown why he is one of the players to look out for in the VCT 2024: Masters Shanghai from his VCT China Stage 1 performance.
