Team Heretics pulled off a huge upset to eliminate Sentinels to move to the next round.
The competition is at its peak at the VALORANT Champions 2024, with the top four teams brawling it out with all they’ve got for a chance to move forward to the Grand Finals on Friday (23 August).
In the upper bracket, EDward Gaming (EDG) faced off against Leviatán in the Upper Bracket Finals, battling for the first spot in the grand finals.
Meanwhile, a fierce showdown erupted in the Lower Bracket Semifinals as Team Heretics clashed with Sentinels, both teams fighting to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Both matchups were nailbiters, with EDG emerging victorious 2-1, and Team Heretics pulling off a 2-1 upset against tournament favourites Sentinels securing their place in the grand finals on Sunday (25 August).
Both EDG and Leviatán were on a rampage throughout the playoffs, defeating their opponents in the upper bracket to make it to the Upper Bracket semifinals.
Meanwhile, Sentinels and Team Heretics dropped to the lower bracket after losing against EDG and Leviatán, respectively, in the upper bracket semifinals.
Then both teams survived in the lower bracket quarterfinals with Team Heretics winning against DRX 2-1, and Sentinels demolishing Fnatic 2-1 to make it to the lower bracket semifinal.
Here’s how the matches went:
EDG Defeats Leviatán 2-1 to Reach Grand Finals
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LeviatánThe matchup between EDG and Leviatán was a nail-biter from start to finish. EDG emerged victorious with a 2-1 series win, securing their place in the grand finals set for Sunday, August 25th.
The series kicked off on Icebox, where Leviatán took an early lead with a strong 9-3 offensive performance in the first half. However, EDG mounted a comeback in the second half, mirroring Leviatán’s scoreline and pushing the game into overtime. Despite EDG's momentum, Leviatán held firm, winning the overtime rounds 2-1 to take the map 16-14.
EDG responded fiercely on Lotus. Leviatán struggled to keep pace, managing only four offensive wins in the first half, while EDG’s defence secured eight rounds. The second half saw EDG’s Zheng "ZmjjKK" Yongkang shine with a game-changing Neon pick, dominating the map and leading EDG to a 13-4 victory, forcing a third map decider.
The final map, Abyss, was a tightly contested battle. Both teams were neck and neck in the first half, ending at 6-6. The second half continued the intense back-and-forth, but EDG managed to edge out Leviatán, securing the map 13-11 and winning the series 2-1. With this victory, EDG advances to the grand finals, while Leviatán moves to the Lower Bracket Finals for one last shot at the title.
Team Heretics upset Sentinels 2-1
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SentinelsIn the Lower Bracket Semifinals, Team Heretics pulled off a stunning 2-1 upset against tournament favourites Sentinels, keeping their championship dreams alive.
Sentinels started strong on Haven, taking a 7-5 lead on offence in the first half. They continued their momentum in the second half, closing out the map with a 13-8 win, thanks in large part to Tyson "TenZ" Ngo’s incredible 29 kills.
On Icebox, Team Heretics did all they could to bounce back. Despite trailing 5-7 on defence in the first half, they dominated the second half, securing an 8-2 victory and winning the map 13-9. Riens, a key player for Team Heretics, delivered clutch plays, helping his team tie the series 1-1.
The decider on Abyss saw Team Heretics tak
Tyson “TenZ” Ngoe control early, leading 8-4 on offence in the first half. Sentinels, on the other hand, unfamiliar with the map except in scrims, struggled to find their footing.
Team Heretics capitalised on this, winning the second half 5-3 and securing the map 13-7. Riens once again stepped up, playing a crucial role in their victory.
With this win, Team Heretics advance to the Lower Bracket Finals, where they will face Leviatán for a spot in the grand finals against EDG.
Sentinels, on the other hand, have been eliminated from the tournament in fourth place, taking home US $130,000.
