Acend and G2 contested the grand final while Fnatic and Liquid fell short of the EMEA Challenges Playoffs spot.
VCT Europe Stage 3 EU Challengers 1 Results
Four slots for the EMEA Challengers Playoffs were available in the inaugural European Challengers Main Event of Stage 3 en route to Valorant Masters Berlin.
The four teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs this time around were sent to the Challengers 2 Main Event. However, only two spots for the EMEA Challengers Playoffs are guaranteed there, unlike the four on offer here.
Team Liquid and Fnatic fail to live up to expectations
The two European behemoths were the only representatives of the EMEA area at Masters Reykjavík. Despite this, both teams missed their first opportunity to qualify for the EMEA Challenger Playoffs: Team Liquid lost to Fnatic in the upper bracket quarterfinals. Though they then defeated Team BDS in a 2-0 sweep in the lower bracket, FPX proved to be too much for the skilled Liquid team, as they were eliminated from the tournament early after 13:9 defeats on Haven and Ascent.
On the other hand, Fnatic was relegated to the Lower Bracket after suffering a loss to Guild Esports in the upper bracket semifinals. Next, they faced G2 in a rematch, looking to put the 2-0 setback behind them and avenge themselves this time around. After a 13:9 setback on Icebox, the teams played out an exceptionally extended game Haven. Fnatic was defeated by G2 Esports in a 2-0 sweep after ten rounds of overtime, costing them a chance to qualify for the EMEA Challengers Finals.
G2 qualifies for Challengers Playoffs in surprise showing
G2’s revamped Valorant team was extremely strong coming into this Challenger event. Still, an early defeat to FunPlus Phoenix caused them to drop to the lower bracket, but this didn’t stop them from making it all the way to the finals. Clean sweeps over GG Thunder and Fnatic were followed by vengeance on FPX before they edged past Guild Esports with a scoreline of 3-2, eventually falling to Acend in the grand finals.
G2’s performance, although coming in second place, was more than commendable: they demonstrated a return to their 2020 form by beating Fnatic, FPX, and Guild. This Challengers 1 Main Event provided the ideal opportunity for them to prove the critics wrong.
