This victory marks their fourth grand final appearance of the year, having previously reached the finals in Shanghai and EMEA Stage 1.

LOS NI?OS GET THEIR REVENGE!

TEAM HERETICS DEFEATS LEV AND CLAIMS THEIR SPOT IN THE GRAND FINALS! #VALORANTChampions #VamosHeretics pic.twitter.com/T0qVKFFBZq

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 24, 2024

The best-of-five series was fought on Icebox, Sunset, Abyss, and Lotus, with Icebox and Abyss being Leviatán’s picks, and Sunset and Lotus chosen by Team Heretics.

Heretics started strong, winning Icebox 13-7 despite Leviatán’s confidence on this map, which had been a cornerstone of their recent success.

Dominykas “Miniboo” Luka?evi?ius led the charge for Heretics with 19 kills, setting the tone for the series.

Sunset was a nail-biter, going into overtime after Leviatán clawed their way back from an 8-4 deficit.

Heretics, however, managed to secure the map 15–13, thanks to standout performances from Miniboo and Enes “RieNs” Ecirli, who contributed 22 and 25 kills, respectively.

Leviatán found some redemption on Abyss, where they executed a strong defensive strategy to win 13-9, showcasing their resilience.

Roberto “Mazino” Francisco Rivas Bugue?o’s exceptional utility usage and Corbin “C0M” Daniel Lee’s flanks were key in this map, giving Leviatán hope for a reverse sweep.

However, Lotus proved to be the decisive map.

Heretics delivered a crushing 13-3 victory, dominating the first half with an 11-1 scoreline.

RieNs once again shone, finishing with a series-high 1.22 rating and 68 kills overall, further bolstering his case for rookie of the year.

Leviatán’s campaign ended in third place, falling short of the grand finals despite their strong performances throughout the year.

Their hopes of a second Champions title for Erick “aspas” Santos and C0M were dashed, but they can take pride in being the highest-placed team from the Americas region.

For Team Heretics, this victory sets up a rematch with EDward Gaming in the grand final.

The last time these two teams met was in the playoffs of Masters Shanghai, where Heretics secured a 2-0 victory.

Sunday’s grand final, set to take place at INSPIRE Arena at 4pm KST, will determine whether Heretics can finally claim a title after three runner-up finishes this year.

Heretics’ coach, Neil “neilzinho” Finlay, acknowledges the challenge ahead, noting that EDward Gaming has improved significantly since their last encounter.

As both teams prepare for the ultimate showdown, the stage is set for an epic conclusion to 2024 VALORANT season.

A must-watch series!

See you soon for the Grand Finals of #VALORANTChampions Seoul! pic.twitter.com/XgVKufvigN

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 24, 2024

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This victory sent the Americas top seed down to the lower bracket final.

THE VCT CN KINGS ARE MOVING ON!

EDWARD GAMING IS HEADED TO THEIR FIRST GRAND FINALS IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION! #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/yEQFJbItxF

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 23, 2024

The series kicked off on Icebox, a map that LEVIATáN had favoured, having won their last three matches on it, all in overtime.

LEVIATáN, starting on defence, dominated the first half, taking nine rounds, largely thanks to Roberto “Mazino” Francisco Rivas Bugue?o’s strong performance on Harbor.

Despite EDG’s efforts, particularly in planting the spike seven times, they only secured one round in the first half.

However, EDG mounted a strong comeback in the second half, winning six consecutive rounds.

The teams were neck and neck until LEVIATáN finally clinched a 16-14 victory in triple overtime, maintaining their unbeaten streak on Icebox.

EDG responded on their map pick, Lotus, with a dominant performance.

Starting on attack, they quickly established control, finishing the half with an 8-4 lead.

The second half saw more of the same, with EDG securing a 13-4 victory.

Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang, EDG’s star player, showcased his skills with Neon, while Zhang “Smoggy” Zhao led the server with 19 kills.

The final map, Abyss, was a nail-biter.

The first half ended in a 6-6 tie, and both teams fought fiercely in the second half.

EDG trailed 10-7 before calling their final timeout, after which they managed to tie the game at 11-11.

In the end, EDG closed out the map 13-11, earning their place in the grand finals, marking the first time a Chinese team has reached an international VALORANT grand final.

LEVIATáN will now face the winner of the lower final between Team Heretics and Sentinels.

Team Heretics advanced to the lower finals by defeating Sentinels 2-1 in their elimination match at the INSPIRE Arena.

LOS NI?OS KEEP THEIR #VALORANTChampions DREAMS ALIVE IN SEOUL!

TEAM HERETICS TAKE DOWN SEN CITY! #VamosHeretics pic.twitter.com/k6EXebk6Wk

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 23, 2024

In the Heretics and Sentinels match, Sentinels started strong on Haven, with Tyson “TenZ” Van Ngo leading the charge with 29 kills, securing a 13-8 victory.

Heretics bounced back on Icebox, winning 13-9 after a strong second half led by Ri?ardas “Boo” Luka?evi?ius.

The deciding map, Abyss, saw Heretics dominate with an 8-4 lead at halftime, eventually closing out the map 13-7.

Enes “RieNs” Ecirli and Dominykas “MiniBoo” Luka?evi?ius played crucial roles in securing Heretics’ victory and a spot in the lower finals against LEVIATáN.

The lower final will determine who faces EDG in the grand final, with LEVIATáN looking to avenge their earlier loss and Team Heretics aiming for a chance at the title.

The grand final is set for Sunday at 4pm KST.

VALORANT Champions lower final

• Leviatan ($2.00) vs Team Heretics ($1.72) @ 4pm KST

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Once again, EDward Gaming have exceeded expectations at the season-culminating event. Now guaranteed a top-three finish, the Chinese VALORANT team have looked solid with wins against FUT Esports, Paper Rex, Trace Esports, and Sentinels. Yet their most formidable challenge comes on Friday.

Leviatan were one of the favourites on the outright betting markets, and they have lived up to that tag. The VCT Americas champions had a few close calls in the group stage, but they have found more consistency as the tournament has progressed.

EDward Gaming are no pushovers, with a strong map pool, and are more than capable of putting up a fight against any VALORANT team. That might not be enough to surpass the surging Leviatan, but we can expect a close series.

Team Heretics and Sentinels made it to the VALORANT Champions 2024 lower-bracket semifinals with a few close calls. Heretics have dropped five maps over five series played, while Sentinels have let four slip.

However, both sides have put in solid performances, beating some of the tournament favourites. The North Americans, in particular, have exceeded expectations, proving how much damage an experienced lineup can do. Yet the best VALORANT betting sites still have Sentinels priced as outsiders for this series.

Team Heretics have a stronger win rate on Abyss, Lotus, and Haven, whereas Sentinels have proved more efficient on Split, Icebox, and Sunset. And as there is no significant difference in the players’ stats this tournament, another tight fixture is to be expected.

Depending on the map picks, Sentinels might be worth a look at plus money.

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This match marked the first-ever showdown between the two regional giants, both of whom had won their previous playoff matches with a 2-0 scoreline.

The winner would clinch their first top-three finish at a Champions event.

HISTORY FOR EDWARD GAMING!

THEY DEFEAT SENTINELS AND EARN THEIR HIGHEST PLACEMENT IN GLOBAL COMPETITION! #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/yYLthQu7gK

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 17, 2024

EDG kicked off the series on Haven with a pistol-round win but quickly fell behind as Sentinels responded with a dominant seven-round streak.

Tyson “TenZ” Van Ngo spearheaded Sentinels’ attack with a stunning 17 kills in the first half, propelling his team to an 8-4 lead.

Although EDG showed signs of life, including a strong showing by Hsieh “S1mon” Meng-hsun, Sentinels closed out Haven 13–9.

While both Zachary “zekken” Jude Patrone and Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang recorded 23 kills, zekken’s 9-1 first blood record had a greater impact.

The momentum shifted on Lotus, where Sentinels took an early lead, but EDG clawed back to tie the half 6-6.

EDG gained control in the second half, leading 10-6 after securing the pistol and bonus rounds.

Although Sentinels fought back, EDG’s strong A-site defence helped them take the map 13–9, forcing a decider on Sunset.

Sunset turned out to be the most lopsided map of the series, with EDG dominating the first half 10-2, focusing heavily on B post-plants.

They closed out the map 13-6, thanks to Wan “CHICHOO” Shunzhi’s impressive 23 kills, 333 ACS, and a 1.72 rating.

EDG’s victory secured them the first-ever top-three placement for a Chinese team at a global VALORANT event.

Sentinels now face FNATIC in the lower bracket in a rematch of their VCT Masters Reykjavik grand final.

LEVIATáN CLAIMS THEIR SPOT IN THE UPPER BRACKET FINALS BY DEFEATING TEAM HERETICS! #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/PdD6ddSutj

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 17, 2024

In the second upper semifinal, Americas’ top seed, LEVIATáN, swept Team Heretics 2-0 to advance to the upper final against EDG.

LEVIATáN started strong on Icebox with a 7-1 lead but had to fend off a fierce comeback from Heretics to win the map 15-13 in overtime.

On Lotus, Heretics led 8-4 at halftime, but LEVIATáN stormed back, winning seven straight rounds to secure a 13-10 victory.

LEVIATáN will face EDward Gaming in the upper final, while Team Heretics drops to the lower bracket to face DRX.

Sunday’s VALORANT Champions fixtures

• Sentinels ($2.10) vs Fnatic ($1.66) @ 5pm KST
• Team Heretics ($1.53) vs DRX ($2.37) @ 8pm KST

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The series, played on Icebox and Abyss, showcased Leviátan’s dominance.

LEVIATáN WINS THE AMERICAS REGIONAL BATTLE TO KICK OFF THEIR PLAYOFF RUN! #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/zTizXvrVEx

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 15, 2024

Icebox, Leviátan’s pick and one of their strongest maps this year, saw them clinch a nail-biting 16-14 win.

Entering the match with a 12-3 record on Icebox, Leviátán faced a challenge from G2, who had previously handed them two of those losses.

G2 started strong on Icebox with a zero-duelist composition, putting Jacob “icy” Lange on Gekko and Nathan “leaf” Orf on Killjoy.

Their in-game leader, Jacob “valyn” Batio, orchestrated an early 5-1 lead.

However, Leviátan’s IGL, Francisco “kiNgg” Alberto Aravena, brought his team back into the game despite being detained by icy’s Gekko Thrash.

G2 managed to avoid the gun of Leviátán’s star player, Erick “aspas” Santos, who ended the map with just one Operator kill.

In a tense finish, Leviátán clinched the map 16-14.

On Abyss, G2’s map pick, Leviátan took control from the start.

Their defence, led by Corbin “C0M” Daniel Lee and kiNgg, dominated, ending the half 8-4 in their favour.

Leviátan won the pistol round on attack, and G2’s puzzling decision to abandon the map didn’t pay off, allowing Leviátan to secure an 11-4 lead.

From there, they cruised to a 13-5 victory, sweeping the series 2-0.

Despite aspas having a quiet series, his teammates shone, guiding Leviátán to victory.

G2’s head coach, Josh “JoshRT” Lee, attributed their performance on Abyss to the close loss on Icebox, stating, “We lost a close one. I could tell the nerves were a little high.”

No G2 player finished with a positive K/D on Abyss.

Ian “tex” Botsch, a former teammate of many G2 players, expressed satisfaction with the win, noting the friendly rivalry with his old team.

C0M led the server with 42 kills and a massive 1.42 rating across the series.

G2’s leaf followed with 38 kills, but it wasn’t enough to stop Leviátan.

TEAM HERETICS COME OUT ON TOP IN THE EMEA REGIONAL SHOWDOWN! #VALORANTChampions #VamosHeretics pic.twitter.com/MILuGmnBBL

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 15, 2024

Team Heretics, in a surprising result, defeated FNATIC 2-0 in the VALORANT Champions 2024 playoffs, setting up a clash with Leviátan in the next round.

Heretics and FNATIC had faced each other four times in 2024 before this Champions clash, with Heretics winning twice.

Fnatic picked Lotus for the first map of the series; however, it backfired in the worst way possible.

Mert “WoOt” Alkan dominated for the Heretics, recording a massive rating of 1.80, 280 average combat score (ACS), and 188 ADR in their 13-3 demolition.

Heretics continued their dominance on Abyss, defeating FNATIC 14-12 in overtime.

Although Heretics won the second map in overtime, only Enes “RieNs” Ecirli finished with a positive kill/death difference (+9) and rating over 1.0 (1.36), with Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev topping the server with a 1.38 rating and 28 kills.

RieNs and Benjy “benjyfishy” David Fish were instrumental in Heretics’ win, which marked their third victory at Champions 2024.

With this win, Team Heretics advanced to play Leviátan, while FNATIC dropped to the lower bracket to face G2 in an elimination match.

The winner of Leviátan vs. Team Heretics will secure a top-three finish at VALORANT Champions 2024.

Friday’s VALORANT Champions fixtures

• DRX ($1.33) vs Trace Esports ($3.25) @ 5pm KST
• G2 Esports ($1.72) vs Fnatic ($2.00) @ 8pm KST

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G2 Esports and Leviatan will face off for the fifth time this VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) season and the first time since Americas Stage 2 when Leviatan won 3-1. However, according to the betting odds, Leviatan will have a tougher time surpassing their regional rivals on Thursday.

The VCT Americas runners-up have looked very good this tournament, beating Paper Rex and EDward Gaming. In contrast, Leviatan managed a second-place finish in Group C with wins against Talon Esports and Team Vitality.

As with most regional derbies, head-to-head records hold a bit more weight than the teams’ form, but we have to show G2 Esports some respect for their past showings. This should be a close match.

Fnatic and Team Heretics know each other very well, as they have faced off three times this season. Their meeting, however, was the VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 finals, when Fnatic bested the VCT 2024 Masters Shanghai runners-up 3-2. Before that, Heretics won twice, both in two maps.

Comparing season-long results, Heretics are the better team and looked stronger during the VALORANT Champions 2024 group stage. This explains why VALORANT betting sites have them priced as favourites. At the same time, Heretics’ only big victory came against Gen.G, who were not in the best shape.

It is hard to find a good reason to fade Fnatic, mainly due to their experience, high ceiling, and strong coaching staff, which makes them a scary team to face when given time to prepare. At even money, it is hard to look past Europe’s No.1 seed.

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Leviatán faced off against Team Vitality in the Group C decider match, with both teams having suffered 2-1 losses to Trace Esports and secured 2-0 wins over Talon Esports.

Leviatán, aiming for their first international VALORANT tournament playoff berth since Champions 2022, showed determination from the start.

Their pick of Icebox was a closely contested battle, with Leviatán edging out a 7-5 lead at the half.

Vitality’s efforts, led by standout performances from Saif “Sayf” Jibraeel and Nikita “trexx” Cherednichenko, brought them to a 12-10 lead.

However, Leviatán, driven by Francisco “kiNgg” Alberto Aravena and Erick “aspas” Santos, rallied to take the map 14–12 in overtime.

kiNgg led the scoreboard with 22 kills and a 229 average combat score (ACS), while trexx delivered 22 kills and 225 ACS for Vitality.

Sunset was a different story, with Leviatán dominating from the start.

A 10-2 first half, bolstered by strong defensive setups and individual plays from Corbin “C0M” Daniel Lee and aspas, set the tone.

Vitality managed to win the second pistol round, but Leviatán quickly closed out the map 13-4, securing a 2-0 series victory.

Roberto “Mazino” Francisco Rivas Bugue?o topped the ratings on Sunset with a 1.45 rating, 169 ADR, and 15 kills, while C0M followed closely with a 1.43 rating and 16 kills.

When asked about their upcoming playoff opponent, C0M confidently stated, “Give us anyone. We’ll beat them.”

Leviatán will look to back up this bold claim when the playoffs begin on August 14 and they clash with G2 Esports.

LEVIATáN SECURES THEIR PLAYOFF SPOT AT #VALORANTChampions SEOUL! pic.twitter.com/NkGd41hAPe

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 11, 2024

In a dramatic clash, EDward Gaming (EDG) overcame Paper Rex 2-1 to secure their place in the playoffs, marking their fourth consecutive appearance in the knockout stage since China’s inclusion in the VALORANT Champions Tour circuit.

This match was the sixth time these two squads faced off, with Paper Rex having won four of the previous five encounters.

The series began on Icebox, where Paper Rex started strong, taking the first map 13-3, thanks to an outstanding performance from Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto, who recorded a massive 1.76 rating and 235 ADR.

However, EDG adjusted swiftly on Sunset, rallying to a 13-8 victory thanks to impressive performances from Wang “nobody” Senxu and Zhang “Smoggy” Zhao, who combined for 34 kills and over 300 ADR.

The decider map, Lotus, saw EDG take control early, punishing Paper Rex’s defensive mistakes and securing a commanding 9-3 lead at halftime.

Despite a brief resurgence from Paper Rex, EDG closed out the map 13-4, sending Paper Rex home and advancing to the playoffs.

Wan “CHICHOO” Shunzhi, reflecting on the victory, noted their ability to quickly adapt after the first map.

“We’ve played Paper Rex so many times that we were able to fix our mistakes on the last two maps,” he said.

Despite expressing a desire to avoid facing fellow Chinese squad Trace Esports, EDward Gaming will now face them in the playoffs.

EDWARD GAMING ELIMINATES PAPER REX TO CLAIM THE FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT! #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/dwIKvoC3xf

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 11, 2024

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UPSETS ARE IN THEIR DNA

TRACE ESPORTS TAKES DOWN LEV TO ADVANCE TO THE PLAYOFFS. #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/zGYHoZpFGX

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 7, 2024

Trace picked Bind and ran a double sentinel composition with Deadlock, while Leviatán used a Gekko variation with Viper, Skye, Raze, and Brimstone.

Starting on attack, Trace won the first pistol round, but Leviatán prevented spike plants, leading to a 7-5 half-time score in favour of Trace.

A classic 3K from Li “Kai” Zhinan confirmed Trace’s second pistol round win, making it difficult for Leviatán to plant the spike.

Despite Leviatán’s late comeback attempt, a fumbled post-plant and a clutch defuse from Zhang “LuoK1ng” Zhanpeng secured the map for Trace.

Leviatán needed to win on their map pick (Sunset) to stay alive, and despite Trace’s strong start with a 5-1 lead, Leviatán adapted quickly, ending the half up 7-5.

Leviatán’s aggressive push into spawn on the second half pistol round didn’t work, but Erick “aspas” Santos’ Neon and a clutch from Ian “tex” Botsch helped them close out the map.

For the decider map (Ascent), Leviatán opted for a double sentinel composition with Deadlock and Cypher, while Trace went with a Killjoy.

Leviatán won the first pistol round but immediately lost the anti-eco.

Kai, playing on Jett, used the operator effectively, pulling Trace ahead to a 10-2 lead at the half.

Despite Leviatán winning the second pistol round, Kai’s operator sealed the map and series for Trace.

Leviatán will now face the winner of Talon Esports vs. Team Vitality for their final chance to qualify for the playoff stage.

G2 Esports defeated EDward Gaming 2-1 (8-13, 13-11 13-11) to advance to the playoffs at the season-ending VALORANT event.

They will now wait for the group stage to finish, with knockouts beginning next week.

This victory guarantees one team from each VALORANT Champions Tour region in the playoffs, with DRX representing Pacific, Team Heretics from EMEA, and Trace Esports redeeming China.

WHAT A PERFORMANCE

G2 IS PLAYOFFS BOUND AT #VALORANTChampions SEOUL! #G2WIN pic.twitter.com/U1JGBLCmTZ

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 7, 2024

G2’s map pick of Icebox began with EDG taking an early lead.

G2 showed resilience in rounds 7 and 8 but couldn’t maintain momentum.

EDG adapted quickly, with Hsieh “S1Mon” Meng-hsun’s quadruple kill anchoring the map win for EDG.

EDG started strong on Haven with a pistol win, but G2 dominated the early half.

EDG stabilised with Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang’s Neon plays, ending the half tied at 6-6.

G2 regained their lead post-break, but EDG responded with a five-round streak.

A clutch from Trent “trent” Cairns and back-to-back triple kills from G2 secured the map win to tie the series.

G2 remained dominant on Bind, starting with a pistol round win on the third and deciding map.

Despite EDG’s efforts, including a well-timed timeout and key plays from S1Mon and Zhang “Smoggy” Zhao, G2’s coordinated defence ended the map and clinched the series.

EDward Gaming will next play on August 11 in the group D decider match for their second chance at playoffs, determining the final team to reach the top eight.

Check out ESB’s free preview and best bets for Thursday’s VALORANT Champions fixtures.

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This triumph came after FunPlus Phoenix and Bilibili Gaming fell to Team Heretics and FNATIC, respectively, marking a significant achievement for Trace Esports in their international VALORANT debut in Seoul, South Korea.

UPSET ALERT: Trace Esports take down Team Vitality on their international debut! #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/XClL1744Md

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 3, 2024

Trace Esports picked Ascent, a map on which they remained undefeated throughout the year.

They started strong, with Lu “Kai” Zhinan consistently finding openings in Vitality’s defence, leading to a 6-1 advantage.

Although Vitality managed to win some rounds, their gameplay remained scrappy.

Saif “Sayf” Jibraeel’s clutch in round eight marked a temporary recovery, but Trace kept Vitality’s economy on the brink, ending the half with a 9-3 lead.

In the second half, Vitality attempted a comeback, winning the round 11 eco and salvaging five rounds.

Despite losing the second pistol round to a Song “FengF” Xuefeng clutch, Vitality forced overtime by winning six of the final seven rounds.

However, Trace regained their momentum in overtime, securing a 15-13 victory.

Vitality chose Sunset, a map both teams were familiar with.

Trace initially looked to pull ahead, but an eco win in round five allowed Vitality to stabilise.

Their strong defence towards the B site and Nikita “trexx” Cherednichenko’s dominant performance (24-8) led to an 8-4 advantage at the half.

Vitality continued their momentum into the second half, winning 13-7.

Both teams had questionable records on Bind, each with a 33% win rate.

Trace’s unconventional composition, including both Cypher and Deadlock, aimed to capitalise on early-round pressure.

Despite Vitality’s initial 5-1 lead, Trace pulled back to a 6-6 half.

On attack, Trace’s quick executions and sentinel holds overwhelmed Vitality, resulting in a dominant 13-7 victory.

Zhang “LuoK1ng” Zhanpeng was a standout performer across all three maps, with 64 kills and 44 deaths.

Leviatán kicks off their #VALORANTChampions run with a clean series win! pic.twitter.com/WE6RbxPfue

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 3, 2024

Leviatán, the reigning VCT Americas champions, relied on heroic plays to secure a 13-11 win on Bind.

Notably, Corbin “C0M” Daniel Lee’s triple kill in round 22 turned the tide.

Talon’s Peter “Governor” No impressed on Neon, leading his team with a 20-17 performance, but Leviatán’s resilience prevailed.

Talon’s unconventional ‘Zombie Comp’ failed to secure a win.

Despite Papaphat “Primmie” Sriprapha’s strong showing with 22 kills, Leviatán’s Erick “aspas” Santos led his team with operator kills, resulting in a 13-8 victory.

Leviatán will face Trace Esports on August 7, while Talon Esports will play Team Vitality on August 9.

Sunday’s VALORANT Champions matches

• G2 Esports ($1.90) vs Paper Rex ($1.80) @ 5pm KST
• EDward Gaming ($2.10) vs FUT Esports ($1.66) @ 8pm KST

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Leviatan are the third-favourites to win VALORANT Champions 2024, behind Fnatic and Gen.G. This comes after they dominated VCT 2024 Americas Stage 2, where they took the title without losing a single series.

Talon Esports qualified for the VALORANT world championship by finishing VCT 2024 Pacific Stage 2 in fourth place. This is not too impressive, considering Talon were significantly weaker than the league’s top teams: DRX, Paper Rex, and Gen.G Esports.

Group C is very top-heavy, and even though past international VALORANT esports events have produced some upsets, it is doubtful that an experienced roster like Leviatan will slip against Talon Esports.

After crashing out of VCT 2024 EMEA Stage 1 in 9th-10th place, Team Vitality went through a resurgence in the second half of the VALORANT Champions Tour season. They placed second in Stage 2, with their only defeats coming against Fnatic — including one in the grand final.

Team Vitality are expected to do well in South Korea, especially due to their ability to punish lesser squads and those with weak map pools. That should benefit them as Vitality take on Trace Esports, who only seem to do well on Haven (61% win rate) and Ascent (65%).

Unfortunately for the Chinese side, Vitality also have a win rate of better than 60% on Ascent along with a solid 54% on Haven — all while playing much stronger teams than Trace Esports encountered in VCT China. Barring any surprises, this should not be a close series.

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