Riot Games had no problem turning its burgeoning tactical shooter into a game worthy of an esports scene.Valoranthas gripped the attention of millions of players, and scores of pro players have made the transition to the game. 2021 is the yearValorantcan prove itself as an esport, and it is off to a great start so far between the various Challenger tournaments and the regional Stage 1 Masters in March.
For the Stage 2 Masters,Riot Games takesValorantinternationalfor the first time. In what will be the first in-person LAN tournament for theValorantChampions Tour, 10 teams will compete in Reykjavik, Iceland. The Stage 2 Masters event began on May 24, and will continue until the final match on May 30. After quarantining upon arrival to Iceland, there is no doubt that the Reykjavik competitors are eager to show their merit and best their opponents. Below are all the teams and players that will compete in the VCT Masters Reykjavik tournament.
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Sentinels - NA
The North American talk of the town,Sentinelsis a team that has received a lot of press coverage for some less than stellar reasons. WhenTenZ joined the team to replace Jay “Sinaatra” Won, many fans wondered how the team would fare. After several victories across multiple tournaments, Sentinels has put that concern to rest, and the team’s potential is high heading into Reykjavik. Without a designated coach to guide the team, Sentinels has pulled together to become a stable unit. It will be interesting to see what compositions they bring to the table this time.
Version1 - NA
The next North American team qualified for Masters isVersion1, coached by Ian “Immi” Harding, a former proCS:GO player and coach. Going into Reykjavik, Jamal “jammyz” Bangash will be a temporary replacement for wippie. With enough time to prepare, eyes are looking to see if Version1 can unify enough to rise through the brackets of the tournament.
Team Liquid - EMEA
First up from the European region is theValorantdivision ofTeam Liquid, a professional esports group across numerous games. Coached by Connor “Sliggy” Blomfield, Team Liquid has shown itself to be a team that can use different picks likethe Controller Agent Astra. Eyes are on Team Liquid to see whether they will rise to be the best team from the region.
Fnatic - EMEA
From the European region also comesFnatic, coached by Jacob “mini” Harris. Partially known for their immensely impressive holds onValorant’s Bind map, Fnatic is a bombastic team with lots of synergy. Whether they will come face to face with Team Liquid for a European showdown is yet to be seen, but Fnatic’s first test happened to be against KRU Esports.
Team Vikings - BR
One of the first teams coming from the Brazilian region isTeam Vikings. Unlike some teams, Team Vikings has been through several different rosters since its formation, rotating in and out talent over the past year. Itsunique team compositions, often excluding Jett, haven’t stopped it from rising to the top of South America’sValorantesports scene, so it will be exciting to see where they can place in Masters Reykjavik.
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YNG Sharks - BR
WhileBrazil has a huge communitydedicated toValorant,YNG Sharkshas risen to the clear top in recent tournaments along with Team Vikings. Coached by Fabricio “fx” Yokoyama, the team is going to look to prove themselves against international competition.
Crazy Raccoon - JP
Representing Japan in Reykjavik isCrazy Raccoon, coached by Lim “Twinkl” Young-bin and Yusuke “mun” Ota. After beginning theirValorantChampions Tour history with some unfortunate losses and low placements, Crazy Raccoon has really proved to bea team to watch. Placing first in Japan’s VCT Masters Stage 1, plus several recent Challengers qualifiers, has shown that this team can hold its own on the international stage of Masters Stage 2.
NUTURN Gaming - KR
Going into Masters Reykjavik, all eyes are looking toNUTURN Gaming, the competitor from the Korean region. Under the coaching of Jeon “Jaemin” Jae-min, NUTURN Gaming toppled the undefeated Vision Strikers from their104 match win streak. An impressive feat, many are wondering if this team will continue to do well enough to make itself the newest top dog in Korea. While KoreanValorantteams have a penchant for avoiding duels and focusing on utility, international opponents will put NUTURN Gaming’s strategies to the test.
KRU Esports - LATAM
Qualified fromthe Latin American regionisKRU Esports, a team based in Argentina. With a firm grasp of the current meta in Valorant, KRU claimed the top spot in its region’s qualifiers. Under the coaching of Rodrigo “onur” Dalmagro and Martin “BeTony” Bourre, many are looking to see what Latin America’s top team brings to the international stage.
X10 Esports - SEA
Representing the Southeast Asian region ofValorantis X10 Esports, ateam based in Thailand. With the coaching of Yuranun “0bi” Sangurang, X10 has been steady winners in their home region. Often with the help of Patiphan’simpressive Jett skills, the team has been able to win duels left and right. Masters Reykjavik will prop up X10 on an international stage, perfect to both hone their skills and combat new opponents, especially since this team’s first match will be against Brazil’s Team Vikings.
With several days to go and a prize pool of $600,000 on the line, VCTStage 2 Masters Reykjavik is absolutely going to prove to be an exciting tournament. Seeing different teams from across the globalValorantcommunity compete against each other for the first time will be an interesting clash of strategies. As teams advance through the upper bracket or try to get a second chance at glory through the lower brackets, VCT Masters Reykjavik will be something to watch.
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