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VCT 2023: Masters Tokyo Down to Final 3 Teams

The VCT: Masters Tokyo Tournament has been underway for over a week. 12 teams are down to 3. We break them all down.

The Valorant Champions Tour 2023: Masters Tokyo tournament started on June 11th. The 2nd international tournament of the 2023 competitive season saw 12 teams coming from all around the world to compete in Japan for the chance to be the best team on the planet. After 10 fierce days of competition, the field is down to only three teams. Each of the Regional Leagues sit with a lone representative as Fnatic of EMEA awaits either Paper Rex of the Pacific League or Evil Geniuses from the Americas in the finals. 

Fnatic’s Fantastic Run to Finals

Fnatic has already had a very successful 2023 campaign that started with immediate success as Fnatic was able to win the LOCK//IN tournament in Brazil at the start of the season. They immediately returned home to dominate the VCT: EMEA League in the regular season falling to Team Liquid in the EMEA Finals. They look to repeat their early international success as they await to see their opponent in the Finals at a tournament where they will likely be named the best team in the World once again.

Fnatic came in as the EMEA League’s 2nd seed. However, due to their success at the LOCK//IN tournament earlier in the year, EMEA’s 2nd seed was automatically seeded into the bracket stage, void of having to play through the Group Stage. Fnatic started their tournament with a dominant 2-0 win over NRG, closing the match out with a 13-4 blowout on Bind. This was a much-needed win for a team still licking its wounds from the EMEA finals.

Their next match was another 2-0, this time against Paper Rex, and featured a 13-5 blowout on Lotus. The Upper Bracket Final is the first time Fnatic seemingly stumbled, losing their first tournament map in their 2-1 win over Evil Geniuses. Fnatic awaits as Paper Rex and Evil Genuises duke it out in the Lower Bracket Finals to see who they will face. Regardless of who comes out of the Lower Bracket, you can expect Fnatic to feel confident, having already beaten both teams. 

Paper Rex vs. Evil Geniuses 

When: Friday, June 23rd – 11 PM ET

Odds: Evil Geniuses (-275) vs. Paper Rex (+195), Spread: EG -1.5

Paper Rex spent the regular season behind DRX in the Pacific League standings ending the regular season in 2nd place. They then made a great run through playoffs, winning the Pacific League crown after back-to-back wins against DRX. They were automatically seeded into the bracket where they once again beat DRX, this time 2-0, before falling to Fnatic 0-2. They’ve battled some of the world’s best in the Lower Bracket, taking down Edward Gaming and NRG both 2-1. Only Evil Geniuses stands between them and the Finals. 

Evil Geniuses entered the Valorant Champions Tour: Tokyo Masters much differently than either of the other two remaining teams. Evil Geniuses ended the regular season with a 4-5 record putting them in 6th place in the Americas League standings, which gave them the last spot in playoffs. Evil Geniuses then made an incredible run through playoffs before losing in the Lower Bracket Final, giving them the 3rd and final America’s League spot at Masters. 

Evil Geniuses made easy work of Group Stage, being the first team to qualify out of Group B. They then won their first Bracket match 2-0 against fellow Americas League team LOUD. Evil Geniuses then took down the EMEA League champions Team Liquid 2-0 before losing to Fnatic in the Upper Bracket Finals. Who knows who will win the match? All that’s certain is that it will be a great match.