A total of 16 teams will converge in Los Angeles, each having earned their spot through either direct qualification based on their league's in-season performance or through the Last Chance Qualifiers.
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The VALORANT Champions Tour 2023 season is gearing up for a grand finale with the highly anticipated Champions event scheduled to take place in the vibrant city of Los Angeles from August 6th to 26th. This monumental tournament will bring together the crème de la crème of the VALORANT competitive scene, featuring the top teams from the three VCT international leagues: Americas, EMEA (Europe), and Pacific (Asia), along with the formidable teams from China, all vying for glory in the season-ending championship showdown. VALORANT Champions 2023: Qualified Teams Ready to Dominate Los Angeles.
A total of 16 teams will converge in Los Angeles, each having earned their spot through either direct qualification based on their league’s in-season performance or through the Last Chance Qualifiers. Notably, the Chinese teams, without a regional league of their own, secured their berths through the intensely contested Champions China Qualifier.
4 teams – Americas
5 teams – EMEA
4 teams – Pacific
3 teams – China
Evil Geniuses
Fnatic
Team Liquid
FUT Esports
Paper Rex
DRX
T1
NRG
LOUD
EDward Gaming
Bilibili Gaming
FunPlus Phoenix
Let’s dive into a comprehensive overview of each of these formidable teams as they prepare to compete in the monumental VALORANT Champions 2023.
The year has been nothing short of exceptional for Fnatic. Their journey began by claiming victory in the 32-team VCT LOCK//IN tournament, where they showcased their prowess by winning five consecutive matches. Their dominance continued as they triumphed over the reigning world champions LOUD in an epic Map 5 comeback during the finals, erasing an 11-3 deficit. This triumph marked Fnatic’s first-ever global VALORANT tournament victory.
Subsequently, they proceeded to dominate the VCT EMEA league, remaining undefeated throughout the regular season and playoffs, with the exception of their loss in the final to Team Liquid. Their unrivaled performance extended to Masters Tokyo, where they emerged victorious with an unblemished record, dropping only one map en route to their second consecutive global title. A historic year for Fnatic beckons, and with world-class coach Jake “mini” Harris and in-game leader Jake “Boaster” Howlett at the helm, backed by a talented roster comprising Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev, Emir “Alfajer” Beder, Timofey “Chronicle” Khromov, and Leo “Leo” Jannesson, there is no doubt that Fnatic enters Champions 2023 as the clear favorites.
Undoubtedly, Team Liquid has solidified its position as one of the top teams in the VALORANT world. Their impressive journey throughout the VCT EMEA league culminated in a victory over Fnatic in the finals, asserting their competitiveness at the international level. However, their performance at Masters Tokyo, going 1-2, raised questions about their potential on the global stage.
Nevertheless, the losses to North American teams NRG and Evil Geniuses, both top four finishers in Tokyo, were not without merit. Additionally, they managed to defeat EDward Gaming, a formidable Chinese team that showcased their prowess in Tokyo. Team Liquid is expected to bounce back stronger at Champions and contend fiercely among the top EMEA teams.
FUT Esports emerged as a formidable force during the VCT EMEA season, finishing an impressive third in the playoffs with key victories over Team Vitality and Natus Vincere. Doğukan “QutionerX” Dural’s stellar performance, ranking third in ACS among all players in VCT EMEA, and Ata “AtaKaptan” Tan’s clutch prowess, securing the fifth-most clutches in the league, contributed significantly to their success.
FUT Esports became the first Turkish roster to qualify for a Masters tournament since SuperMassive Blaze in 2021. While they experienced elimination in the group stage at Masters Tokyo, a crucial victory enabled them to secure a direct qualification for Champions, bypassing the EMEA LCQ. With players like Emir “Alfajer” Beder and Mehmet “cNed” İpek having previously shined at Champions, FUT Esports stands poised to be the first majority Turkish roster to compete on VALORANT esports’ grandest stage.
Although LOUD experienced a setback at Masters Tokyo, going 0-2 without securing any map wins, they remain a force to be reckoned with. The reigning Champions 2022 winners impressed with a second-place finish at LOCK//IN and a triumph in the VCT Americas championship leading up to Masters. However, they had encountered a similar setback at Masters Copenhagen in the previous year, following it up with a championship victory.
Despite losing key players Gustavo “Sacy” Rossi and Bryan “pANcada” Luna during the offseason, LOUD reloaded with Cauan “cauanzin” Pereira and Arthur “tuyz” Vieira, asserting their continued dominance. With Erick “aspas” Santos excelling as one of the world’s best duelists and Matias “Saadhak” Delipetro providing exemplary leadership, LOUD is determined to make a resounding comeback at Champions, solidifying their status as a formidable contender, capable of challenging even Fnatic.
The core lineup of Pujan “FiNESSE” Mehta, Austin “crashies” Roberts, and Victor “Victor” Wong, alongside the guidance of head coach Chet “Chet” Singh, has propelled NRG to the forefront of VALORANT excellence. Notable achievements include a runner-up finish at Masters Berlin in 2021, a championship victory at Masters Reykjavík, and a second-place finish at Champions in the previous year with OpTic.
During the current season, their lineup expanded to include Ardis “ardiis” Svarenieks and Sam “s0m” Oh, showcasing strong performances with a top-four finish at VCT Americas and Masters Tokyo. The team is well-equipped to make another top-four run at Champions, particularly with the event being hosted in North America, where they can rely on the support of their enthusiastic fans.
Evil Geniuses’ remarkable journey has transformed them from a mediocre VALORANT team, subjected to criticism and doubts about their coach and roster, into one of the world’s best. Their unexpected entry into the VCT Americas playoffs, owing to MIBR’s surprising victory over 100 Thieves, has become legendary. Notably, Evil Geniuses surpassed all expectations with victories over Cloud9 and NRG to qualify for Masters Tokyo and subsequently secure a spot at Champions. Demonstrating adaptability and creativity, head coach Christine “potter” Chi & Co. have proved to be adept at adjusting their strategies effectively.
With Kelden “Boostio” Pupello serving as an in-game leader who can frag, and Max “Demon1” Mazanov as a star duelist, supported by a roster of players who have demonstrated exceptional performance during crucial moments, Evil Geniuses promises to be an exciting team to watch in Los Angeles. The question remains whether they can break the second-place curse that has plagued numerous VALORANT teams, who secured second place in global grand finals only to falter in their subsequent events.
With the VALORANT Champions 2023 on the horizon, excitement and anticipation run high as these qualified teams gear up to showcase their unparalleled skills, battling it out on the grandest stage of VALORANT esports. Each team brings its own unique strengths and narratives, making this championship one for the ages. Fans worldwide eagerly await the epic showdown that will undoubtedly leave a lasting mark on the history of VALORANT.
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