Day one of the first international VALORANT event of the year saw comebacks and stomps—and day two could follow suit.
The VCT LOCK//IN tournament continues today with Karmine Corp playing against FunPlus Phoenix, DRX facing off against BBL Esports, and Cloud9 taking on Paper Rex. Three teams will be eliminated while the other three will advance in the single-elimination Alpha bracket.
Predictions for today’s matches at the VCT LOCK//IN tournament:
Karmine Corp vs. FunPlus Phoenix
The Chinese teams in this event are relatively unknown, so it’s hard to predict the outcome. However, FunPlus Phoenix has a strong track record in the region, defeating EDward Gaming in a previous tournament. Karmine Corp, on the other hand, has renowned players like ScreaM and Nivera. Despite not expecting them to go far in the tournament, I predict a win for Karmine Corp.
BBL Esports vs. DRX
DRX is a team with a lot of potential, dominating the APAC region. They have a relatively easy match against BBL Esports, a middling team in the EMEA region. Although BBL Esports lost to Giants in their last match, DRX had successful matchups against DetonatioN FocusMe and ZETA Division. I expect DRX to come out on top.
Cloud9 vs. Paper Rex
This matchup is a big one, pitting one of the best teams from North America against one of the best from APAC. Cloud9 has high expectations after acquiring top players, while Paper Rex has proven to be a strong contender in the APAC region. Paper Rex has a unique playstyle that makes them unpredictable, which could give them an advantage. I predict an upset with Paper Rex defeating Cloud9.
Overall, day two of the VCT LOCK//IN tournament is set to be exciting with potential upsets and intense matches.
VALORANT, VCT LOCK//IN tournament, Karmine Corp, FunPlus Phoenix, DRX, BBL Esports, Cloud9, Paper Rex, predictions, esports