EMEA and APAC Teams Outshine North America in VALORANT Champions
The biggest VALORANT event in the world has brought together teams from various major regions across the globe. From Brazil to Japan, these teams have proven themselves in order to secure a spot at Champions.
During the pre-event press conference, Adil “ScreaM” Benrlitom, one of the top players in the EMEA region, expressed his belief that teams from APAC and EMEA are stronger than North America. This comes despite North America fielding several teams, including former Masters champions OpTic Gaming.
However, other players competing in the event have mentioned that North America has performed well against other regions in practice, suggesting that they may have a good chance at winning the trophy. They argue that APAC and EMEA have not solidified themselves as superior to other regions.
OpTic Gaming and 100 Thieves Show Potential
Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev from Fnatic believes that all regions are on the same level, emphasizing that North America is a strong region with highly skilled individuals. He points to OpTic Gaming’s consistent results, including their victory at VCT Stage One Masters Reykjavík in April and a top-three finish at VCT Stage Two Masters in Copenhagen.
In addition to OpTic Gaming, ScreaM acknowledges 100 Thieves as a North American team that has shown promise in the last chance qualifier, boasting strong individual players. However, he notes that their lack of experience playing at the highest level may make it challenging for them to win it all.
All Regions Compete at a High Level
OpTic coach Chet Singh believes that all regions are similar in skill level, with EMEA possibly having a slight edge while APAC could surprise fans with their unique playstyle. Overall, he sees all regions as being “pretty close.”
The VALORANT Champions playoffs and grand finals will take place in Istanbul, Turkey on September 18, with a live audience in attendance. This highly anticipated event will determine which region solidifies itself as the best in the world.
VALORANT, Champions, EMEA, APAC, North America, tournament, OpTic Gaming, 100 Thieves, playoffs, grand finals