VALORANT VCT LOCK//IN: North America Dominates Opening Round
This year’s VCT LOCK//IN event in Sao Paulo has gotten off to a blazing start, with North American teams showing their dominance in the first round of the Alpha bracket. NRG Esports, Cloud9, and Evil Geniuses all secured 2-0 victories against their opponents, KOI, Paper Rex, and Team Heretics, respectively.
Notably, the NA region is the only one that has not lost a series or a single map so far in the tournament. This promising performance from the North American teams is reminiscent of their early dominance in the first VCT Masters events of 2021.
Impressive Openers for NRG, Cloud9, and Evil Geniuses
Each of the winning teams showcased their skills and impressed in their opening matches. NRG Esports displayed resilience by staging a remarkable comeback win on Icebox. Cloud9 dominated Paper Rex, one of the top international teams from last year. Evil Geniuses silenced the doubters with a statement win over Team Heretics, while also showcasing their creativity with a successful Yoru pick on Pearl.
NA’s Early Success Mirrors Past Masters Events
The strong start by North American teams at VCT LOCK//IN mirrors their performances in previous Masters events. At both Masters Reykjavik and Masters Berlin in 2021, NA teams triumphed in their opening matches and went on to achieve great success. Similarly, at Champions 2022, OpTic, XSET, and 100T all secured victories in their opening matchups.
However, the current performance at VCT LOCK//IN is particularly impressive as it marks the first time that three separate NA teams have started an international tournament with 2-0 wins. It remains to be seen if North America can secure an additional spot at Masters Tokyo, but this early success has undoubtedly energized North American fans.
A Promising Start for North America
The outstanding performance of North American teams in the opening round of the VALORANT VCT LOCK//IN event has set a promising tone for the region. With their flawless record so far, the NA teams have made a strong case for their continued dominance in professional VALORANT.
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