The Guard Clinches Victory in NA VCT Challengers One Grand Final
In an intense showdown, The Guard emerged as the champions of the NA VCT Challengers One grand final against OpTic Gaming. Their victory not only secured first place in the main event but also earned them a highly coveted playoff starting spot at the Masters Reykjavík international VALORANT event.
The series began as expected, with both OpTic and The Guard performing well on their respective map choices of Ascent and Icebox.
However, the tide shifted when The Guard displayed an impenetrable defense in the first half of OpTic’s pick, Breeze. The Guard dominated the first half with a remarkable 10-2 scoreline, ultimately securing a convincing 13-2 victory. OpTic managed to bounce back on Split, thanks to an outstanding performance by yay with the agent Chamber.
The stage was set for a thrilling conclusion on the fifth and final map, Haven. OpTic performed exceptionally well in the first half on attack, but The Guard delivered an even more impressive performance on the attacking side. They went on a six-round winning streak, securing a 12-11 lead. In the final round of regulation, The Guard’s Jett star Sayaplayer sealed the victory with a crushing ace, resulting in a 3-2 series win.
Today’s victory was the culmination of an extraordinary journey for The Guard, a relatively new roster. They achieved a 4-1 record in the group stage, dominated Sentinels in the first round of playoffs, avenged their loss against Cloud9 to secure a Masters spot, and secured the coveted first seed in North America, guaranteeing them a spot in the playoffs in Iceland.
The Guard will have a head start at Masters Reykjavik, which officially begins on Sunday, April 10. The specific format of the official VALORANT event is yet to be announced.
—-
The Guard, NA VCT Challengers One, OpTic Gaming, grand final, main event, Masters Reykjavík, VALORANT, champions, playoff starting spot, VALORANT Esports NA, Breeze, Split, Jett, Sayaplayer, Haven, playoffs, Iceland, head start, April 10, VALORANT event format