Shocking Upset as Cloud9 Fails to Qualify for VALORANT Champions Tournament
In a surprising turn of events, Cloud9, the heavy favorites, will not be competing in the VALORANT Champions tournament in Los Angeles this September. They were eliminated by Leviatán with a score of 3-2 in the loser bracket. This victory makes Leviatán the second team in the history of franchised VALORANT to come back from a two-match deficit and secure a spot in the finals against KRÜ Esports.
The match between C9 and Leviatán was unexpected. In the VALORANT Champions Tour Americas Last Chance Qualifiers lower final, C9 had already suffered an upset loss to KRÜ Esports. Wanting to prove that the loss was a fluke, C9 started strong with a commanding 2-0 lead. However, they faltered in the later stages of the match, allowing Leviatán to make a comeback and face them again.
Leviatán’s impressive comeback started on the map Split. Despite being down 4-0 in the first half, they fought back to tie the score at 6-6 by halftime. In the second half, Leviatán’s Roberto “Mazino” Bugueño showcased his skill with Astra, helping his team secure a 13-11 victory.
The next map, Haven, seemed to be going in C9’s favor as they secured a commanding 9-3 lead during their attacking half. However, Leviatán mounted a comeback of their own, winning eight rounds in a row during their attack half. C9 only managed to win one round on defense, and Leviatán ultimately clinched the map and tied the series 2-2 with a score of 13-10.
The final map, Bind, would determine the winner of the series. With a 7-5 lead, Leviatán capitalized on a pistol win and some well-executed gun rounds by Mazino. In the last round, Mazino made crucial kills to prevent C9 from defending the post-plant, ultimately leading to Leviatán’s victory. C9 was unable to recover, and Leviatán achieved a stunning reverse sweep.
Even Leviatán themselves were shocked by their accomplishment, as they became only the second team in 2023 to achieve a reverse sweep. While they still need to win one more match to secure the Champions spot, they are within reach of a guaranteed qualification for a LATAM team.
Agustin “Nozwerr” Ibarra, speaking on behalf of his team, expressed their hope to secure the Champions spot. He emphasized their pride in being a Latin American team and their gratitude for the opportunity to attend the major tournament.
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Vicente “Tacolilla” Compagnon, in an interview with the analysts, could hardly find words to describe their victory. He expressed his joy and described the feeling as crazy, knowing that their year could have ended in defeat. He mentioned their focus on playing one round at a time and not getting overwhelmed by the pressure. Tacolilla also credited his improved performance to his psychologist.
Tacolilla revealed that he had been working with a psychologist to address his nervousness, which often affected his gameplay. Despite the challenges, he recognized his skill as a player and appreciated the trust his teammates had in him. Their confidence allowed him to perform at his best during the tournament.
Leviatán will now face KRÜ Esports in the final match for the Americas spot at VCT Champions 2023 on July 23.
VALORANT, VALORANT Champions tournament, Cloud9, Leviatán, upset, rematch, reverse sweep, LATAM team, match-deciding round, VCT LCQ, mental breakdown, lower bracket, LATAM opponents