After the
VALORANT Champions Tour Americas Stage 1 final ended with G2 Esports claiming a fourth title, attention now turns to
Masters London. The draw for the first round of the Swiss stage was revealed on Monday by Riot Games, with several compelling matchups already bringing together teams from different regions.
As a reminder, eight teams — the 1st and 2nd seeds from each of the four VCT regions — will battle for four playoff spots, where the four Stage 1 champions are already waiting. Every Swiss Stage match will be played as a BO3 series. The opening round will see Team Vitality face Dragon Ranger Gaming, FULL SENSE take on
FUT Esports, Leviatán meet Global Esports, and Xi Lai Gaming play NRG.
Vitality as favourites?
After the first round, teams with the same record will face each other. Two wins in the Swiss Stage secure a spot in the playoffs, while two losses result in elimination. Team Vitality finally arrive at an international event with a roster built around significant expectations. After assembling one of the most ambitious lineups in EMEA, the French organization will immediately have the opportunity to measure itself against Dragon Ranger Gaming, one of China’s representatives.
Leviatán also enter the event with a particular sense of momentum, having produced one of the surprises of Stage 1 in Americas. Their meeting with Global Esports will carry clear importance as both teams will be looking to show that their qualification was not merely the result of a domestic peak in form.
PatMen returns to the international stage
One of the most notable stories heading into Masters London concerns PatMen, who played a part in Global Esports’ qualification after defeating his former team, Paper Rex. That scenario already adds a personal dimension to Global Esports’ campaign, with a player arriving in London after eliminating an organization that has long been part of his competitive story.
Patmen playing against Paper Rex. Credit: VCT PACIFIC/Riot Games
Elsewhere, Xi Lai Gaming will face NRG in another direct cross-regional test, while FUT Esports will meet FULL SENSE in a match that could quickly set the tone for their group-stage campaign. With several teams reaching London after surprising their respective leagues, the opening round of Masters London could already lay the foundations for a tournament shaped by regional clashes, unexpected trajectories, and long-awaited confirmations.
