As the VALORANT Champions 2024 unfolds, the opening round has already delivered one of the most dramatic upsets of the year. In a surprising turn of events, G2 Esports, the #2 seed from the VCT Americas league, swept last year’s runners-up, Paper Rex, with a 2-0 victory in the first Group D match on Sunday, August 4.

G2 and Paper Rex were seeded into Group D alongside China’s EDward Gaming (EDG) and EMEA’s FUT Esports. Despite being the #3 seed from the Pacific region, Paper Rex entered the match as favourites, having not only reached the finals last year but also defeated the highly acclaimed Gen.G Esports during the Pacific league’s Stage 1 Playoff grand finals. Although Gen.G didn’t secure any top titles this season, their strong performance leading up to VALORANT Champions added to the anticipation.

However, G2 Esports defied expectations, asserting themselves as serious title contenders with their unexpected and emphatic win over Paper Rex, setting the stage for an exciting and unpredictable tournament.

G2 Wipe Paper Rex

G2 Esports, the sole team from the four VCT Leagues to win a VCT Ascension last year, qualified for VALORANT Champions 2024 and has remained a top contender in their region. Conversely, Paper Rex, ranked second in their region, faced challenges towards the end of VCT Pacific Stage Two, losing their lower bracket finals to DRX. This raised questions about their performance.

Map 1: Icebox – G2 Esports started strong, gaining a substantial lead in the first half. Paper Rex attempted a comeback but fell short. A standout moment was Leaf’s impressive 4K flank, securing the Icebox map for G2.

Map 2: Lotus – G2 Esports dominated defensively, winning the first six rounds consecutively. The game-changing weapon on this map was the Odin, with players like Trent utilizing it effectively on the A plant site. However, Paper Rex’s non-Sentinel team composition left them vulnerable to backstabs.

G2 Esports claimed victory with a 13-9 scoreline. JonahP was named MVP. In a post-match interview, valyn expressed their satisfaction, saying:

“It feels very good to come out for our first match with a victory. We know it will be a long journey, but starting strong means a lot to us. The boys played a great game today.”

EDG Prove China’s Worth Against EMEA’s FUT

A highly anticipated match with uncertain outcomes was the clash between EDward Gaming and FUT Esports, marking their first encounter. FUT Esports is notable for having all players from Turkey. EDward Gaming, the best team in VCT CN, had dominated regional tournaments but struggled in international competitions, affecting their power rankings.

Map 1: Lotus –  EDward Gaming employed a unique team composition featuring Clove and Breach, leading 8-4 in the first half and securing a 13-9 win. Smoogy, playing Clove, was the standout player with a KDA of 23/15/7.

Map 2: Bind – Both teams used a mirror composition. EDward Gaming, on the attack, led 8-4 at halftime. Despite FUT Esports winning four consecutive rounds in the second half, EDward Gaming clinched the victory with a 13-10 score.

This outcome marked the second time a team from VCT EMEA lost to a VCT CN team, challenging the perception of EMEA’s dominance.

VALORANT Champions Day 4 delivered thrilling matches, showcasing the competitive spirit and strategic brilliance of the participating teams. Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament progresses.