VCT Masters 2 Copenhagen has just begun, with the Groups Stage lasting from July 10-14. Twelve teams face off for the title of Masters 2 Champion and VCT Circuit Points. There has been three months since Masters 1, with many domestic playoffs shaking up the top tier teams. Masters 2 features many familiar faces and a few new representatives. Here is a look at the repeat qualifying and new international teams featured at Masters 2 Copenhagen.
[Related: VALORANT Masters 2 Copenhagen Groups Stage Announced]
Repeat Qualifying Teams
- North America: OpTic Gaming looks to defend their Masters 1 Champions Title as NA’s second seed. Previously, they had entered as NA’s second seed, fighting through all stages to claim first place. OpTic will have to start in the Groups Stage once more to repeat their Masters run. They return as the fan favorite out of all of the previous teams in Masters 1 Reykjavík.
- EMEA: Fnatic and FunPlus Phoenix attend Masters 2 Copenhagen with different seeding. Initially, Fnatic attended Masters 1 as the third seed, being eliminated in the Groups Stage by Ninjas in Pyjamas and ZETA DIVISION. FPX would have been EMEA’s first seed, but would be replaced by Team Liquid due to international travel restrictions. They now compete as the second seed, now able to attend Masters 2 Copenhagen.
- APAC: Paper Rex and XERXIA Esports both requalify as the first and second seeds of APAC respectively. Paper Rex would earn fourth place in Masters 1 following their first loss to DRX 1-2, then an upset by ZETA DIVISION in another 1-2 loss. XERXIA would be eliminated in the Groups Stage by Team Liquid and OpTic Gaming.
- Korea: DRX return as Korea’s sole representatives, looking to make a further finish than their previous fifth place best. In Masters 1, DRX fell 1-2 to OpTic Gaming in the Upper Bracket, then was eliminated 1-2 by ZETA DIVISION in the Lower Bracket.
Brazil Vs LATAM Seeding
- Brazil: LOUD return as Brazil’s first seed to Masters 2, this time standing as the only Brazilian team. Previously, LOUD earned second place, only dropping the Grand Finals to OpTic Gaming 0-3. They now return, having an undefeated Challengers 2 record to Masters 2 Copenhagen. However, LOUD will have to fight in the Groups Stage following Challengers 2’s Brazil vs LATAM LCQ. Brazil previously sent two teams to Masters 1 Reykjavík, but now only send one to Masters 2 Copenhagen.
- LATAM: KRÜ Esports were the only LATAM team in Masters 1 and saw a quick exit in the Groups Stage to Team Liquid and OpTic Gaming. They return now as LATAM’s second seed, having defeated Ninjas in Pyjamas 3-0 in the LATAM vs Brazil LCQ to qualify. This match moves fellow LATAM team Leviatán to the Playoffs Stage as first seed, with KRÜ as second seed. They return not only as one of the previous Masters 1 Reykjavík teams, but keep their perfect international attendance record.
Teams not attending Masters 2 Copenhagen
- North America: The Guard previously attending Masters 1 as NA’s first seed, but fell in the playoffs to OpTic 1-2 and Paper Rex 0-2. They would then win only one game in Challengers 2, despite automatically qualifying from their past performances. Group B eliminated The Guard in fifth place with a 1-4 record, cutting their Challengers 2 run short. The Guard now sit as the number one seed in the NA LCQ.
- EMEA: G2 Esports and Team Liquid previously attended Iceland, but failed to qualify for the next . G2 would earn fifth after a 0-2 to Paper Rex, while TL earned seventh from a 1-2 loss to ZETA DIVISION. Domestically, G2 would fail to qualify for the playoffs, going 1-4 and ending as fifth place in Group A. TL would go 4-1 in Group B, but fall early in the playoffs to FunPlus Phoenix and M3 Champions.
- Japan: ZETA DIVISION made the miracle run for Japan, earning the highest international placement in third place. They would be eliminated by OpTic Gaming in the Lower Finals 0-3. However, in Challengers 2, ZETA would fall to NORTHEPTION 1-3 in the Domestic Grand Finals, missing their slot to Masters 2.
- Brazil: Ninjas in Pyjamas had previously entered as Brazil’s second seed upon 3-0’ing Leviatán in the LATAM vs Brazil LCQ. However, NiP would be eliminated in the Groups Stage by DRX 0-2 and ZETA DIVISION 1-2. They would make second place in Brazil after losing to LOUD 0-3, and would be suffer another 0-3 by KRÜ Esports, failing to qualify for Masters 2.
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