After FunPlus Phoenix won their first major tournament at the VCT Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen, all eyes are on EMEA during the second edition of VALORANT Champions. The winning team last year was Acend; Also this year, FPX, Fnatic and Team Liquid are gearing up to bring the trophy back to EMEA, at least on paper.

VALORANT EMEA presenter Lauren ‘Pansy’ Scott has a wealth of experience in many different games and is all about the competitive arena very but very know something. Prior to the tournament, Riot Games chatted with him about Champions and asked the question on everyone’s mind: Can EMEA win two years in a row?

Likewise, he underscores that 100 Thieves has the potential to surprise by saying, “I know how hard they’ve prepared for this tournament” and warns that DRX is “very dangerous in the early stages.” Interestingly, both teams are in Fnatic’s group, so EMEA must qualify for the playoffs. very very good will have to fight.

The Power of Paper Rex

Asia-Pacific representative Paper Rex had a blast at the VCT Stage 1 Masters Reykjavik, which he accomplished professionally by using the controversial Japanese Duelist Yoru in a move that people joked about at the time.

He beat many western teams at the Tier 2 Masters, including Fnatic and OpTic Gaming, who had good chances to take home the trophy. Despite FPX’s loss in the final, Pansy believes Paper Rex is a team that EMEA representatives should approach with caution.

“Their playing style is extremely aggressive. They play at a very fast pace and this works well in LAN environments because they strain the nerves of the opponents, make it difficult for them to stay calm, and the stress they create supports their playing style.”

“Plus, you have a hyper-aggressive player like Wang ‘Jinggg’ Jing Jie who does great things when used right, and arguably one of the best players in the world. [Jason ‘f0rsakeN’ Susanto] add the fact that you… Paper Rex has many weapons at his disposal. It is a team with depth and they have already proven that. They didn’t shine in any event like Cinderella did, they showed time and time again that they are an incredibly dangerous team. Their style of play really works against everyone.”

FPX, Fnatic or Team Liquid?

FPX emerged victorious from the Stage 2 Masters, while Fnatic should not be taken lightly. Having gone deep into the playoffs, the team in orange and black is still terribly ambitious and Team Liquid is entering the arena to win after the Final Chance Qualifiers. Of the three EMEA giants, Pansy thinks FPX has the best chance of reaching the top, but it’s not a decision she takes lightly.

“It would be wrong not to say FPX,” he says, “but they are now in the same position as OpTic and Sentinels were before: everyone is looking for opportunities to hunt for them and everyone is thinking extra about how to hunt them. No one will say ‘oh we didn’t have a good plan when we went to this map’ That’s the question mark in my mind about FPX but I still think they have a good chance of winning and I don’t think they will have any problems have in their group.”

“Fnatic has had time to sit back and relax, and since everyone’s eyes are on FPX, there’s less focus on Fnatic, so I’d call them my second favorite, leaving Liquid in third. But when it comes to Liquid and LAN… they could be interestingly well.”

Another thing Pansy emphasized is that the teams would have had a lot more time to prepare. The days of jet lag are a thing of the past, everyone will be in top shape. “Teams have had time to analyze Fnatic and FPX in particular, and if EMEA representatives haven’t gotten better at the process, we could see several issues emerging.”

Can EMEA become champions twice in a row?

Of course we also asked Pansy the lingering question: can EMEA become champions twice in a row? Smiling (which was a bit of a bitter smile, to be honest) she replied, “They certainly can, so yes. So will they be able to do this? If Fnatic manage to get out of their group and finish clearly at the top of the group, there is a 100 guarantee that they will go far in the playoffs. I don’t think FPX will have any problems in the group stage, the problems will most likely manifest in the top group. I think they will qualify for the qualifiers relatively comfortably.”

“Yes on paper”, he concludes, “if they pay attention to a few points, they can certainly reach the top. There is no reason why EMEA cannot win twice in a row, but it all depends on a good preparation process.”

But aside from the most important thing for Pansy, she “really likes good VALORANT games.”

“One of my favorite teams that I have broadcasts from is OpTic at the peak of their performance and former DRX. There is also Leviatan, I love watching them play. Personally I would be happy if a team could crush FPX, Fnatic and Liquid! If you can beat these teams, you’ll be playing VALORANT at an incredible level, so we’re sure to have a good game no matter what.”

VALORANT Champions 2022 starts on August 31 in Istanbul. Pansy will also host, along with some of VALORANT’s most famous faces. The day of the tournament is getting closer and the tension continues to rise. We can’t wait to see if Pansy’s predictions come true, but don’t worry Pansy, we won’t be mad if they don’t come true!

Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency