Kicking off in the coming week, the VCT 2023 LOCK//IN Sao Paulo event looks to start the season in epic fashion. Accordingly, with the top 32 teams in the world attending from multiple events, predictions for this event are very interesting. Read on to learn some predictions in this featured article!
Event Background
Taking place offline, with $500,000 on the line, the event will take place offline from 13th February to 4th March in Sao Paulo. Here are the teams competing in the VCT 2023 LOCK//IN:
- EMEA Partner Team: BBL Esports, Fnatic, FUT Esports, Giants, Karmine Corp, KOI, Natus Vincere, Team Heretics, Team Liquid, Team Vitality
- Americas Partner Team: 100 Thieves, Cloud9, Evil Geniuses, FURIA Esports, KRU Esports, Leviatan, LOUD, MIBR, NRG, Sentinels
- Pacific Partner Team: DetonatioN FM, DRX, Gen.G, Global Esports, Paper Rex, Rex Regum Qeon, T1, Talon Esports, Team Secret, ZETA DIVISION
- China Invited Team: EDward Gaming, FunPlus Phoenix
While we can’t discuss all of the teams, let’s focus on a few which many have outlined as favourites. Notably, considering this is the first event of the year, many of these teams are yet to compete on an international event – let’s dive into some teams below.
Top Tier – Focusing on Favourites
Overall, there are a number of rosters which many are considering the best based either on their past or their potential.
Bearing this in mind, we’ve listed teams which many consider favourites below:
- Natus Vincere – combining elements of the former FPX roster, bringing on a world champion such as “cNed” to help them frag makes them incredibly likely to make a deep run in this first event of the year.
- LOUD – as the reigning champions from last season, LOUD has made a few small changes while maintaining the core of the team which took over the world – can they do it again this year?
- Paper Rex – perhaps the only team that hasn’t made changes, Paper Rex looks to bring the excitement and creativity from the Pacific region and hopefully help the region earn their first international win.
- DRX – consistently placing well at international tournaments last year, DRX could very well show up and remind everyone of their 3rd place finish at VALORANT Champions last year.
- Fnatic – placing 5-6th at VALORANT Champions last year, they’ve brought in new talent with “Chronicle” and “Leo“, looking like one of the most dangerous European teams in the competition.
- 100 Thieves – as the only favourite from North America, a few tournaments over the past month have demonstrated that this event is seriously impressive and have the potential to take over.
VCT 2023 LOCK//IN – Looking for Surprises
Accordingly, there are also a nuimber of questions the community has:
- Can Americas stack up with the other regions?
- Will Sentinels improve from last time?
- How will the Chinese teams perform?
- Will this format provide reliable results?
Moreover, this final point is one requiring further discussion. Indeed, considering a single-elimination format, teams only need to lose once in order to be eliminated from the competition.
Indeed, this format does allow for upsets and surprises. In addition, teams have been randomly seeded into the Round of 32 . Their early opponents will dictate how far they make it.
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