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Tigernation Arises: Gen.G surges into VCT Masters Toronto Playoffs
Gen.G has arrived in Toronto – and they have arrived in style. The Korean roster may not have the aura of their 2024 counterpart, but the reimagined team is far from declawed. With Masters Toronto well along now, Gen.G became of the first 2 teams to qualify for the Playoffs Stage, and they have done so in dominating fashion.
MIBR Smashed
The opening series of Toronto brought the exciting matchup between MIBR and Gen.G. For many, this would be one of the harder matches to predict and one of the more exciting faceoffs to bear fruit early in the tournament, with both teams boasting supreme firepower and incredible runs in their respective domestic leagues.
It was anything but close.
Gen.G swept MIBR’s opening pick of Sunset 13-5. Picking up a quick pistol win, Gen.G would tear through the Brazilian side for a blazing 6-0 start before MIBR finally managed to put an end to the streak. And despite MIBR stealing the conversion round following Gen.G’s second pistol win, relief was short-lived as Gen.G closed out Sunset comfortably.
Haven was even more bleak for the Brazilian side. A pistol round victory for Gen.G was converted into a 2-0 lead. MIBR managed to secure the third-round conversion, but that was their final say in the series, as Gen.G stormed back with 11 straight rounds to close out the series 13-1.
Train Stopped
Paper Rex came into Masters Toronto in perhaps the highest spirits we have seen the roster look since 2023. New addition PatMen seemed precisely the shot in the arm the SEA squad needed, and they proved it with a flawless opening series against Team Heretics, convincingly closing out the series 13-1, 13-9.
However, faced against Gen.G, Paper Rex finally faltered. A close Ascent series and a late-game mounted comeback for the Paper Rex side proved just shy of the mark as Gen.G succeeded in securing their own map pick. (spoilers)For Gen.G, this was also the closest map they’ve been tested on so far at this event. Map 2 brought Paper Rex’s pick of Icebox, with Jinggg’s new aggressive Omen a key component to their success. Gen.G would seal away Icebox 13-3 with a nearly flawless Defense half, securing their spot in Playoffs off the back of an incredible Swiss Stage run.
T3xture is So Back
The Korean demon has averaged a monstrous 298 ACS across the 4 maps of play so far with 22 First Kills, second only to BLG’s whzy, who himself is having a monster tournament. Sporting the top rating of the tournament thus far, t3xture has very much been the top dog of Toronto so far. Alongside him is Ash, Gen.G's replacement for Lakia and a massive firepower upgrade for the team. Foxy9's current form also provides the much needed stability Gen.G earned last year with Meteor. In a one-to-one comparison, currently, Gen.G has at minimum, an equivalent team to the one they sported last year.
This along with 4 of the 5 Gen.G members currently sitting in the top 5 highest ratings of the tournament so far, and it paints an incredible image for fans of Gen.G.
As the Swiss Stage winds down and the remaining qualified teams begin to emerge, anticipation is rising for the main event – Playoffs. Many remember Gen.G’s incredible run last year in Shanghai. The question now becomes; will they be able to repeat history. Will a second Korean team secure the second international title of the year?
Gen.G now face Fnatic in the first round of VCT Masters Toronto Playoffs on the 14th of June, 9pm CEST. Catch the game live on Twitch or YouTube.
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Featured image credit: Stefan Wisnoski/Riot Games
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