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VALORANT Champions 2025 Group Stage: Pick'Ems Guide and Rewards
Yesterday in the latest VALORANT patch notes, it was announced that the VCT Champions Pick’Ems would be returning for Champions Paris. Starting from September 12th, 16 teams will assemble in France to compete for the most prestigious of tournaments in the VALORANT esports calendar – Champions.
Today, Pick'Ems officially open and players will be able to select the winner in each scheduled matchup, with prizes on the line for players who successfully predict well throughout the tournament. The feature has returned each international event since VCT Champions 2024 Seoul to huge popularity and engagement from the community, making it no surprise it has once again returned for the biggest VALORANT tournament of the year.
Without further ado, here are our predictions for Champions Paris.
Strafe’s Predictions for Champions Paris
16 teams will attend Champions Paris, but only 8 will advance to the Playoffs Stage after a grueling gauntlet. The Pick'Ems for Groups are now open, while the Pick'Ems for Playoffs will open on the 23rd of September. The Pick'Em Challenge will function as pure advance/fail, meaning you select the 2 teams each group that advance and the 2 that don't.
Group A
Paper Rex are the biggest favorites for this group, having won the most recent Masters event in Toronto. Plus their current form on full display culminating in a Grand Finals win in VCT Pacific Stage 2 adds extra assurances to fans that the PRX train is running well and truly hot heading into Paris.
Sentinels are the second team we have advancing to Playoffs. Their form throughout the year has seen some slight rises and dips but overall their international success is undeniable. Unfortunately, this leaves recent Cinderellas GIANTX and XLG as the odd ducks out from this group.
Group B
Fnatic would be the first team most fans assume qualify for the second and final stage of Champions. Their recent run in VCT EMEA was stopped by a rising GIANTX who climbed all the way to the Grand Finals. However, their tenacity and resilience internationally is not to be underestimated, as their recent Toronto run showed, making them a clear favorite to lock in Playoffs.
Then, it gets tricky. MIBR squeaked into Champions thanks to the VCT Point System. However, their form has shown shakiness as of recent times. Moreover, their run at Toronto was far from memorable for positive reasons. BLG's rise in VCT China gives many the hope that this may be a second year of success for the burgeoning region and it may very well be true. RRQ had an immaculate run in VCT Pacific Playoffs - until they met Paper Rex. Given the impossibility of picking a second clearly, it comes down to a gut feeling, and we think RRQ will finally secure a Playoffs run.
Group C
Team Liquid is our biggest name in this group to make it out. Under the new leadership of nAts this year, Liquid have found great success in their home region and internationally. While they've yet to really hit their stride against some of the biggest hitters domestically, their form in the Playoffs and Grand Finals gives great hope that this is the year and the run they make an impact.
The second name that comes to mind is likely NRG. Having come second in VCT Americas just last week, their surging success domestically in Stage 2 has been a marvel to witness as they finally seemed to have hit their stride. DRX's chances in this group, by comparison, are looking grim. Historically a strong Groups team, this roster's run so far this year has given little to weigh in their favor against the titans they face. And unfortunately, EDG may be the defending World Champions, but their recent form has looked a far cry from what secured them, and China, their first international trophy.
Group D
G2. Just G2. Three time winner in VCT Americas this year, they have looked unstoppable domestically even with a sub in the form of Babybay for the majority of Stage 2. With leaf back in the roster now, many would consider them a lock not only for Playoffs, but to win Americas' third Champions title and fifth international.
After that, it gets tricky. Team Heretics are another powerful team that just seem not to be clicking at the moment. But, should they rekindle their form, they would be a strong prediction as the second team to qualify. T1 may have won the first international of the year, but roster issues and lower confidence has seen their stock plummet in recent times. There's enough reason to doubt that this team makes it out of Playoffs. DRG as the final team, historically a strong team that made the last Playoffs in Toronto, unfortunately their challenge this time around appears even harder to surmount. Perhaps they may surprise us once again. But doubt will reign supreme until they prove they can replicate their success.
Pick'Em Rewards for VCT Champions Paris
The Pick'Ems for VCT Champions Paris comes with enticing prizes as well. For simply participating, players will earn the "Make a Pick" spray.
And for those special players who perform especially well in the Pick'Ems, two more rewards await them:
- "Top 20%" Gun Buddy for those who finish in the top 20% on the global Pick'Ems leaderboard.
- "Perfect" Player Title
VCT Champions Paris Community Factions
As covered in our previous cover, factions are returning too. Not only will players automatically compete on the Global Leaderboard, they'll also have the opportunity to join a community faction - choose one of your favorite content creators and compete against them in their own communities. Winning with your faction will earn yourself the faction-specific reward as well as earn the host the "VCT Pick'Ems Belt" spray.
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Featured Image Credit: Riot Games
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