VALORANT Champions: A Comprehensive Guide to The Performance and Statistics of Teams Part 1

VALORANT Champions 2023 is the final and most prestigious event of the VALORANT Champions Tour, a global circuit of tournaments hosted by Riot Games. The event will feature 16 teams from four major regions: the Americas, the Pacific, EMEA, and China. The teams will compete for a prize pool of $2,250,000 and the title of World Champion in Los Angeles, from August 6 to August 26, 20231.

The teams qualified for VALORANT Champions 2023 through various pathways. Each team has its own strengths, weaknesses, playstyles, and strategies that will make the competition exciting and unpredictable.

In this article, we will introduce the first 8 teams and review their most recent performances. Also, we will provide some statistics from the most recent qualifiers and tournaments. (Teams are ranked based on the Tier List we made HERE.)

FunPlus Phoenix

FunPlus Phoenix made their debut earlier this year during LOCK//IN. However, that was merely the beginning of their journey. Over the months, the team has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving into a formidable force within the competitive scene. Impressively, they secured the third-place spot, outperforming formidable opponents like Tyloo and Team Weibo. Their growth and progression have turned them into a fierce predator ready to conquer the challenges that lie ahead.

(We calculated Map Play/Win rates from LOCK//IN, FGC Acts 1 & 2, and VCT China Qualifier.)

Bilibili Gaming

Bilibili, the least familiar wildcard team, will participate in Champions 2023 as the sole squad without any players who have participated in an international tournament before. Despite their lack of prior global experience, these players are entering the tournament with great momentum after an impressive run in the China Qualifiers. During this qualifying campaign, their toughest opposition was EDward Gaming, the top seed from China, making their achievement even more remarkable. Now, with newfound confidence, Bilibili is ready to take on the international stage and showcase their potential.

(We calculated Map Play/Win rates from FGC Acts 1 & 2,  VCT China Qualifier)

ZETA Division

The beloved team from Japan enters this tournament on the heels of an extraordinary performance in the Last Chance Qualifier. They marked their journey by defeating RRQ and breaking the hearts of Filipino fans with consecutive victories against Team Secret in both the Upper Bracket and Grand Finals. Historically, ZETA has been considered a mid-tier team, except for their impressive run in Reykjavik in 2022, which stands as their standout achievement. Should they manage to reignite that magic in this tournament, anything is possible, and they become a formidable force that no one can underestimate.

(We calculated Map Play/Win rates from LOCK//IN, VCT Pacific League,  VCT Pacific LCQ)

KRU Esports

Emerging as unexpected contenders in the Last Chance Qualifier, KRU shocked everyone with an astounding 5-series win streak, claiming victory in the qualifier without a single defeat. Despite the more promising reputations of teams like Leviatán or Cloud9, KRÜ proved to be a formidable force, reminding everyone of their strength, just as they did in 2022.

(Map Play/Win rates are calculated from LOCK//IN, VCT Americas League,  VCT Americas LCQ)

Giants

Giants are putting forth a compelling argument with their strikingly similar style of play to Fnatic. Methodical, calculated, and backed by a talented roster, their performance in the EMEA LCQ was nothing short of immaculate. They have showcased remarkable synergy and skill, making a strong case for themselves as a team to be reckoned with in the competitive scene.

(We calculated Map Play/Win rates from LOCK//IN, VCT EMEA League,  VCT EMEA LCQ)

T1

T1’s commendable performance in Masters Tokyo featured intense battles against formidable opponents like NRG and EDG. Although they narrowly missed the playoffs, T1 demonstrated remarkable growth throughout the tournament, living up to the potential we foresaw for them at the beginning of the year. Their dominance in Valorant proves that they are a force to be reckoned with.

(We calculated Map Play/Win rates from LOCK//IN, VCT Pacific League, VCT Masters Tokyo)

FUT Esports

While their Masters performance in Tokyo may have been affected by their nerves. But FUT has consistently proven themselves as one of EMEA's top prospects and a strong contender in domestic competitions. Boasting a talented and stacked roster, including "ATA KAPTAN," who is arguably one of the best flex players globally. The team possesses a formidable combination of skills. Underestimating the Turkish talent would be a grave mistake. As they have the potential to make a significant impact in the competitive Valorant scene.

(We calculated Map Play/Win rates from LOCK//IN, VCT EMEA League,  VCT Masters Tokyo)

EDward Gaming

This team managed to capture the hearts and imaginations of countless fans during their impressive run at Tokyo. In the aftermath of their Masters performance, the discussions were dominated by the overwhelming talent displayed by this roster. Led by the incredibly dominant OPer, ZmjjKK, whom many consider to be the most skilled in this role that the game has ever seen. The team's performance left everyone in awe. Their crazy talent and extraordinary plays have cemented their status as a force to be reckoned with in the Valorant community.

(We calculated Map Play/Win rates from LOCK//IN, VCT Masters Tokyo,  VCT China Qualifier)

Please stay tuned, as we will return with Part 2 of this article, where we will take a look at the top 8 teams of the tournament.