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VCT 2025 Americas Kickoff: Opening Matchups Revealed
As we edge nearer to the end of 2024, the VALORANT Calendar for 2025 only continues to find more and more definition in the form of enticing details, developing roster storylines, and fleshed out tournament schedules. The first of which has now been revealed - VCT Americas Kickoff. Set to kick off (see what I did there?) on the 16th of January, the 12 teams in the Americas league will clash for the coveted 2 spots to VCT Masters Bangkok later this year.
VCT 2025 Americas Kickoff: Quick Format Recap
The Kickoff tournaments in 2025 will serve a similar purpose to their 2024 counterparts, however, their format has been revamped for the new year. In contrast to last year’s format, which included 3 stages - 2 primary stages and an optional 3rd stage.
Teams last year had to battle through a Group Stage initially. Perform well enough and you head for Playoffs. Do not so well, and you were bound for Play-Ins for another shot at qualifying.
All that has been scrapped in favor of a single double-elimination bracket. 12 teams enter, 2 exit type of vibe. Seeding was determined based on the teams’ performance in VCT 2024 and the top 4 teams (essentially the 4 who qualified for Champions) received a bye past the first round.
Here is a visual for how the Kickoff bracket will appear in 2025:
VCT 2025 Americas Kickoff All Opening Matchups
According to the latest reports, here are all 4 opening matchups for Round 1 of the 2025 Americas Kickoff:
- Evil Geniuses vs LOUD
- MIBR vs 100 Thieves
- NRG vs Cloud9
- 2G vs Furia
The specific start times for the matches has yet to be announced.
KRU, Sentinels, G2 Esports, and Leviatán, meanwhile, have all earned byes into the 2nd round, placing them a step closer to qualifying for Masters Bangkok.
These 4 teams will only need to win 2 series to qualify should they play without a hitch, making it all the more enticing for future teams to aim for better placements in future years should the format remain the same in the following years.
VCT 2025 Americas Kickoff Opening Matchup Result Prediction
Author Note: Predictions is based on this writer's observations and reasoning, and is not meant to represent any inherent bias against or for.
*Bolded names indicate new additions to the roster/league
Evil Geniuses vs LOUD [ TBA | TBA]
Evil Geniuses Roster: Derrek / NaturE / supamen / ? / ?
LOUD Roster: cauanzin / tuyz / pANcada / dgzin / v1nNy
Evil Geniuses have yet to formalize their full roster, leaving LOUD with the decided advantage of synergy coming into their January match. The first clash between these 2 teams will likely be more brawl-centric, given the favoured playstyle of both EG and LOUD.
However, I would still give the better edge to EG, despite not having their complete roster. The departure of IGL Saadhak is sure to have a heavy impact on the remaining LOUD members, one not as easily remedied by the induction of new players. It remains to be seen what state both rosters come into Kickoff in, however, I feel more confident with the EG core’s ability to craft early success
MIBR vs 100 Thieves [ TBA | TBA]
MIBR Roster: artzin / xenom / cortezia / Nozwerr / aspas
100 Thieves Roster: Asuna / Cryocells / eeiu / Boostio / Zander
MIBR made a bold move during the off-season, securing for themselves a powerhouse in aspas, a move that has put them in a much clearer position to win it all in 2025. On the other side, a largely intact 100 Thieves awaits them. While aspas is certainly a gamechanger, it might be too early for even aspas to bend the fates.
100 Thieves is heavily favoured, with their sole change being bang, swapped out for former M80 controller main Zander. Being a fairly lateral move, I feel it’s pretty safe to say that 100 Thieves should have the decided advantage in this first bout.
NRG vs Cloud9 [ TBA | TBA]
NRG Roster: Ethan / FNS / s0m / mada / Verno
Cloud9 Roster: Xeppaa / OXY / moose / v1c / mitch
NRG is without a doubt firing on all cylinders after a failed 2024 including 2 rosters and a deflated super team. With the introduction of 2 new former Tier 2 talents in mada and Verno, the stage seems set for a stable NRG with plenty of firepower and a decorated IGL at the helm.
Meanwhile, the dumpster fire that is Cloud9 continues to impress with their astute player management. After only a single tournament with Rossy, it was determined that they would be making a player change just over a month out from the start of the season.
This makes the call far easier in terms of comparing the imagined state of both rosters as well as which roster would be favored in the clash. NRG should take this - just in case it wasn’t clear.
2GAME Esports vs Furia[ TBA | TBA]
2G Roster: Iz / pryze / silentzz / spikeziN / zap / gobera
Furia Roster: khalil / mwzera / havoc / ? / ?
2G have the decided advantage of being the underdogs, having just earned their promotion to the Americas league following their victory in the Americas Ascension tournament this year. However, they face their fellow countrymen in this opening bout in the form of Furia. While Furia has not impressed in recent times, their roster is also not fully constructed.
Familiarity will be the name of the game here, as it is highly likely the members are at least somewhat familiar with each other’s playstyles, making this a difficult one to call. However, I’d give the edge to 2G off the sheer virtue of already being fully constructed, and having battled through Challengers and Ascension with the very same roster.
VCT Americas Kickoff is set to begin on the 16th of January until the 8th of February. Don't miss out on the inaugural VCT Americas event of 2025!
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Featured Image Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
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