Who’s Taking the W: Valorant North American Challengers League Circuit 2023 Split 1 Week 1 Matchup Predictions

The North American 2023 Challengers League is comprised of 12 teams competing over 2 splits in 2023. The first split is set to run from the 1st of Feb until the 17th of Mar. It will culminate in the Mid-Season Invitational, where the top 8 teams will compete for the championship.

 

The NA Challengers League 2023 is set to begin in a couple of days, with the top 12 non-partnered North American teams competing for the coveted split championship. Knights Arena has now released the Groupings, as well as the schedule for the duration of Split 1. Each team is slated to battle 5 times, in a single round-robin style. Read more here for the upcoming format and schedule. Read here for the tierlist currently posed for all 12 teams.

 

NA Challengers Week 1 Matchups

Day One

[FaZe Clan vs G2 Esports]

This matchup is favored towards FaZe surprisingly. The long-standing North American organization FaZe Clan has suffered a series of batteries that have seen their stock plummet in the eyes of NA fans.

However, G2 Esports have shown little to indicate an exciting roster thus far, and with their newly formed roster against the veteran force of Andrej “babybay” Francisty and Kevin “poised” Ngo alongside rumored new pickup Daniel “Rossy” Abedrabbo, it’s difficult to favor G2.

 

[The Guard vs DSG]

Speaking of David and Goliath, matchup of the week has to go to this series. The top rated team The Guard will face off against plucky upcomer Disguised in the latter’s debut match in the league. It’s a tough fight for DSG, and The Guard are highly likely to take the series.

However, DSG has a chance to upset, with strong talent and an eye test that checks out, The Guard are not infallible. Moreover, DSG is one of the two predicted Dark Horses that may emerge from this league.ts

 

Day Two

[TSM vs Dark Ratio]

This matchup will prove informative for Group B. TSM enter as the favorite for this series and one of the top contenders in this group. However, Dark Ratio show potential and is one of the two predicted Dark Horses that may emerge from this league.

Should Dark Ratio triumph over TSM is this series, it is probable that the top of the league will be an unexpected surprise by the end of the split.

 

[BreakThru vs Oxygen Esports]fazts

BreakThru is expected to take this series cleanly. BreakThru has come out of the qualifiers as one of the strongest rosters. Meanwhile, Oxygen managed to clear through, however, their roster on paper fails to conjure much hope.

 

Day Three

[Shopify Rebellion vs Squirtle Squad]

Shopify Rebellion should take this series. A highly rated and battle-tested squad, they should have little issues dispatching Squirtle Squad in their debut series. Moreover, their core has played together for a long period, having played through 2022 together. Star sniper Brandon Michael “bdog” Sanders is also one of the most consistent performers at this level.

 

[M80 vs OREsports]

M80 unsurprisingly is favored to take this series. One of the highest rated squads, we have yet to see their performance and yet, if the whispers hold true, this should be a fairly one-side affair.

 

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Read more here for the viewer guide and format, and here for the team tier list. Follow the Strafe Esports for daily updates, news and Esports related content.

 

Image credit: Knights Arena