VCT NA Stage 1 playoffs: What you need to know

The VALORANT Champions Tour Stage 1 playoffs are nearly underway in North America as the eight best teams from the group stage fight for two spots at VCT Masters: Reykjavik starting April 10.

The top four teams from Group A and B qualified for the VCT NA Stage 1 playoffs as the eight teams have been cross-seeded for the upper bracket quarterfinals. The winners will move on to the upper bracket semifinals while the losers will drop down into the first round of the lower bracket.

Schedule and format for the VCT NA Stage 1 playoffs (all times ET)

March 17

• Cloud9 vs. Knights at 4 p.m.
• OpTic Gaming vs. XSET at 7 p.m.

March 18

• Version1/ vs. Luminosity at 4 p.m.
• The Guard vs. Sentinels at 7 p.m.

March 19

• upper bracket semifinals at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

March 20

• lower bracket round 1 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

March 24

• lower bracket round 2 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

March 25

• upper bracket final at 4 p.m.
• lower bracket round 3 at 7 p.m.

March 26

• lower bracket final at 4 p.m.

March 27

• grand final at 4 p.m.

All playoff matches will be played in a best-of-three format until both the lower final and the grand final, both of which will be best-of-five series.

The two teams that make it to that grand final match will qualify for Masters: Reykjavik in April and represent North America on the international stage.

Last year, Version1 and Sentinels went to Masters: Reykjavík, but who are the contenders this year?

Below is a breakdown of each of the opening matches, and what you should look out for in the upcoming matches.

Breaking down the VCT NA quarterfinal playoff matchups

Cloud9 vs. Knights

Photo credit: Riot Games

The matchup between Cloud9 vs. Knights, Group B’s fourth seed, is one that is heavily skewed for Cloud9, who enter the upper bracket quarterfinals as a favorite to make a deep playoff run. Cloud9 went undefeated throughout the group stage, ending it in dominant fashion when they dismantled The Guard in their final game on Haven, 13-2.

As for the Knights, they enter their quarterfinal matchup against Cloud9 as heavy underdogs to the 2021 VCT Champions quarterfinalists. They reached the playoffs by winning two games against NRG and Rise, who were the two eliminated teams from Group B. If the Knights are to put up any fight against Cloud9, it will need to come in the form of a monstrous performance from the longest-tenured member of the team, Damion “XXiF” Cook, who is the only remaining player from their initial 2020 lineup.

Other than that, expect a 2-0 sweep from Cloud9 as they look to qualify for Masters: Reykjavík.

OpTic Gaming vs. XSET

Photo credit: Riot Games

The two quarterfinal matchups between each Group’s second and third seeds are set to be close matchups. This is something that holds especially true in the match between OpTic Gaming and XSET, who both ended their respective group stages with a 3-2 record.

It is a battle between young talent vs. experience. OpTic’s foundation is centered around setting up star player Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker for success, while XSET is built around their young nucleus of Zachary “zekken” Patrone and Matthew “Cryocells” Panganiban.

XSET enters the series as the third seed from Group A after losing two close three-game series against Cloud9 and The Guard. XSET were the team closest to handing Cloud9 a series loss in the group stage when they brought the Group A first seed to a third map, which they ultimately lost 13-10.

As for OpTic, they went through the group stages challenged by most teams and were the only team to drop a series against Rise. However, due to their close victory over the Sentinels, they were granted the second seed in Group B because of the head-to-head record.

This series is going to be a back-and-forth battle between the teams' primary operator players, Cryocells and yay. XSET’s new Jett main, Cryocells, has bolstered the initial four-man XSET core from 2021 and has been a major upgrade over Bryce "PureR" Lovell. In 37 games, Cryocells boasts a 165 ADR and has shown an ability to have excellent games when he can get on a streak of good rounds through his exceptional aim.

OpTic will need to make sure that they can shut down Cryocells. If they can figure out where he is on the map and stop him from mechanical domination, then expect an OpTic win. However, if XSET can play around Cryocells and set him up for success, along with Zekken, then expect an XSET 2-0 victory.

That being said, expect OpTic to look stronger in the playoff stage and for in-game leader Pujan “FNS” Mehta to help his team navigate the dangerous XSET duo of zekken and Cryocells.

Luminosity Gaming vs. Version1

Photo credit: Riot Games

This series between Version1 and Luminosity Gaming should go in favor of Version1 strictly based on the trajectory of both teams, as well as how they qualified for the playoffs.

Luminosity scraped into the VCT playoffs after two very close victories over 100 Thieves and Evil Geniuses. A couple of overtime rounds in both of their Map 3 victories signified the difference between their 2-3 record and a possible 0-5 exit in the group stage.

They are now looking to conjure up some of that same magic against one of the favorites to qualify for Masters in Version1, who have dominated the VALORANT landscape ever since signing their new IGL Alexander “Zander” Dituri on Dec. 24. Since this move, Version1 haven’t lost a series and are 23-9 in individual games.

Version1 will likely beat Luminosity Gaming 2-0, sending them to the lower bracket. Barring any catastrophic mistakes from Version1 or an overperformance from Luminosity, expect this series to be a warm-up for Version1.

The Guard vs. Sentinels

Photo credit: Riot Games

Sentinels were the top dogs in VALORANT in early 2021, which was capped off by their win at Masters: Reykjavik. Now, they are in a position to again qualify for their breakout event, and it could start with a win against The Guard.

This matchup between The Guard and Sentinels is a battle between the seasoned veterans vs. the new kids on the block. The Guard have quickly risen to become one of North America’s top VALORANT teams and were one game away from topping Group A against the undefeated Cloud9.

Even with their strong group stage performance and Sentinels’ inconsistency, expect the Sentinels to bounce back against The Guard. Sentinels only two losses came from OpTic and Version1, who were first and second in Group B. Their playoff and international experience throughout 2021 should be beneficial for Sentinels.

Who to watch during the VCT NA playoffs?

You should keep an eye on Cloud9 potentially dominating the upper bracket alongside Version1 after both teams went undefeated during the group stage. Their possible matchup in the upper bracket final on March 25 is one to look forward to.

However, that matchup could be thwarted by massive performances from an onslaught of other teams that have been able to capitalize on these two teams’ weaknesses.

In particular, this bracket can really be shaken up by XSET if the young duo of zekken and Cryocells can erupt in the playoffs. Other teams to look out for are The Guard, OpTic and Sentinels. The playoffs will be the first true test for The Guard to determine if they are actually one of the top two teams in NA VALORANT.

OpTic and Sentinels were two of VALORANT’s most consistent North American teams in 2021. If Sentinels can regain their form from 2021 Masters: Reykjavík and OpTic can play like they did as Masters: Berlin, then their experience should help them take over.

Both teams have strong grips on performing in high-pressure situations and with LAN qualification on the line, these two experienced teams pose a strong threat to usurp the group stage threats of Cloud9 and Version1, whom teams will be heavily counter-stratting against.

Overall, there are a lot of variabilities that can occur during the playoffs, and each team will face increasing pressure in their quest for Masters qualification. The next couple of weekends will be interesting as the playoffs unfold.

Lead photo credit: Riot Games