The VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2024 begins in earnest with the regional Kickoff tournaments leading up to Masters Madrid. Teams compete for only two spots in Masters Madrid per region, which helps to create an electrifying atmosphere.
Let’s discuss the Americas and Pacific VCT 2024 Kickoff events, including must-know details for VALORANT esports fans and our betting predictions!
Please note: Our VCT 2024 Kickoff Americas and Pacific betting predictions are based on team rankings, stats, historical data, team changes, form heading into the event, and the author’s expert opinion. Readers should not interpret the predictions as betting advice to act upon. Always gamble responsibly.
Check out the latest VALORANT betting odds and our VALORANT betting guide for more tips on making your picks.
VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff Schedule & Format
The VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff event runs from Feb. 16 to March 3, 2024 at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles, Calif.
The Group Stage runs from Feb. 16 to Feb. 25 and features three groups with a double-elimination GSL-style format. The top team from each group advances to the Playoffs stage, while the second place in each group advances to the Play-In. All matches are best-of-three (BO3). Since there are 11 teams, Group C is smaller, with only three teams. Evil Geniuses (the highest-placed team in Champions 2023) gets a bye.
On Feb. 26, we’ll see the Play-In stage with a Single Round-Robin group format, where all matches are BO3. The top team advances to the Playoffs. In the Playoffs stage of the VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff (March 2 to March 3), the format is single-elimination, with BO3 semifinal matches and a BO5 Grand Final.
How To Watch VCT Americas Kickoff
You can navigate to our VCT Americas Kickoff section, then select a match, and the embedded stream will automatically appear on the left side once. Click the “Live Mode” button to increase the stream’s size. You can also tune in via the official VALORANT_Americas Twitch channel or VALORANT Champions Tour Americas YouTube channel.
Teams Competing In VCT Americas Kickoff
The 11 top teams in North and South America compete for only two spots at Masters Madrid. Many fans consider the VCT Americas League the toughest event, so sparks are sure to fly.
- LOUD
- MIBR
- Leviatán
- KRÜ Esports
- 100 Thieves
- Cloud9
- Evil Geniuses
- FURIA Esports
- NRG
- Sentinels
- G2 Esports
The Guard made it through the Challengers Ascension league to claim a spot in the VCT 2024 Americas League. Most of these players now compete under the G2 Esports banner.
Our Predictions For VCT Americas Kickoff
Many of the best VALORANT players of 2023 are on teams competing in the VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff, making the event both exhilarating and highly unpredictable. Our picks for the top two teams are below, including what many will consider a bold prediction.
1. NRG
Odds indicate NRG as one of the favorites to win VCT Americas Kickoff, and rightly so. NRG features Max “Demon1” Mazanov, the best VALORANT player in the world, who will play alongside ex-EG teammate and IGL, Ethan “Ethan” Arnold.
NRG roster:
- Max “Demon1” Mazanov
- Austin “crashies” Roberts
- Victor “Victor” Wong
- Jimmy “Marved” Nguyen
- Ethan “Ethan” Arnold (IGL)
2. 100 Thieves
Picking 100 Thieves for a second-place finish is a very bold prediction. The odds are not in their favor, with LOUD, Leviatán, and Cloud9 as safer options. So why the 100 Thieves pick? Well, VALORANT Championship 2023 winner Kelden “Boostio” Pupello transferred from Evil Geniuses to 100 Thieves on Jan. 8, 2024, taking up the mantle of IGL. Maybe, just maybe, 100 Thieves can surprise us all.
100 Thieves roster:
- Daniel “eeiu” Vucenovic
- Matthew “Cryocells” Panganiban
- Sean “bang” Bezerra
- Peter “Asuna” Mazuryk
- Kelden “Boostio” Pupello (IGL)
VCT 2024 Pacific Kickoff Schedule & Format
From Feb. 17 to Feb. 25, 11 teams from the APAC region will compete on LAN at the S FACTORY Tower D in Seoul, South Korea. The VCT 2024 Pacific action begins with a Group Stage from Feb. 17 to Feb. 21 in a GSL-style, double-elimination format. As the highest-placing team at Valorant Champions 2023 (2nd place finish), Paper Rex gets a bye for their opening match in Group C.
On Feb. 22, the Play-In Stage takes place, and on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25, we’ll see the remaining four teams compete in the single-elimination playoffs, whereas the semifinals are BO3 and the Grand Final is BO5.
How To Watch VCT Pacific Kickoff
You can enjoy all the VCT Pacific Kickoff action right here at Thunderpick. Just navigate to our VALORANT section, select a VCT Pacific Kickoff match, and you’ll see the embedded stream will automatically appear on the left side. Click the “Live Mode” button to increase the stream’s size.
You can also watch all the action via the official VALORANT_Pacific Twitch channel or VALORANT Champions Tour Pacific YouTube channel.
Teams Competing In VCT Pacific Kickoff
We’ll see 11 of the best VALORANT teams in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region compete in the VCT 2024 Pacific Kickoff LAN event. The star-studded rosters comprise ten partner teams and one team who made it through the Challengers Ascension event.
- Gen.G
- DRX
- Global Esports
- DetonatioN FocusMe
- Bleed Esports
- ZETA DIVISION
- Team Secret
- Rex Regum Qeon
- Paper Rex
- T1
- Talon Esports
Bleed Esports made it through the regional VALORANT Challengers Ascension 2023 to claim a spot in the VCT 2024 Pacific League.
Our Predictions For VCT Pacific Kickoff
Following several roster changes in the off-season, our VCT 2024 Pacific Kickoff betting predictions are admittedly difficult to pin down. However, we’ve done the research to provide you with our two picks.
1. Paper Rex
Our first-place prediction isn’t surprising given that Paper Rex is one of the favorites to win the VCT Pacific Kickoff. The team boasts Indonesian IGL Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto, who led them to a second-place finish at the VALORANT Championship 2023.
Paper Rex roster:
- Cahya “Monyet” Nugraha
- Ilya “something” Petrov
- Aaron “mindfreak” Leonhart
- Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee
- Wang “Jinggg” Jing Jie (sub)
- Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto (IGL)
2. DRX
DRX narrowly lost to Paper Rex at VCT 2023 Pacific League, and the team is hungry for trophies. If DRX can survive the Group Stage, the young South Korean squad could go all the way. It largely depends on how they handle the pressure.
DRX roster:
- Byung-chul “BuZz” Yu
- Jung “Foxy9” Jae-sung
- Cho “Flashback” Min-hyuk
- Kim “MaKo” Myeong-kwan
- Kim “stax” Gu-taek (IGL)
The VCT Is Heating Up
Are you ready for the VCT Kickoff games to start? We definitely are, especially when you consider all of the roster changes and incredible play from the top teams. Keep in mind that our predictions are based on a thorough review of factors, including team members’ stats, past performance, and current standings. Remember, none of this should be interpreted as betting advice.
Also remember that you can watch every single match right here at Thunderpick on our dedicated VALORANT betting page. Be sure to mark your calendars!
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