VALORANT LCQs wrapping up this weekend with four Champions spots up for grabs

October 14, 2021

by Brian Bencomo

All four VALORANT Last Chance Qualifiers are in full swing, and we should know the last four qualifiers for Champions by the end of the weekend. North America might be the exception after the cancellation of Wednesday’s and Thursday’s matches (more on that below). To get you ready for the last weekend of the VALORANT Champions Tour before Champions, here’s a breakdown of who’s still standing and who can still qualify for VALORANT’s big year-end championship.

North America

After Wednesday’s and Thursday’s matches were canceled due to Los Angeles county’s COVID-19 requirements, it’s unclear whether the NA Last Chance Qualifier will continue this weekend. If it does, it will mean an altered schedule and the possibility that the LCQ will last past Sunday.

Regardless of how or when the competition will continue, we know that 100 Thieves are awaiting the upper bracket final. They will face Cloud9, FaZe Clan, Version1 or Rise. Whoever they face, 100T will be the favorites to advance to the grand final and compete for a chance to be NA’s third representative at Champions.

In the lower bracket, XSET have the best chance to go on a lower bracket run. However, both Gen.G and Luminosity pushed their opponents to three maps in the first round and looked capable of also going on lower bracket runs. 100 Thieves were the frontrunners going into LCQ and still are, but after the first day’s showing, the last NA spot in Champions could go to anyone.

Europe, Middle East and Africa

As expected, G2 Esports will face Team Liquid on Saturday for a spot in the EMEA LCQ grand final. It wouldn’t be surprising to then get a rematch in the grand final to determine EMEA’s last qualifier for Champions. TL haven’t lost any maps and G2 have looked shakier, so TL might have a slight edge in this matchup.

Europe reigns supreme in the upper bracket, but three Turkish teams (and one European team) are looking to make lower bracket runs. Of the Turkish teams, SuperMassive Blaze probably have the best chance of reaching the final given that they qualified for Masters: Berlin. However, they will have to beat a Futbolist team that took a map from G2 and pushed them to a long overtime map that they ultimately lost 22-20.

South America

This LCQ is shaping up to be Latin America vs. Brazil for one spot at Champions. In one semifinal it will be Brazilian team Gamlanders Blue against one of two fellow Brazilian teams: Sharks Esports or FURIA. In the other semifinal, it will be Chilean team Australs against either fellow Latin American team Six Karma or Brazilian team Havan Liberty.

Australs won Latin America’s Stage 1 Masters and finished second to KRÜ Esports in Stage 3, just missing out on qualifying for Berlin. They’re a good bet to reach the final of this qualifier. Among the Brazilian teams, both Sharks and Havan Liberty have Masters experience, but Gamelanders Blue -- who have underachieved throughout Challengers -- have gone 2-0 without dropping any maps in this LCQ.

Asia-Pacific

The APAC LCQ has produced the most surprising results. Korean teams were expected to be the dominant teams at this qualifier, but that hasn’t been the case. NUTURN Gaming -- who finished third at Masters: Reykjavík -- lost in the upper bracket semis to FULL SENSE, the fourth-place team from Southeast Asia. DAMWON Gaming lost in the first round to Global Esports, a team from India that has no international experience. F4Q -- who qualified for Masters: Berlin -- lost in the upper bracket quarterfinals to Northeption, the fourth-place team from Japan.

Meanwhile, Southeast Asian teams have been looking good, and it’s safe to say one of the grand finalists at this qualifier will likely be representing SEA. Paper Rex, who were at Masters: Berlin, lost to Japanese team Northeption in the upper bracket, and they now have to fight through the lower bracket to end up in the finals for a shot at Champions.

Lead photo credit: Riot Games