Top 5 games to watch this weekend in esports

June 24, 2021

by Brian Bencomo

Don’t know what to watch this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Here are five of the most compelling games happening this weekend across VALORANT, League of Legends and Overwatch.

Dignitas vs. Shopify Rebellion -- Thursday, 3 p.m. ET

VALORANT Champions Tour Game Changers Series 2

The main event of the VCT Game Changers Series 2 takes place this weekend, and the opening matchup to watch is between Dignitas and Shopify Rebellion. Dignitas is one of the top female VALORANT squads with a roster consisting of experienced CS:GO veterans like Emmalee "EMUHLEET" Garrido, Amanda "rain" Smith and Melisa "Theia" Mundorff. Meanwhile, Shopify Rebellion’s roster is made up of members of the old Moon Raccoons Black team that did surprisingly well during Game Changers Series 1.

During the open qualifiers for this event, Shopify actually took a map from Cloud9 White, the team that has proven to be far and away the best among all-female VALORANT rosters. Whoever wins between Dignitas and Shopify may face another formidable team in CLG Red next. And the winner of that matchup will likely get a shot to take down Cloud9 White in the upper bracket final.

Streams on https://www.twitch.tv/valorant

Game Changers schedule:

Thursday: Starts at 3 p.m. ET
Friday: Starts at 3 p.m. ET
Saturday: Starts at 3 p.m. ET
Sunday: Starts at 3 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Gladiators vs. San Francisco Shock -- Friday, 4:30 p.m. ET

Overwatch League

Two of the best teams in the West Region throughout the May Melee and June Joust face off on the first day of the Summer Showdown. The Shock are 7-1 overall and have the best map differential (+13) in the West Region this season, and the Gladiators are 6-2 overall and went 4-0 during June Joust qualifiers. The Shock beat the Gladiators during the first week of the May Melee qualifiers.

Neither team has made it to Hawaii yet as they both have been tripped up during the regional knockout rounds. The Atlanta Reign beat the Shock in the June Joust knockout stage, and the Dallas Fuel ended the Shock’s run in May Melee knockouts and eliminated the Gladiators during June Joust knockouts.

Streams on https://www.youtube.com/overwatchleague

Overwatch League schedule:

Friday: West division play starts at 3 p.m. ET
Saturday: East division play starts at 5 a.m. ET
Saturday: West division play starts at 3 p.m. ET
Sunday: East division play starts at 5 a.m. ET
Sunday: West division play starts at 3 p.m. ET

G2 vs. Fnatic -- Saturday, 3 p.m. ET

League of Legends European Championship

G2 vs. Fnatic. Need I say more? The two titans of European League of Legends face off for the first time this summer after splitting two meetings in the spring. Since 2012 neither team has represented Europe at an international League of Legends tournament. In what might have represented a changing of the guard, MAD Lions was Europe’s sole representative at last month’s Mid-Season Invitational. With Europe getting three spots at the League of Legends World Championship, one or both of these teams are sure to be there, and both are off to strong starts so far this summer. G2 (4-1) are tied with Misfits atop of the LEC standings, and Fnatic (3-2) are right behind them, tied for third.

Streams on twitch.tv/lec

LEC schedule:

Friday: Starts at 12 p.m. ET
Saturday: Starts at 11 a.m. ET

Game Changers grand final -- Sunday 3 p.m. ET

VALORANT Champions Tour Game Changers Series 2

Based on previous results in Game Changers Series 1 and FTW, it’s highly likely we’ll get to see Cloud9 White vying for another title Sunday. The big question is who they will face and which teams can challenge them or even prevent them from reaching the final. Dignitas, Shopify Rebellion and CLG Red all sit on the opposite side of the eight-team bracket from C9 White, so one of those teams will likely face them in the upper bracket final. TSM also have a strong team, but they have the unfortunate luck of being on the same side of the bracket as C9 White.

Among the three teams not signed by a major org, Just Breathe beat CLG Red during the open qualifiers, so they might be a dark horse team to watch. The way the seedings worked out, Just Breathe will get a chance to prove that win wasn’t a fluke when they face CLG Red in the first round.

Streams on https://www.twitch.tv/valorant

TSM vs. Team Liquid -- Sunday 6 p.m. ET

League of Legends Championship Series

TSM (19-8) overtook Cloud9 (17-10) for the top spot in the LCS standings last week. They will face one of the other top teams in the league, Team Liquid (17-10), tied for third with C9, on Sunday. TSM are the only team in the league TL have yet to beat this season. Can TSM move their record against TL to 4-0? Or will Liquid finally beat them? Interestingly enough, TSM are winless in three tries against FlyQuest (9-18) this season. Those two teams will match up Friday, so don’t be surprised if the eighth-place team in the LCS takes down the first-place team yet again.

Streams on twitch.tv/lcs

LCS schedule: