VCT Champions 2022: Groups, schedule, matchups and more

August 17, 2022

by Brian Bencomo

Riot Games has revealed the groups for VCT Champions 2022, VALORANT esports’ season-ending championship event that will take place Aug. 31 to Sept. 18. The 16 teams that have qualified have been placed in four groups of four. Group play will be GSL style, with teams needing two wins to make it out of their groups, and teams getting eliminated after two losses. Below is how each group looks, the schedule for the group stage, the most interesting matchups and potential matchups, and predictions for who makes it out of groups.

VCT Champions groups

Group A

Paper Rex
EDward Gaming
Leviatán
Team Liquid

Group B

OpTic Gaming
BOOM Esports
ZETA DIVISION
LOUD

Group C

FunPlus Phoenix
KRÜ Esports
XSET
XERXIA

Group D

DRX
FURIA
Fnatic
100 Thieves

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VCT Champions group schedule (all times ET)

Aug. 31

10 a.m. -- Paper Rex vs. EDward Gaming

1 p.m. -- Leviatán vs. Team Liquid

Sept. 1

8 a.m. -- ZETA DIVISION vs. LOUD

11 a.m. -- OpTic Gaming vs. BOOM Esports

2 p.m. -- Group A winner’s match

Sept. 2

8 a.m. -- DRX vs. FURIA

11 a.m. -- Fnatic vs. 100 Thieves

2 p.m. -- Group B winner’s match

Sept. 3

8 a.m. -- XSET vs. XERXIA

11 a.m. -- FunPlus Phoenix vs. KRÜ Esports

2 p.m. -- Group D winner’s match

Sept. 4

8 a.m. -- Group C winner’s match

11 a.m. -- Group A elimination match

2 p.m. -- Group B elimination match

Sept. 5

10 a.m. -- Group D elimination match

1 p.m. -- Group C elimination match

Sept. 7

TBD -- Group A decider match

TBD -- Group B decider match

Sept. 8

TBD -- Group D decider match

TBD -- Group C decider match

Four spiciest group matchups

Paper Rex vs. EDward Gaming

The very first match at VCT Champions should be a banger. You have the runner-up team from Masters: Copenhagen vs. a team that absolutely dominated the East Asia Last Chance Qualifier. These are both teams that play a fast and exciting style of VALORANT. This will be the first appearance for a Chinese team at any VCT global event, and after how they looked in the East Asia LCQ, EDward Gaming look dangerous. If they can beat Paper Rex, they have an inside track on getting out of this group.

Read more: Masters Copenhagen takeaways

OpTic Gaming vs. LOUD

We’ve seen this matchup three times now. LOUD beat OpTic in the Masters: Reykjavík upper final, and then OpTic got revenge in the grand final to win the tournament. At Masters: Copenhagen, OpTic once again beat LOUD, but this time it happened in groups and eliminated the Brazilian team very early in the tournament. So these two teams were “randomly” placed in the same group again? That’s questionable, but it should make for another great matchup if they end up facing each other. In Copenhagen, everybody expected OpTic and LOUD to meet in the group stage winner’s match, but instead they met in the group elimination match. We’ll just have to see how this group plays out, but there’s a good chance they’ll meet again.

Fnatic vs. 100 Thieves

This is the clout matchup of groups. You have one of the most popular esports organizations in Europe on one side and one of the most popular North American orgs on the other side. It might not be Sentinels vs. G2 Esports at Masters: Berlin last year, but it’s probably the best NA vs. EU matchup possible at this tournament. Fnatic should win this, but 100 Thieves are riding a wave of momentum after winning the NA LCQ, and Derrek “Derrek” Ha was extremely clutch at the LCQ.

KRÜ Esports vs. XSET

This matchup is a lot less intriguing than the other three matchups, but should be the most competitive in Group C. Will XSET bounce back from a winless performance at Masters: Copenhagen? With some LAN experience under their belts and a bootcamp in Poland ahead of Champions, XSET should be a lot better in Turkey. KRÜ have been to every global VCT event and they’re always contenders to make it out of groups. Plus, you got the potential for a budding NA vs. LATAM regional rivalry here. LATAM’s Leviatán beat XSET in Copenhagen and that was a very spicy matchup. This probably won’t be the winner’s matchup because FPX should beat KRÜ, but this could easily be the Group C elimination or decider match.

Who’s making it out of groups at VCT Champions?

Group A

There’s a history of Masters/Champions runners-up doing poorly in subsequent international events. LOUD didn’t make it out of groups in Copenhagen after reaching the final in Reykjavík earlier this year. Envy didn’t make it out of groups at VCT Champions 2021 after being a finalist at Masters: Berlin. Using that baseless logic, I’m going to say EDward Gaming beats Paper Rex and ultimately makes it out of the group. The other team that will qualify out of Group A will be Leviatán. They showed a lot of potential in Copenhagen and should be even better this time around.

Group B

OpTic Gaming were the champions of Masters: Reykjavík and finished third at Masters: Copenhagen. There’s no European team in this group -- their kryptonite -- so they should make it out, though it wouldn’t be surprising if they drop a match. The second team to qualify out of Group B should be either LOUD or ZETA DIVISION, the second and third-place finishers in Reykjavík, respectively. I think LOUD will bounce back and qualify.

Group C

FunPlus Phoenix should be a lock to qualify out of Group A. They’re the reigning Masters: Copenhagen champs, and there really isn’t another team that can challenge them in this group. As for the second-best team in this group, it’s probably KRÜ or XSET. I give KRÜ a slight edge just based on experience and think they will make it out.

Group D

DRX have made it out of groups at both Masters events this year, and I can see them doing it again at Champions. Fnatic and 100 Thieves will likely fight for the second spot. Not only will they face each in their opening group matchup, but I can see a rematch in the decider match. Fnatic have plenty of international stage experience, and like DRX, they tend to do pretty well internationally up to a certain point. They also will reach the playoffs.

Lead photo credit: Riot Games