Valorant’s unique game mechanics and in-game cosmetics have swept through the gaming industry. In the past two years, the eSports industry of the game has gained a lot of traction. The eSports Majors have become a massive success, garnering a huge viewership. The Valorant Champions Tour, or VCT, is currently in full bloom. Teams are fighting grueling matches against each other in the VCT Masters Tokyo 2023. In today’s last and third match, Edward Gaming fought NAVI in a gruesome series.
The match was between the last year’s 13th runner-up Edward Gaming against the NAVI, a team with the last Masters champion FPX’s core. Before this, the team hadn’t faced each other due to their regions being entirely different. This match was the best out of three, where EDG demolished NAVI and won the game with a clean sweep. Furthermore, this defeat has again shifted NAVI to fight in the EMEA Last Chance qualifiers to get their spot for VCT Champions.
The eSports scene of Valorant is booming, and Riot Games is not pulling its punches to create one of the best eSports tournaments at all. The VCT Masters Tokyo 2023 commenced on 11th June, and teams have engaged in heated battles since.
Today’s June 13th match was Edward Gaming’s first match of the series, and they won it with a clean sweep. The game was best of 3 maps, and it was over with EDG winning the first two maps against NAVI. Both maps were very intense as they both went into Overtime. Furthermore, both teams fought it out spectacularly, but NAVI lost the match and Edward Gaming register their first win in an international event.
Edward Gaming’s victory against NAVI at VCT Masters Tokyo 2023
Today’s match at VCT Masters Tokyo was EDG’s first international win of the series. Moreover, it was against NAVI, one of the older Orgs in the eSports Industry. EDG won the match with two consecutive victories. The maps chosen by the teams were:
- Pearl: NAVI Map Pick
- Bind: Edward Gaming Map Pick
- Lotus: Tiebreaker Map
First Map: Pearl (NAVI’s Pick)
(Credits: Riot Games)This map was really intense. EDG started on the attacking side, while NAVI got the defense. EDG finished the first half with a lead of 7-5, but NAVI slowly regained their pace in the second half. Edward Gaming got a few eco rounds, which led them to regain their momentum and reach the score of 12-12. Both the teams stepped into overtime, which was way too intense for the audience. Both these teams kept on winning alternate rounds, bringing each OT round to a stagnant. This was truly one of the few intense matches in VCT 2023.
Finally, in the fourth OT round, EDG managed to win the match by winning both rounds with precise gun gameplay and tactical use of abilities in their arsenal. NAVI’s Shao dropped the most frags in the game from both sides, but the team still lost. EDG’s Smoggy shined in the match with 31 kills and won EDG the first map. In addition to that, Chinese Jett Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang demolished the opposition with his explosiveness.
Second Map: Bind (Edward Gaming’s Pick)
(Credits: Riot Games)The second map was no less. EDG once again started on the attacking side, while NAVI got the defense. Both teams tied their first half with a score of 6-6. And the game was again tied in the second half. This map, like the previous one, went into overtime too. However, this time, EDG grabbed the crown by winning the first set of OT rounds and defeated NAVI with a clean sweep. The tiebreaker map wasn’t played, as EDG won the Group Stage Elimination game with a score of 2-0.
Once again, Shao dropped the highest frags from both sides, but NAVI still lost the game overall. From EDG’s side, CHICHOO dropped the most frags, with Nobody following right behind him. EDG spectacularly played both maps, and their victory speaks volumes about the preparation for the VCT Masters Tokyo 2023. This game was the first match of Group Stage A1 and proved to be a great opening for the bracket.
Fans’ reaction to EDG’s victory is overwhelming:
China came a long way to reach this level of competitiveness congrats EDG 👍🏻— khun24 (@D34dm4nL) June 13, 2023
can now CN Valorant have slots on Pacific League?— tanny (@tptkorn) June 13, 2023
EMEA losing to China 💀 NA would never pic.twitter.com/8I6jzsisb9— Labree (@ProtectTheMoose) June 13, 2023
KK cooked them with his OP— Freak (@soul_freak80) June 13, 2023
gotta say that kangkang’s spirit is awesome— kanwuri (@kanwurii) June 13, 2023
I can already tell the EDG/T1 rematch tomorrow is going to be an absolute banger— Ben (@BendubzGaming) June 13, 2023
This match was intense and nerve-wracking. NAVI’s loss is going to haunt them, as they’ll have to fight in the LCQ again, with the memory of their loss last year. However, this time it might be different; we can’t be so sure. EDG and T1 will face off tomorrow once more, and with the performance the team has shown today, we will see some really interesting plays tomorrow.
