VCT EMEA Kickoff Play-In Stage Predictions

VCT EMEA Kickoff has finally begun in all its glory. VCT EMEA is one of the 4 leagues in the VCT Partnership League, with fans worldwide speculating which teams would make it to the playoff phase of this tournament. 11 teams in VCT EMEA Kickoff faced off against each other in a GSL tournament format. The 3 teams who have made it directly to the playoffs have been confirmed. Tonight the VCT EMEA Kickoff Play-In Stage will be taking place which is a single round-robin format between 3 teams. The winner of this will qualify for the playoff stage of the tournament alongside the other 3 teams. In this article let's take an in-depth look at all the teams who have made it to the Play-Ins and which team will qualify for the playoffs.

Also Read: Gen.G Defeated Paper Rex To Win The VCT 2024: Pacific Kickoff
 

Can Team Vitality Prove Why They Are Considered One Of The Best Teams In EMEA?

Since the start of the VCT EMEA Kickoff, Team Vitality has been noted to be one of the favorites. They were present in group C which consisted of teams such as FNATIC and Gentle Mates. One must note that FNATIC in 2023 had won VCT LOCK//In 2023 as well as VCT Masters Toyko in 2023. Due to these accomplishments, they were provided with a bye in the group stage that would just require them to win one game to make it to the playoffs.

This made things for Team Vitality much harder as they couldn’t get any prior knowledge of their opponents. Their first game was against Gentle Mates. Gentle Mates were the team that won VCT EMEA Ascension 2023 and secured a spot in the VCT EMEA League. The first match between these two teams ended with Team Vitality on top winning the series 2-0. This would result in their faceoff against FNATIC. The last time these two teams faced off Team Vitality lost against FNATIC 2-0 in both the BO3 series.

History did repeat itself as Team Vitality again lost 2-0 in the B03 series between the two teams. This resulted in the rematch between Team Vitality and Gentle Mates. This match-up was closer than expected as Gentle Mates went on to win map one in dominating fashion with the score of 13-4. The second match was a very close affair as Gentle Mates were at match point with the score at 12-9. Team Vitality secured the last 3 rounds to take it to overtime and won the map with a score of 15-13. The final map was on Sunset and this was a one-sided match. Team Vitality won with a score of 13-3 and secured their spot in the play-ins.

Can The French Giants Karmine Corp Secure Their Spot In The Playoffs?

If there is one team worldwide known for their incredible fanbase, it is none other than Karmine Corp. With such a huge and passionate fanbase comes a lot more expectations as well. Karmine Corp this year has a new roster core consisting of the likes of Tomaszy as well as N4RRATE. Their match with this new roster was against GIANTX in group A. They won that game in a score affair with a score of 2-1. In this game, we got to see quite a few changes to the player's roles when compared to their roles in their older teams.

In the second game, they faced off against Team Heretics. These two teams had previously faced off in the VCT EMEA League 2023. During that match, Team Heretics won the game with a score of 2-0. They next faced off against each other in a show match between the two teams. Karmine Corp won that game with a score of 1-0. Their game in the VCT EMEA Kickoff was a one-sided affair dominated by Team Heretics. They won the B03 series with a score of 2-0. They won each map with a score of 13-4 as well. These resulted in Karmine Corp not qualifying for playoffs but instead having to face FUT Esports to decide which team gets a spot in Play-Ins.

This match was a close and very long affair between the two teams. Karmine Corp won the first map with a score of 20-18. This made the first map the longest in the entire tournament. Karmine Corp then lost the second map in quite the one-sided affair, losing it with a score of 13-3. Finally, on the last map which was Sunset, Karmine Corp reigned supreme and won the map 13-7 securing their spot in the VCT EMEA Kickoff Play-Ins.

Can the Dark Horses Movistar KOI Esports Make It To the Playoffs?

Movistar KOI Esports since their announcement to VCT EMEA have always looked at the dark horses. A team has the potential to run riot against other teams and cause a lot of upsets. Their first match in VCT EMEA Kickoff was against Team Liquid. They were one of the favorites to win the event. These two teams previously faced off against each other in VCT EMEA 2023 where Team Liquid won the series with a score of 2-1.

In their first map in this tournament, Movistar KOI Esports lost to Team Liquid with a series score of 2-0. This match was a close affair between both teams as each map ended with a score of 13-10 and 13-11. Movistar KOI Esports then had to face BBL Esports in thier next game.

In their previous encounter in VCT EMEA 2023, BBL Esports defeated Movistar KOI Esports 2-1. Not for a second during their match did it feel like history would repeat itself as Movistar KOI Esports won the first map with a score of 13-4 and then the series 2-0. This win resulted in the rematch between Movistar KOI Esports and Team Liquid. Was history going to repeat itself or Movistar KOI Esports were truly the dark horses?

Movistar KOI Esports won Map 1 with a score of 13-11. Team Liquid was on match point with the score being 12-10 but Movistar KOI Esports won 2 rounds in a row to take it to overtime. Team Liquid won map two with a score of 14-12. Game 3 was another close affair going over 20 rounds but Movistar KOI Esports won the map with a score of 13-10. This win secured their spot in the VCT EMEA Play-Ins as well as proved that Movistar KOI Esports could take down one of the giants.

Movistar KOI Esports have now two other favorites to take on which are Karmine Corp and Team Vitality. Movistar KOI Esports do have the potential to secure their spot in the playoffs. The only worry for them is Team Vitality who have been on an incredible run of form since VCT Convergence. It must be stated that currently, Team Vitality does look like the team that will go forward and qualify for the playoffs in VCT EMEA Kickoff 2024.

The first game is between Karmine Corp and Movistar KOI Esports. If Movistar KOI Esports can secure the win against them, it will put a lot of pressure on Team Vitality in their game against Movistar KOI Esports. If Team Vitality doesn’t win that game it will secure the spot for Movistar KOI Esports in the playoffs. If Movistar KOI Esports can win against Vitality, they will be able to take down two other favorites in their run to the top and prove why they cannot be underestimated.

Also read: Paper Rex And Gen.G Qualified For Valorant Champions Tour 2024: Masters Madrid