Today marks the conclusion of the group stage of Valorant Champions 2023, which took place from August 6th to 14th. After the elimination round, 8 of the strongest teams out of the original 16 remain, soon to continue their battle for the championship. Let's recap some of the intriguing and unexpected events during the first phase of the tournament.

Firstly, it's essential to address the performance of the Chinese teams at the championship. Valorant was only recently officially released in China, so from the start, the region was perceived as an underdog compared to others. Chinese teams were seen as weak due to their lack of experience in international tournaments, and many predicted their swift elimination. Despite this, players showed audiences that they shouldn't be underestimated. Out of the three Chinese participants - Bilibili Gaming, EDward Gaming, FunPlus Phoenix - the first two successfully advanced from their groups and secured a spot in the playoffs. This is a remarkable achievement for the new Chinese teams, especially considering both had never previously competed in a world championship, and their performance at such a prestigious tournament can undoubtedly be labeled as successful.

Emotions overshadowing the competitive spirit

During the group stage, we witnessed numerous conflicts, with players from EG and the Chinese teams particularly standing out. You can read the details in our full report, but in short, unsportsmanlike behavior was prevalent during matches. Players shouted unpleasant phrases, made gestures towards opponents, taunted the avatars of fallen foes in-game, and made controversial statements during interviews. It's worth noting that as of now, Riot Games has not responded, leaving the offenders unpunished.

Unexpected exits of strong teams

Many fans were taken aback by the performance of teams that were considered strong and primary contenders for the playoffs before the tournament began. The tournament's dark horse, KRU Esports, on whom many had high hopes due to their unpredictable and intriguing play during and after the season, left the tournament after losing both matches. American giants NRG, who were the second favorites in their group, couldn't handle the Chinese newcomers and were eliminated. Natus Vincere, despite having a challenging group, battled hard but ultimately concluded their journey. Conversely, several underdogs, such as FUT Esports and Bilibili Gaming, surprisingly made it to the playoffs.

This wraps up our recollection of the group stage of Valorant Champions 2023. Remember, we still have the playoff phase to look forward to, which will take place from August 16th to 26th and promises to deliver more bright and controversial moments. Stay tuned to our platform to stay updated on all the championship events.

Also read: jawgemo was named the best player in Group B of Valorant Champions 2023.