NRG rebounds after defeat, while dark horse KRU Esports falls short of expectations

The group stage of Valorant Champions 2023 is nearing its conclusion, with only 4 decisive matches remaining. Yesterday, two elimination matches took place between the participants of groups A and C, which we will now detail.

In the first match, Latin America's KRU Esports faced off against Europe's Giants. After two intense maps, the latter clinched the victory. As previously mentioned, KRU Esports entered the tournament as a dark horse since they unexpectedly could muster strength and start winning, as seen during the regular season. The team didn't win a single match, but in contrast, during the LCQ in the American region, they didn't lose at all, securing a slot in the current championship. Unfortunately, the team couldn't replicate its success in the last match, losing 0-2.

The second elimination match showcased a clash between NRG and the Japanese team, ZETA DIVISION. Despite ZETA being considered the favorites, they lost comprehensively to the American squad. Their map pick, Bind, was played intensely, but they lost in the overtime rounds. Their opponents' pick, Haven, was utterly dominated by the Americans, with the Japanese team managing to take only one round.

As a result of these matches, both KRU Esports and ZETA DIVISION exit the tournament, finishing in 13-16th places and earning $20,000 each. Giants and NRG will, in turn, play crucial matches to qualify for the playoff stage of the championship. NRG will face Bilibili Gaming, who in an earlier match defeated the Americans 2-0. It remains to be seen whether NRG will exact their revenge. Giants will also meet their former opponents, EDward Gaming, having previously lost to them with a score of 1-2.

Also read: NAVI vs LOUD - who will advance to the playoffs, and who will head home?