Yesterday marked the conclusion of the first two opening quarterfinal matches of Valorant Champions 2023. In the anticipated face-off between LOUD and Fnatic, a spectacular show didn't materialize, with the Brazilians securing an easy victory. The skirmish between Paper Rex and the underdogs FUT Esports predictably ended with the latter's defeat.

The first match was the most anticipated not just for the team's fans but for all tournament viewers, and understandably so. A meeting between the reigning world champions and the main tournament favorites could have stretched to 3 maps with intense competition in additional rounds. Unfortunately, the spectacle did not live up to the expectations of both viewers and our editorial team. Indeed, on the first map, Ascent, chosen by LOUD, there was fierce competition, with a tie score of 6-6 in the first half. However, post-side-switch, the Brazilians managed to pressure their opponents with a final score of 13-11. On the second map, Lotus, Fnatic failed to assert their dominance, which is surprising considering Lotus has been a successful map for them, having played 15 matches with an overall win rate of 87%. Meanwhile, LOUD seemed unfamiliar with the new map. Despite the advantage, Fnatic were soundly defeated with a score of 13-6.

The second match showcased the top teams of the Asia-Pacific region, Paper Rex, against the underdogs, FUT Esports. The outcome was largely expected. From the beginning of the tournament, our editorial team had pointed out that the Turkish team lagged behind other squads and made it to the playoffs due to a weaker group. Although there was evident resistance from the Turkish players on their chosen map, Ascent, Paper Rex still closed it with a score of 13-10. The clash on the subsequent map, Pearl, was entirely under the control of the Singapore representatives, who only conceded 4 rounds, ending the match with a 13-4 victory.

Following these matches, Fnatic and FUT Esports move to the first round of the lower bracket, where they will face each other tomorrow for a chance to continue their participation in the championship. Meanwhile, Paper Rex and LOUD advance to the semifinals of the upper bracket, where they will also confront each other on August 19th for a chance to reach the finals.

We remind you that the playoff stage of Valorant Champions 2023 runs from August 16th to 26th. The 8 top teams from their respective groups will continue to vie for the world champion title and a total prize pool of $2,250,000.

Also read: Will a new agent and map be announced on the final day of Valorant Champions 2023?