The qualifiers in the Pacific region are in full swing, and the most exciting matches are still ahead. Soon, T1 will face Talon Esports in the upper bracket semifinal, and below, we’ll analyze what to expect from this matchup.

Current Form of the Teams

T1

T1 enter this match in excellent form. The team has not participated in official tournaments in recent months, but their last appearance at Red Bull Home Ground #5 ended in triumph—securing first place among eight teams. In their last five matches, T1 have won five in a row, defeating Paper Rex, BOOM Esports, Cloud9, FUT Esports, and G2.

After recent roster changes, the squad has shown consistency and dominance, making them the clear favorites for this matchup. Although T1 did not secure major titles last year, their current form inspires confidence in their success.

Talon Esports

Talon Esports, on the other hand, have struggled with consistency. Their run at SOOP VALORANT League 2024 ended in disappointment, finishing in 7th-8th place—a result far below fan expectations. In their last five matches, the team managed only two wins, defeating Global Esports and DRX, but losing to Made in Thailand and Gen.G twice.

Compared to T1's dominant performances, Talon Esports appear to be the clear underdogs. The roster has seen no major changes, and their results raise questions about their preparation. While they have secured one win in this tournament, it came against one of the weaker teams and does not significantly impact this matchup.

Map Pool

Expected Bans:

• T1 will likely ban Pearl, as this map is not in their active pool.
• Talon Esports are expected to remove Bind, where T1 hold a strong 57% win rate.

Expected Picks:

• T1 might choose Haven - one of their strongest maps, where they have played over 70 official matches.
• Talon Esports could opt for Lotus, as it's one of the few maps where they have a decent win rate.

Head-to-Head History

The teams have not faced each other in the last six months. Their most recent encounter was in early 2024, where T1 secured a 2-1 victory.

Match Prediction

Considering current form, map statistics, and previous encounters, T1 are the clear favorites. They have shown greater consistency, possess a deeper map pool, and have recently defeated much stronger opponents than Talon Esports.

The only way for Talon to pull off an upset is by surprising T1 with unconventional strategies and capitalizing on their own map picks. However, T1 are still the heavy favorites.

Predicted Score: T1 to win 2-0

The VCT 2025: Pacific Kickoff is taking place from January 18 to February 9 in a LAN format at Sangam Colosseum in Seoul, South Korea. Twelve partnered VCT teams are competing for two invites to Masters Bangkok and crucial Pacific Points needed for qualification to the World Championship.