VCT 2025 Bangkok Group Stage Review

The group stage of VCT 2025 in Bangkok has come to an end, and now fans eagerly await the playoffs. But before diving into what lies ahead, let’s take a look back at the group stage and predict what to expect from the playoffs, as well as who is most likely to reach the grand final.

The Group Stage Overview

The tournament brought together the eight strongest teams from all regions. The competition followed a double-elimination format, where every match was crucial for advancing to the playoffs. After intense battles, four teams emerged as the best, securing their spots in the main stage of the tournament. These teams are EDward Gaming, Team Vitality, T1 Esports, and G2 Esports. As for the teams that were eliminated, Trace Esports, Sentinels, DRX, and Team Liquid were knocked out of the competition.

Biggest Surprise

The biggest revelation of the tournament was Team Vitality. While it was clear that they had a strong roster on paper, there were doubts about how well they would perform on stage. However, the team exceeded expectations and showcased excellent gameplay.

Another team worth mentioning is Team Liquid. Although they were eliminated, they demonstrated that they should not be underestimated. The core of the roster was assembled at the end of 2024, yet they delivered an impressive performance considering the struggles the organization had faced with previous lineups. Their only major weakness was their tactical play, which was exposed by G2 Esports, the team that ultimately knocked them out of the tournament.

Tournament Disappointments

The biggest disappointment of the VALORANT Masters Bangkok 2025 was Team Sentinels. Their performance was far below expectations, culminating in a devastating 13-1 loss to Team Liquid in their final map. Perhaps the team never fully adapted after losing their star player, TenZ, but Sentinels underperformed in every aspect—both in terms of gunplay and tactical execution. Hopefully, they will work on their mistakes and come back stronger to impress their fans.

Another letdown was DRX. Despite a strong start, where they defeated Sentinels 2-0, they later struggled in a close match against Team Vitality and completely collapsed in their decisive match, suffering a 2-0 loss to underdogs T1 Esports. This result disappointed many South Korean fans, as DRX had the potential to perform much better than what they showed, particularly on Pearl against T1 Esports.

Best Players of the Group Stage

Three standout players dominated the highlight reels of the group stage:

• CHICHOO (EDward Gaming) – This player was instrumental in dismantling G2 Esports, delivering outstanding performances across all maps. His K/D ratio over five maps was an impressive 1.51.
• Derke (Team Vitality) – As a duelist, he had the highest Kills per Map (K/Map) in the tournament, averaging 24 kills, with a K/D ratio of 1.42.
• nAts (Team Liquid) – Despite his team’s elimination, nAts delivered an exceptional individual performance. A veteran of the VALORANT scene, he provided multiple highlight moments, proving that his aim is just as sharp as it was years ago. He finished the tournament with a K/D ratio of 1.31 and 141 kills across seven maps, the highest kill count in the group stage.

What to Expect in the Playoffs?

The playoff stage promises to be intense, and every team that made it this far has truly earned their spot. However, compared to the formidable Team Vitality and EDward Gaming, T1 Esports seems slightly weaker, while G2 Esports remains an unpredictable contender. The North American squad had solid chances against EDward Gaming, but after their match, it became clear that the Chinese team was simply on another level.

Given the current form of the teams, it seems highly likely that the grand final will feature EDward Gaming and Team Vitality, with the showdown set to take place on March 2.

Prize pool distribution of VALORANT Masters Bangkok 2025

The VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 is the premier tournament series for VALORANT, with teams qualifying throughout the year. At the VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 Masters Bangkok, eight teams will compete for a prize pool of $500,000 USD and VCT Points. The event is taking place in Bangkok, Thailand.