There will be closed qualifiers from Europe, CIS and Turkey to determine 8 qualifying teams for the EMEA Stage 1 Challengers. Each region will have two closed qualifiers. The two teams in Europe’s closed qualifiers 1 will advance to the main EMEA Stage 1 Challengers 1 event, while only the top team in CIS’s and Turkey’s qualifier will advance.

Riot has implemented such a system to maximize representation across the EMEA region.

Team Vitality vs Guild Esports

Team Vitalty look extraordinarily strong. Despite being close games, Vitality had knocked down G2 Esports 2-0, an impressive feat considering G2’s stance as a top European team. Similarly, Guild Esports had also taken down their first opponents 2-0 in the opening match.

Their duel is hard to place on a dominance scale, as players on each lineup stack up differently in power levels. Agent selection and player performance on the day will be crucial. What we do know is that both teams either win heavily or lose heavily in most of their series. Expect a clean series going either way.

One Breath Gaming vs. Natus Vincere

One Breath Gaming had revamped their roster, signing 3 new members at end of the 2021 season. The new roster started off strong, taking out the top spot in the Razer Invitational Europe. Natus Vincere on the other hand have only made a single roster change despite historically weak performances. Despite NV’s 2-0 win against SMARACIS Esports in the opening match, OBG is favored to win.

5MOKES vs KPI Gaming

Previously GMT Esports, 5MOKES had rebranded, carrying 4 of their 5 members from the previous roster. 5MOKE roster’s experience in the 2021 VCT gives them a slight advantage over KPI Gaming, a team who have yet to compete at any level of VCT. However, KPI Gaming cannot be counted out considering their first-place finish in GameGune 24, a €10,000 tournament.

Similar to the first match on our list, this series can go either way, but will be a clean sweep (2-0) in either direction.

Futbolist vs Fire Flux Esports

Fulbolist made major roster changes since the end of the 2021 VCT season, taking on 3 new members. This change was certainly welcome considering while Fulbolist had placed first in the VCT 2021 Turkey Stage 1 Masters, their performance had slowly slipped, ultimately placing 6^th in the VCT Turkey Stage 3 Challengers 2 event. Despite being founded in mid 2021, Fire Flux Esports have already proved themselves, placing first in the Turkey Stage 3 Challengers 2 event. Both teams had a strong start this event, finishing 2-0 in their first match of the closed qualifiers.

My money is on Futbolist to take the series, and the Valorant odds seem to be in their favor as well.

BBL Esports vs SuperMassive Blaze

Both teams are well established and have proved themselves at some point as one of Turkey’s top teams. BBL Esports finished first in 2 VCT Challenger events, and second in the Turkey Stage 1 Masters. SuperMassive Blaze also recently placed first in the VCT 2021: Turkey Stage 3 Challengers 1, and later as runners up in the VCT 2021 EMEA Stage 3 Challenger Playoffs.

This series could definitely go the whole way. Expect three maps to be played.

This is only the beginning of the season in Valorant in 2022. We will cover more matches as other regions kick off their regional play. Check back with our Esports News section next week for more Valorant picks and predictions.