EMEA VCT: Semi-Finalists Confirmed – Surprises And Highlights

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The first phase of the Valorant Champions Tour 2025 is currently underway, and the lineup for the upcoming semifinals has been officially set.

Since January 15, the global EMEA league has been underway, offering up a few unexpected triumphs and thrilling games along the way.

Find out which teams have made it through to the semi-finals and how they have performed so far.

From The Fall Of The Favourites To The Rise Of The Underdog

One of the biggest surprises of the tournament so far has been the early exit of Team Fnatic.

In the EMEA League 2024, the champions from Stages 1 and 2 were unexpectedly eliminated before reaching the upper bracket of the competition.

They lost 2-1 to Turkish professional team BBL Esports in an extremely exciting match.

In the critical decision, BBL opted for Abyss in the initial round, while Fnatic went with Fracture. The final showdown unfolded on Split.

— BBL (@BBL_esports) January 17, 2025

In the initial phase, BBL asserted its authority by leading 13-8. However, Fnatic responded strongly, also scoring 13 points in the subsequent round.

In the third stage, Fnatic established a significant 9-3 advantage. Yet, those conversant with the ebb and flow of Valorant competitive play understand that such advantages aren’t always insurmountable.

Initially trailing, BBL Esports remarkably reversed the game’s outcome, securing a 13-10 victory. This stunning comeback marked the initial major upset of the competition to date, leaving spectators exhilarated.

Fnatic Continues To Fight In The Lower Bracket

Thanks to the double elimination system, Fnatic are not out of the tournament yet.

In the lower part of the competition, they encountered NAVI (Natus Vincere), a team that had earlier been defeated by the French squad, Karmine Corp.

Or simply:
In the lower bracket, they met NAVI, who lost to Karmine Corp. previously.

Both versions convey the same information but with slight variations in wording and sentence structure for readability.

Fnatic won 2-1 to advance to the second round of the lower bracket.

On January 24th, Gentle Mates (winners of Ascension 23) and Movistar KOI (Spanish team) will determine who Fnatic’s upcoming rival will be.

One thing is for sure: the road to the finals will be an exciting one!

Semi-Finals In The Upper Bracket

The following semi-final pairings have now been confirmed for the Upper Bracket:

  • FUT Esports vs. Team Vitality
  • BBL Esports vs. Team Heretics

The initial matchup isn’t much of a shocker. Given that both FUT Esports and Team Vitality had already been tipped as contenders for the Champions Event 2024 , they were exempted from the initial round due to their pre-existing involvement.

In the second round, FUT Esports triumphed over last year’s EMEA champions, Team Liquid, with a score of 2-0. Simultaneously, Team Vitality emerged victorious against Karmine Corp in a close matchup with a final score of 2-1.

Team Heretics kicked things off impressively and moved on to the next stage, securing victory against the Gentle Mates.

Or:

The Heretics started strong and progressed to the second round after defeating the Gentle Mates in a match.

Both sentences convey the same meaning but use different structures for variety and readability.

In the meantime, it was BBL Esports, initially considered the underdogs, who displayed their determination and skill by outmatching Fnatic, thereby demonstrating they were more than just contenders and earning a spot in the semi-finals.

Reaching the semifinals gives each team a significant opportunity to earn crucial championship points.

The top two teams from the first stage in Europe, Middle East, and Africa will likewise qualify for the international Masters tournament held in Bangkok.

So mark your calendars for January 29 – two epic semi-finals await you!

Finals Not Unrealistic Even In The Lower Bracket

In a double elimination tournament setup, teams in the losing bracket can still make it to the grand finale.

The winner of the lower bracket will play against the second place from the upper bracket.

If the team manages to secure a victory, they’ll progress to the Grand Final, where they’ll encounter the champion of the Upper Bracket in the Stage 1 EMEA League tournament.

Fnatic and the Spanish team GIANTX, who were defeated by BBL in the initial round, have managed to triumph thus far in the lower part of the competition.

ABSOLUTE CINEMA @kaajakval

— FNATIC (@FNATIC) January 23, 2025

The upcoming matches are set for January 30th: Fnatic will go up against the winner of the Gentle Mates vs. Movistar KOI contest, while GIANTX will square off against either Team Liquid or Ascension 24’s Apeks victor.

Or more informally:
On January 30th, Fnatic plays against the winner of Gentle Mates vs. Movistar KOI, and GIANTX battles it out with either Team Liquid or Apeks from Ascension 24.

Though the Ascension teams are known for their great strength, they’re seen as the less expected contenders within the league.

In the EMEA league, just two of the twelve teams originate from Ascension tournaments; the remaining ten are formally associated with VCT (Valorant Champions Tour) and Riot Games.

For the Ascension teams, it’s all about prestige and promotion to the EMEA League.

However, upsets are not uncommon among the Ascension teams, so excitement is guaranteed.

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2025-01-27 11:43