The eight best teams in the world from the popular tactical shooter from Riot Games, VALORANTfaces will be seen in the Madrid Arena from March 14 to 24. In this way, Madrid picks up the baton from Tokyo as Masters host city in which a new, smaller and more exciting format will be released.
To reach the Spanish capital, the eight teams have had to fight very hard in their respective regions during the month of February. Four previous tournaments that have been vibrant and full of surprises such as the eliminations of Fnatic (the British team that started as favorite in VCT EMEA, as well as the current Tokyo Masters champion), or the exit from the competition of the American team Evil Geniuses, current World Champion.
Qualified teams
– Team Heretics: After an excellent streak in the VCT Emea European league, the Spanish team, made up of five young people between 18 and 26 years of age, won the ticket to Masters Madrid with force. Despite losing in the final of the VCT 2024: EMEA Kickoff by 1-3 against Karmine Corp, the Spanish team's feelings have been very good throughout the tournament and they arrive in Madrid with a lot of confidence.
– Karmine Corp: The French team arrives as champion of the VCT 2024: EMEA Kickoff at Masters Madrid. The one that started as 'underdog' of the European tournament has proven to be a very solid team – in addition to being very young – that has only lost one game (against Heretics, on February 22) and 5 maps in the previous tournament. Likewise, they have been able to defeat the fearsome Fnatic by a resounding 2-0, making clear to the world their candidacy to lift the trophy in Madrid.
– Sentinels: The American team is the new champion of VCT 2024: Americas Kickoff, after defeating LOUD 3-2 in an exciting final. Despite winning the title and qualifying for Masters Madrid, they have had to suffer to get here, with very tight maps and a couple of defeats along the way.
– LOUD: The Brazilian team arrives at Masters Madrid as runners-up of VCT 2024: Americas Kickoff, after losing 2-3 in the final against Sentinels. After its third place in Champions 2023, it is a team to take into account in major international events.
– Gen.G Esports: The South Korean squad has been proclaimed champion of VCT 2024: Pacific Kickoff, defeating Paper Rex 3-1. His last five games are counted by victories and in them he has only given up 3 maps, so he arrives at Masters Madrid in great shape.
– PaperRex: The current runner-up of Champions 2023 will travel to Madrid to try to win the first international tournament of 2024. In their regional competition they were surprised by a spectacular Gen.G Esports, but everything indicates that the Singapore team will be a very tough rival due to their experience in this type of appointments.
– Edward Gaming: The Chinese team does not know what it is like to lose in 2024, after three resounding victories in the VCT 2024: China Kickoff that gave them the ticket to Masters Madrid.
They have only lost 2 maps in three games and are a team to take into account in the Madrid event.
– FunPlus Phoenix: The second Chinese team that will be in Masters Madrid will land in the Spanish capital after a good participation in the VCT 2024: China Kickoff. His time in the previous tournament was solid, until in the final he ran into Edward Gaming and lost 1-3.
Once the participating teams are known, Riot Games has revealed the format of VALORANT Masters Madrid. The competition will begin with a Swiss Phase in which teams must achieve two victories to advance to the next round. If, on the other hand, they lose two games, they will be eliminated. The matches will be the best of 3 maps. Four teams will advance to the knockout phase. It will be a double elimination bracket with a first round in the best of 3 maps and the rest of the matches in the best of 5 maps.
These matches can not only be followed live at the Madrid Arena, but also live on stream around the world, as well as at watch parties – in-person and digital – throughout Spain. 14 million players around the world ratify the international success of Riot Games' tactical first-person shooter, VALORANT, with a fast-paced competitive tournament that, without a doubt, benefits from the experience of the California developer as a leader in esports with its MOBA; League of Legends.