More teams and more stakes are heading to VALORANT’s second Masters event of 2025.
Masters Toronto is here and 12 teams are ready for a two-week long clash for the lion’s share of one million USD and to solidify their spot to Champions 2025.
There have been quite a few surprises since Masters Bangkok and a number of new faces have made it to Canada. That’s why we’ve got our eyes on these four teams who we think are going to make a big splash in Masters Toronto.
XLG Esports
First up are the newly crowned champions of Chinese VALORANT. XLG Esports have been a fairly mediocre team in the past few years but have really come into their own in VCT 2025: China Stage 1. They were able to stay at the top of the standings during the regular season. Leaderboard toppers Bilibili Gaming were the only team to hand them their one regular season loss but XLG wouldn’t let that slow them down.
XLG would go on an absolute tear during the playoffs, sweeping everyone 2-0 as they headed towards the grand finals. They even knocked the 2024 world champions EDward Gaming into the lower bracket, where they would get eliminated by Bilibili. Then they proved they were the real deal after they 3-1’d Bilibili to take the VCT China trophy.
Now the question is: can they repeat that same success on the international stage?
Fnatic
After a disappointing VCT 2025: EMEA Kickoff performance, Fnatic are seeking redemption in Masters Toronto. They’re out to prove that Kickoff was only a minor stumble as they’re back with the same roster and that familiar dominating performance.
Fnatic looked like they were back in form after they went on a four-week winning streak with it only getting snapped by Team Heretics on the last day. This win gave Team Heretics their perfect 5-0 season, but it seems Fnatic didn’t take too kindly to that outcome.
After blitzing through the playoffs, Fnatic would put Team Heretics in their place. First, by sweeping them in the upper bracket finals, and then by sweeping them again in the grand finals. Now they have their sights set to Masters Toronto and it’s anyone’s guess who’ll be able to stop them.
Paper Rex
In a similar fashion, the lovable SEA squad is looking to put W gaming back on the map. Of course, their regular season performance isn’t all that inspiring but the fact that they made it back to the international stage shows that they still have that potential in them. You only need to look at their playoffs run to see what they’re capable of.
First, they slew the Masters Bangkok champions T1. Then they swept BOOM Esports and DRX, two teams who were ahead of them in the regular season standings. They would only fall to eventual VCT 2025: Pacific Stage 1 champions RRQ, and that was after a hardfought, full five game series.
Paper Rex are certainly the dark horse of Masters Toronto and we’re eager to see how far they can go.
G2 Esports
Last but certainly not the least are the reigning kings of the VCT Americas. At this point, G2 Esports have proven that they are the best team in America. They’ve taken both the Kickoff and Stage 1 trophies and now they’re gunning for one from a Masters event.
They came painfully close back in Bangkok, falling against T1 after one of the most intense grand finals to date. But now, T1 isn’t here to stop them. And with the G2 roster still intact, they’re likely hungrier than ever to raise that Masters Toronto trophy.
Banner photo from VCT Americas.