The very first Valorant Masters event to take place in Southeast Asia is looking incredibly fierce.
Things are heating up as the first international event of the 2025 VCT season, Masters Bangkok, is right around the corner.
Starting February 20, eight of the best teams from the four major regions will battle it out to see who can get a headstart in the competition.
It all begins in the Swiss stage where each region’s first seed teams face off against each other’s second seed. Each match is a best-of-three and the teams who get two wins move on to the playoffs. There’ll be no same-region match-ups at this stage, ensuring that we’ll see a clash of styles and strategies.
In traditional fashion, playoffs will be a double elimination bracket among the remaining four teams. It’ll be best-of-three’s until the lower and grand finals, which will be settled in a best-of-five. The winner will not only crown themselves as the Masters Bangkok champions but also gain a sizable boost in VCT points for the competitive season.
Teams to Watch
Of course, all eyes are going to be on our 2024 world champions, EDward Gaming. In fact, the Chinese region as a whole is one to watch out for as it’s not a one-team region as some initially thought.
Take their second seed, Trace Esports, for example. They’re the only team to hand EDG their one-match loss in the Chinese Kickoff tournament. It was a one-sided 2-0 as well, so teams cannot afford to sleep on China in Masters Bangkok.
Europe’s Team Liquid is also mounting a big comeback after a disappointing 2024 season. After failing to qualify for any international tournament last year, they proved that they’re back in business after defeating Champions 2024 grand finalists Team Heretics to book their ticket to Thailand.
Then there’s T1 who’s looking to finally make a name for themselves this season. Despite bearing the name of the most prestigious esports organization in South Korea, T1 has only ever produced mediocre results. They’re looking to change that this year with their revamped roster that’s, so far, been living up to the hype.
Are you ready for Masters Bangkok?
Banner photo by Liu YiCun / Riot Games.