Valorant Champions 2023 Playoffs Predictions

Here are our Champions 2023 Playoffs predictions on the winner, top 4 squads and teams that are likely to face an early exit from the event

After over a week of Group Stage competition, the Playoffs Stage for Champions 2023 is about to kick off with the best eight teams in the world. This is the first time in the event’s history that we are seeing 2 teams from each participating region compete in the knockout stage, and as always, we have our favorites, dark horses and underdogs for the battle. Let’s predict the outcomes of the Playoffs with safe picks and wild hunches –

Contents

1 Champions 2023 Playoffs Predictions – Early Exits
2 Champions 2023 Playoffs Predictions – Top 4
3 Champions 2023 Playoffs Predictions – Winner
- 3.1 Fnatic

Champions 2023 Playoffs Predictions – Early Exits

These four teams will be the first few to be eliminated from the event and will not likely make it to the Upper Semifinal or Final matches –

FUT Esports

Furkan “MrFaliN” Yeğen (IGL)
Buğra “mojj” Kiraz
Doğukan “qRaxs” Balaban
Konur “qw1” Şahin
Ata “ATA KAPTAN” Tan
Eray “GAIS” Sarıkaya (Head Coach)

After Evil Geniuses, T1 were the favorites of Group B to make it to the Playoffs. By defeating them twice, FUT Esports became the first Turkish squad to write their name on the pages of the Champions Playoffs. Their journey so far has been impressive, to say the least, but the road ahead seems to be too rough for MrFaliN’s team.

FUT’s first match of the Playoffs is set against Paper Rex, and defeating the kings of the Pacific would be near impossible. Assuming they don’t win their first encounter, they have to fight the loser of LOUD vs Fnatic, which is also another giant boulder on the Turks’ path to greatness. Therefore, we are expecting this roster to have a 0-2 exit.

Bilibili Gaming

Zhong “Biank” Jian Fei (IGL)
Lei “yosemite” Wang
Li “rin” Lewei
Wang “whzy” Haozhe
Liu “Knight” Yuxiang
Wang “JeXeN” Linxiao (Head Coach)

This Chinese rookie squad secured the biggest upset of Champions 2023 by defeating NRG twice in the Group Stage, and they have amazed the world by making it to the Playoffs of their first global tournament. However, similar to FUT, they are also set to meet one of the toughest names in the world as their first Playoffs encounter.

Bilibili will be going against DRX for their initial game, a series where we don’t expect whzy and his teammates to do the unthinkable again. If they go to the lower bracket, BLG will have to face the loser of EDward Gaming vs Evil Geniuses, and considering the team’s previous encounters with their fellow Chinese squad and EG being one of the favorites of the event, Bilibili will have a 0-2 run in the Playoffs.

EDward Gaming

Guo “Haodong” Haodong (IGL)
Wan “CHICHOO” Shunzhi
Wang “nobody” Senxu
Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang
Zhang “Smoggy” Zhao
Lo “AfteR” Wen-hsin (Head Coach)

EDward Gaming continue to impress us by securing the Playoffs of their first Champions event. However, similar to their run at Masters Tokyo, we don’t see this squad being one of the top four names of this event simply because of the prowess of the other teams.

EDG will be fighting EG for the first time in their initial Playoffs match, and defeating the North American favorites and Masters Tokyo finalists is asking for too much. Assuming they go to the Lower Bracket from this encounter, EDward Gaming will likely get their first victory against the loser of the Bilibili vs DRX matchup. However, their following meeting will probably be against a mighty name, and our guess is Paper Rex. Losing the match, this talented squad will say goodbye to Champions 2023 with a 1-2 record.

DRX

Kim “stax” Gu-taek (IGL)
Goo “Rb” Sang-min
Kim “Zest” Gi-seok
Byung-chul “BuZz” Yu
Kim “MaKo” Myeong-kwan
Seon-ho “termi” Pyeon (Head Coach)

The South Koreans have looked pretty strong in their Group Stage run as they defeated LOUD and NAVI to get a Playoffs spot. Moreover, their first encounter is set against Bilibili Gaming, where, expecting we don’t see another upset from the Chinese squad, DRX will likely win the matchup. However, their next few games will not be the easiest.

Assuming they win against Bilibili, DRX will have to meet the winner of EG vs EDG in the Upper Semifinals, where a loss will kick them down to the Lower Bracket. There, MaKo’s squad will have to face the Lower Round 1 winner; in this case, we expect it to be LOUD. This rematch will likely go in the favor of the Brazilians, ending DRX’s journey in a 1-2 run.

Champions 2023 Playoffs Predictions – Top 4

Here are our predictions for the top 4 rosters of Champions 2023 who will go the distance in the Playoffs –

Fnatic

Jake “Boaster” Howlett (IGL)
Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev
Emir “Alfajer” Beder
Leo “Leo” Jannesson
Timofey “Chronicle” Khromov
Jacob “mini” Harris (Head Coach)

Fnatic are looking to make a long-lasting history in Valorant this year as they took the trophies of both LOCK//IN and Masters Tokyo. While they are already the best team in the world, winning the most important event of 2023 will further cement their name.

As expected, the EMEA kings did not lose a single map during their Group Stage journey. Moreover, this squad has only lost one game this entire year, and therefore, Fnatic are our safest pick to be one of the top 4 names of the Playoffs.

Paper Rex

Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto
Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee
Aaron “mindfreak” Leonhart
Wang “Jinggg” Jing Jie
Ilya “something” Petrov
Alexandre “alecks” Sallé (Head Coach)

Even with a substitute player, Paper Rex managed to secure the third spot at Masters Tokyo. Now, with the full force of their roster and their star player attending the event, we expect more greatness from the Pacific League winners.

Evil Geniuses

Kelden “Boostio” Pupello (IGL)
Ethan “Ethan” Arnold
Alexander “jawgemo” Mor
Corbin “C0M” Lee
Max “Demon1” Mazanov
Christine “potter” Chi (Head Coach)

From being called the worst North American team to becoming the best, Evil Geniuses came a long way in a short period this year, and alongside the likes of Fnatic and Paper Rex, this squad is also one of the favorites of Champions 2023.

Boostio’s squad had an effortless journey in the Group Stage, as they barely faced any challenge while winning their two matches. This great pace will continue in the Playoffs as well, but teams like Fnatic and Paper Rex will pose a huge challenge in their path.

LOUD

Matias “Saadhak” Delipetro (IGL)
Erick “aspas” Santos
Felipe “Less” Basso
Cauan “cauanzin” Pereira
Arthur “tuyz” Vieira
Daniel “fRoD” Montaner (Head Coach)

Compared to their humiliating 0-2 exit from Masters Tokyo, LOUD are looking much better this time, with their Group Stage run consisting of only one defeat. Before their Champions journey began, some rumors made their way to the media, and many expected them to have a dull performance. However, it has certainly not been the case as aspas is looking excellent alongside his incredible teammates, and the Brazilians are ready to shine as they did back in LOCK//IN.

LOUD’s first match is set against Fnatic, where we expect a loss for the Brazilians. However, their journey won’t be a short one, as Saadhak’s squad will excel in the Lower Bracket and become one of the top four teams.

Champions 2023 Playoffs Predictions – Winner

Between the three favorites of Champions 2023 – Fnatic, Paper Rex and Evil Geniuses – the safest option to go for is –

Fnatic

Everyone must agree that Fnatic are currently the best team in the world, and they look a league above every other squad. Therefore, even though we enjoy big upsets, we don’t see any team defeating the EMEA legends at this event. Maybe next year, we might have other names that can stand against the fury that is Fnatic, but as long as we are talking about the Champions, they are the strongest roster.

Credit: Riot Games

We expect Fnatic to face either Paper Rex or Evil Geniuses in the Grand Final, and looking back at their 3-0 victory to wield the Masters Tokyo trophy against the North American favorites, the Europeans are our safest pick for the Champions of 2023.

Check out our news on Champions 2023 for an extensive coverage on Valorant’s biggest tournament this year.