VCT 2023 Masters Tokyo: Results and Recap

In an extraordinary series of events at the VCT 2023 Masters Tokyo, the esports world bore witness to Fnatic’s exceptional prowess. The team, faced with the formidable challenge of Evil Geniuses, secured a definitive 3-0 victory in the grand finals. This notable triumph not only underlined Fnatic’s dominance but also etched them into the annals of esports history as the first team to clinch consecutive international Valorant titles.

Fnatic Dominate VCT 2023 Masters

In the run-up to the competition, Fnatic’s captain, Jake ‘Boaster’ Howlett, had fervently called for his team to exhibit “true dominance”. In response, the team rose to the occasion, sweeping through the best-of-five series without a single loss. However, this clear victory doesn’t quite encapsulate the intense battle that unfolded. During the competition, there were instances where the outcome hung in the balance, particularly in two maps that were contested fiercely until the very end. Moreover, in a reminiscent echo of their previous Icebox comeback against LOAD at VCT LOCK//IN, Fnatic had to stage a dramatic recovery from a 4-10 deficit on Bind.

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Back to back pic.twitter.com/sdfaPHYsaD

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) June 25, 2023

Post-match, Fnatic’s Leo ‘Leo’ Jannesson, when probed about EMEA’s recurring dominance over the Americas, attributed their triumph to the team’s rigorous training regime. “We just practice harder [than NA],” he confidently stated. “We put in more hours and we got the extra spot for our region and it’ll show at Champions.”

Evil Geniuses’ defeat doesn’t overshadow their remarkable journey in the tournament. Entering the competition with limited international experience, the Americas side displayed commendable grit, pushing Fnatic to their limits at several junctures.

The tournament also provided the stage for some inspiring narratives. Notably, Evil Geniuses, Paper Rex, and EDward Gaming have all left indelible marks on VCT Masters Tokyo. Paper Rex landed an impressive third place, even without their star player Ilya ‘something’ Petrov, while EDward Gaming put China back in the game, securing the 5th-6th place and ending China’s winless streak.

Below you will find all the details about the thrilling unfoldings at VCT Masters Tokyo.

VCT 2023 Masters Tokyo Final standings

Placement	Team	Prize Money (USD)
1	Fnatic	$350,000
2	Evil Geniuses	$200,000
3	Paper Rex	$125,000
4	NRG	$75,000
5-6	EDG	$50,000
	Team Liquid
7-8	DRX	$35,000
	LOUD
9-10	T1	$25,000
	FUT Esports
11-12	NAVI	$15,000

VCT 2023 Masters Tokyo: Results

Credit: Riot Games

The VCT 2023 Masters Tokyo took center stage from June 11 to 25, boasting a roster of twelve teams hailing from the EMEA, Americas, Pacific, and China regions. A well-received departure from the criticized single-elimination format of VCT LOCK//IN, the tournament featured a group stage followed by a double-elimination playoff bracket.

In a nod to the VCT LOCK//IN victors, EMEA had the privilege of sending two top seeds, joined by one each from the Americas and Pacific. These premier teams were fast-tracked straight to the playoffs, bypassing the group stage.

The remaining eight teams went head to head in a double-elimination group stage, vying for the four remaining slots in the playoff rounds. The competition maintained a best-of-three format throughout, with the only exceptions being the lower bracket final and grand final. These climactic series were fought out over best-of-five series, heightening the drama and ensuring a thrilling finale.

VCT 2023 Masters Tokyo Playoffs (June 16 — June 25)

Day 1: June 16 (June 15 in NA)

Stage	Match	PT	ET	GMT
Upper Round 1	LOUD 0-2 Evil Geniuses	20:00	23:00	04:00
Upper Round 1	Team Liquid 2-1 EDG	23:00	02:00	07:00

Day 2: June 17 (June 16 in NA)

Stage	Match	PT	ET	GMT
Upper Round 1	Fnatic 2-0 NRG	20:00	23:00	04:00
Upper Round 1	Paper Rex 2-0 DRX	23:00	02:00	07:00

Day 3: June 18 (June 17 in NA)

Stage	Match	PT	ET	GMT
Lower Round 1	LOUD 0-2 EDG	20:00	23:00	04:00
Lower Round 1	NRG 2-0 DRX	23:00	02:00	07:00

Day 4: June 19 (June 18 in NA)

Stage	Match	PT	ET	GMT
Upper Round 2	Evil Geniuses 2-0 Team Liquid	20:00	23:00	04:00
Upper Round 2	Fnatic 2-0 Paper Rex	23:00	02:00	07:00

Day 5: June 20 (June 19 in NA)

Stage	Match	PT	ET	GMT
Lower Round 2	NRG 2-1 Team Liquid	20:00	23:00	04:00
Lower Round 2	EDG 1-2 Paper Rex	23:00	02:00	07:00

Day 6: June 21 (June 20 in NA)

Stage	Match	PT	ET	GMT
Upper Final	Evil Geniuses 1-2 Fnatic	20:00	23:00	04:00
Lower Round 3	NRG 1-2 Paper Rex	23:00	02:00	07:00

Day 7: June 24 (June 23 in NA)

Stage	Match	PT	ET	GMT
Lower Final	Evil Geniuses 3-2 Paper Rex	20:00	23:00	04:00

Day 8: June 25 (June 24 in NA)

Stage	Match	PT	ET	GMT
Grand Final	Fnatic 3-0 Evil Geniuses	21:30	00:30	05:30

VCT 2023 Masters Tokyo Group Stage (June 11 — June 14)

Group A

Placement	Team	Record
1	NRG	2-0
2	EDG	2-1
3	T1	1-2
4	NAVI	0-2

Group B

Placement	Team	Record
1	Evil Geniuses	2-0
2	DRX	2-1
3	FUT Esports	1-2
4	Attacking Soul	0-2

Day 1: June 11 (June 10 in NA)

Stage	Match	PT	ET	GMT
Group B Round 1	FUT 0-2 Evil Geniuses	20:00	23:00	04:00
Group B Round 1	DRX 2-0 Attacking Soul	23:00	02:00	07:00
Group A Round 1	EDG 1-2 T1	02:00	05:00	10:00

Day 2: June 12 (June 11 in NA)

Stage	Match	PT	ET	GMT
Group A Round 1	NRG 2-1 NAVI	20:00	23:00	04:00
Group B Winners	Evil Geniuses 2-0 DRX	23:00	02:00	07:00

Day 3: June 13 (June 12 in NA)

Stage	Match	PT	ET	GMT
Group A Winners	T1 1-2 NRG	20:00	23:00	04:00
Group B Losers	FUT 2-1 Attacking Soul	23:00	02:00	07:00
Group A Losers	EDG 2-0 NAVI	02:00	05:00	10:00

Day 4: June 14 (June 13 in NA)

Stage	Match	PT	ET	GMT
Group B Decider	DRX 2-1 FUT	20:00	23:00	04:00
Group A Decider	T1 0-2 EDG	23:00	02:00	07:00

VCT 2023 Masters Tokyo: Teams and rosters

The tournament slots for the VCT Masters Tokyo were highly sought after, with twelve coveted positions up for grabs. Ten of these were allocated based on performance in the international leagues spanning EMEA, Pacific, and the Americas.

The EMEA league had a particularly strong representation at the event, boasting four teams. This increased presence was a direct consequence of Fnatic’s victory at VCT LOCK//IN, which rewarded the region with an additional slot. Meanwhile, the Pacific and Americas leagues had a respectable showing, each contributing three teams to the tournament’s roster.

China was not to be overlooked, with two strong contenders making their mark on the tournament. These teams earned their spots via the FGC Valorant Invitational 2023: Act 1. The first, EDward Gaming, was already a familiar face on the international stage, having participated in both the Valorant Champions 2022 and VCT LOCK//IN. This event marked their third international appearance, bolstering their reputation and experience in high-stakes competition.

Joining them was the newcomer, Attacking Soul Esports, making their debut in the international Valorant arena. Although less experienced, their inclusion brought a fresh dynamic to the competition and provided them with a valuable opportunity to showcase their skills on a larger stage.

Top Seeded Teams

Team	Region	Players
LOUD	Americas	Saadhak, aspas, Less, cauanzin, tuyz
Fnatic	EMEA	Boaster, Derke, Alfajer, Leo, Chronicle
Team Liquid	EMEA	Jamppi, nAts, Sayf, soulcas, Redgar
Paper Rex	Pacific	f0rsakeN, d4v41, Jinggg, something, mindfreak, CigaretteS

Group Stage teams

Team	Region	Players
Evil Geniuses	Americas	jawgemo, Ethan, Boostio, C0M, Demon1
NRG	Americas	s0m, FNS, crashies, Victor, ardiis
FUT	EMEA	qw1, mojj, qRaxs, MrFaliN, ATA KAPTAN
NAVI	EMEA	ANGE1, cNed, Shao, Zyppan, SUYGETSU
DRX	Pacific	stax, Rb, BuZz, MaKo, Foxy9
T1	Pacific	ban, Carpe, xeta, Munchkin, Sayaplayer
Attacking Soul	China	monk, YHchen, bunt, Life, hfmi0dzjc9z7
EDward Gaming	China	Haodong, ZmjjKK, nobody, CHICHOO, Smoggy, Abo