Fnatic and EDward Gaming advance to the next stage, while FUT and Bilibili bid farewell to Champions Los Angeles.

The VCT 2023 - Champions tournament presses on, and in the first round of the Lower Bracket, two regional clashes will determine which teams will continue as the representatives of their respective regions going forward. With no more second chances, one will advance while the other heads back home.

Here are the matches of the day:

• FUT Esports vs. Fnatic
• EDward Gaming vs. Bilibili Gaming

FUT Esports vs. Fnatic

In the first match of the day, between the two EMEA teams, FUT Esports faced off against Fnatic. Both teams experienced heavy 2-0 defeats in their respective Playoff debuts. FUT fell to PRX, and Fnatic faced an unexpected loss against LOUD, which surprised most of the viewers. This time, the duel began on Split, Fnatic's map choice. Demonstrating why this is their preferred map, the current Masters champions only dropped rounds 5 and 6 in the first half, and their next loss came during the Bonus Round of the second half. That's right, the score reached 12-2 in favor of Fnatic, with impressive performances from Alfajer and Derke, who secured 11 First Bloods throughout the match. Split was a walk in the park for Fnatic, as FUT managed to clinch a few rounds but fell far short of making a comeback. The match concluded 13-5 in favor of Fnatic.

This time on FUT Esports' map pick, Haven, things began a bit differently. Despite losing the first 4 rounds, FUT managed to find their stride and secured victory in 7 out of the following 8 rounds, ending the first half with a lead of 7-5. However, with their Sentinel player performing exceptionally well, and sure Alfajer does, FUT couldn't break through the defensive wall that Fnatic had constructed. Only managing to secure 2 rounds in the second half, the turkish team, FUT Esports, saw the map, the series, and their championship hopes slip away as they were defeated 13-9. With a 2-0 score, Fnatic advances in the Lower Bracket.

Bilibili Gaming vs. EDward Gaming

The second match of the day also featured a regional showdown, as Edward Gaming and Bilibili Gaming battled it out to determine which Chinese representative would stay alive in the competition. Starting on Bind, Bilibili Gaming's map pick, the game didn't unfold as anticipated. EDG completely dominated the first half with an almost flawless attack, securing 10 out of the 12 rounds. With an 8-round deficit, BBG had a lot to prove to mount a recovery on their map choice, and they made an attempt, but it wasn't enough. Despite losing the Pistol Round and the Eco Round, EDG quickly regained control and left no chances for their fellow countrymen, finishing with a score of 13-4.

This time, on EDG's map pick, Split, we witnessed a much more thrilling game. Both teams managed to secure 8 rounds in their respective defensive halves, which led to an even more exciting Overtime. With a phenomenal performance from whzy, tallying 31 kills and 10 First Bloods just on this map, along with a series of incredible clutches, it was Bilibili Gaming that emerged victorious with a score of 15-13.

In the final and decisive map, Haven, the teams ended the first half tied on the scoreboard. Bilibili Gaming had a strong start, including a brilliant clutch right in the Pistol Round, and managed to secure a 4-round lead. However, EDG quickly recovered, fueled by an incredible performance from their Duelist player, ZmjjKK, who secured crucial kills and pulled off some magical plays to secure pivotal rounds for his team. Early in the second half, EDG took the lead again, only to be caught up by BLG, equalizing the score at 10-10. The last 3 rounds of the series were intense, detailed, and showcased pure skill, with clutches, perfectly executed tactics, and precise aiming. EDG managed to win Haven with a score of 13-10.

Playing 3 different Agents during the series, Smoggy gets the MVP of the match with a rating of 1.15 and 58 kills.

With this result, Bilibili Gaming bids farewell to their first international championship with a modest yet memorable performance, surpassing expectations for many.

Fnatic awaits in the Lower Bracket for their opponent from the matchup between LOUD and Paper Rex, while EDG will face the loser of the contest between Evil Geniuses and DRX.

Make sure to check out the VALORANT Champions event page to keep up to date with the schedule, check out the stats, and upcoming matches!

Featured image photo credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games