Team Heretics and G2 Esports crash out of VALORANT Masters London

Day 2 of the playoff stage of VCT 2026 - Masters London 2026 delivered a humbling reality check. Two of the tournament's favorites in Team Heretics and G2 Esports have been eliminated far earlier than anticipated, leaving only two of the four top seed teams that came into London.

Team Heretics Swept Aside by Leviatán

Team Heretics arrived in London as EMEA's strongest representatives, but their playoff run unraveled quickly. They were swept 2-0 by regional rivals Team Vitality in the upper bracket in a painful rematch of the VCT 2026 - EMEA Stage 1 final and were dropped into the lower bracket with no margin for error.

There, they ran into Americas powerhouse Leviatán, who wasted no time making their statement. Leviatán dismantled Heretics on Split with a dominant 13-3 scoreline. Although Heretics did manage to claim a map in Lotus at 13-11, Leviatán closed out the series on Ascent 13-6. Despite flashes of individual brilliance from Benjy "benjyfishy" David Fish and Enes "RieNs" Ecirli, Heretics continuously struggled with early map control and defensive consistency-issues that proved fatal against a side as sharp as Leviatán.

G2 Esports Suffer a Stunning Playoff Collapse

G2 Esports entered the playoffs riding high after an impressive VCT 2026 - Americas Stage 1 campaign, but their tournament quickly fell apart in remarkable fashion. After winning the opening map against China's Xi Lai Gaming, G2 suffered a brutal reverse sweep, dropping both Ascent and Split to fall into the lower bracket.

That set up a high-stakes elimination clash with Turkey's FUT Esports, and FUT were absolutely ruthless. Their impeccable map control and aggressive tactical execution suffocated G2 throughout the series. A crushing 13-6 defeat on Ascent set the tone, and G2 never recovered. Although they managed to push FUT all the way on Lotus, FUT still managed to push overtime and claim the map 15-13. It was a disastrous playoff exit that few saw coming.

What Comes Next: EWC and the Road to Champions

The winners of today’s matchups-Leviatán and FUT- stay alive for one more week into London, as we will find out who their opponents will be after tomorrow’s upper bracket matches.

For Heretics and G2, attention turns to the EWC - Esports World Cup 2026, where Heretics will look to defend the title they claimed last year, while G2 remain hungry for their maiden international trophy. Beyond EWC, VCT Stage 2 looms large, a crucial battleground that will determine whether either side punches their ticket to VALORANT Champions.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: Liu Yicun/Riot Games