VALORANT Masters Bangkok 2025: Opening Match Predictions

With VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Masters Bangkok 2025 starting on February 20, the eight teams from the four partnered leagues are ready to clash for the first international trophy of the year.

The Group Stage will follow an eight-team Swiss system, where teams that win two matches advance to the Playoffs, and teams that lose twice will be eliminated.

The first-round matchups were determined live at the Berlin Riot Games Arena following the EMEA Kickoff Grand Final, ensuring that each Kickoff winner will face a runner-up from another region.

Let’s dive into our predictions for the opening matches and break down the key matchups of Round 1.

EDward Gaming vs. Team Liquid – A Rematch with High Stakes

This match is a rematch from VCT 2023 - Masters Tokyo, but a lot has changed since then. EDward Gaming has cemented itself as one of the world’s best teams, having won VCT 2024 - Champions 2024 and proving that they are no longer just China’s strongest representative but a true international powerhouse. EDG looked dominant in the VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - China Kickoff, dropping only a single match before making their lower bracket run. While Zheng "ZmjjKK" Yongkang remains their superstar, the rest of the squad has stepped up when needed, making them a well-rounded and dangerous opponent.

Team Liquid, on the other hand, had a strong lower-bracket run in VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - EMEA Kickoff but couldn’t close out the grand final against Team Vitality. Their roster has seen some key changes, with Ayaz "nAts" Akhmetshin taking on the IGL role for the first time at an international event. While Georgio "Keiko" Sanassy and Maks "kamyk" Rychlewski have been solid fraggers, Liquid remains somewhat of a wild card heading into Masters Bangkok.

Prediction:

EDG enters this matchup as the reigning world champions and the top seed from China, making them the clear favorites. With minimal roster changes and a proven track record of clutch performances, EDG is our pick to win this matchup.

DRX vs. Sentinels – A Battle of Rebuilt Rosters

This matchup is another highly anticipated rematch, this time from Champions 2024, but both teams have undergone major changes.

DRX comes in as the Pacific top seed, showcasing dominance throughout VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Pacific Kickoff with an undefeated upper-bracket run. The team’s new IGL, Kim "MaKo" Myeong-kwan, has led them to a resurgence, and their new signings, No "free1ng" Ha-jun and Hyun-min " HYUNMIN" Song, have proven their worth. DRX is looking strong and confident heading into Bangkok.

Meanwhile, Sentinels, the Americas second seed, have also gone through roster changes, replacing Tyson "TenZ" Ngo and Gustavo "Sacy" Rossi with Sean "bang" Bezerra and Marshall "N4RRATE" Massey. Despite these changes, Sentinels have remained competitive, showing that their new roster can keep up at the highest level. While Sentinels did defeat DRX 2-0 in their last encounter, both teams have evolved significantly since then.

Prediction:

While DRX’s undefeated run in Pacific Kickoff is impressive, Sentinels had a much tougher road in the Americas. Given their past success against DRX and their ability to adapt quickly, we predict Sentinels to take this match in a close series.

Team Vitality vs. T1 – A David vs. Goliath Matchup

This match will be the first-ever meeting between Team Vitality and T1.

Team Vitality has been labeled as a super-team for the 2025 season, and for good reason. They dominated the EMEA Kickoff upper bracket to secure the top seed. The addition of Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev has proven to be a game-changer, as the former Fnatic star has consistently topped the leaderboard. With their CS2 roster recently winning IEM Katowice 2025, all eyes will be on Vitality’s VALORANT squad to replicate that success.

On the other side, T1 was built as a Pacific super-team, signing talent from various powerhouses. However, despite their stacked roster, they fell short against DRX and settled for second place in VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Pacific Kickoff. While Yu "BuZz" Byung-chul has been outstanding, T1’s inconsistencies make them a slight underdog in this matchup.

Prediction:

Vitality is widely considered one of the tournament’s strongest teams, and unless T1 plays perfectly, it will be tough for them to pull off an upset. Team Vitality is our pick to win this match comfortably.

G2 Esports vs. Trace Esports – Americas’ Best vs. China’s Rising Stars

This match will close out Round 1 of the Swiss Stage, and it features another never-before-seen matchup.

G2 Esports, the Americas top seed, has shown incredible improvement over the past year. They dominated VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Americas Kickoff, proving that their steady uptick in performance in 2024 was no fluke. With the addition of former Champions winner Alexander "jawgemo" Mor, alongside Nathan "leaf" Orf and Trent "trent" Cairns, G2 boasts a well-rounded and dangerous lineup. Many analysts have even labeled them as one of the title contenders for Masters Bangkok.

Trace Esports, on the other hand, has been a rising force in China. They were the team that sent EDG to the lower bracket in Kickoff, proving that they can compete with the best. Their star player, Song "FengF" Xuefeng, has carried the team in key moments, but to defeat G2, the entire squad will need to perform at their peak.

Prediction:

While Trace Esports is an exciting dark horse, G2 has been the more consistent team heading into this tournament. With a well-balanced roster and international experience, we predict that G2 Esports will take this matchup.

Final Thoughts – What to Expect from Round 1

With four high-stakes matchups to kick off Masters Bangkok, the Swiss format ensures that every win and loss carries significant weight.

While EDG, Sentinels, Vitality, and G2 are our picks to win their opening matches, upsets are always possible, especially with teams still adjusting to new rosters.

As the tournament unfolds, fans can expect thrilling plays, clutch performances, and potential surprises. Stay tuned as VALORANT’s first international event of 2025 kicks off in Bangkok!

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: Riot Games/Edited by THESPIKE