VALORANT Masters Bangkok Playoffs: Predictions and Preview

As the Swiss Stage of VCT 2025 - Masters Bangkok 2025 comes to a close, only four teams remain to fight for the first international trophy of the year. The playoffs follow a double-elimination format, setting up two high-stakes opening matchups between the top-performing teams.

The winners of the following matches will advance to the Upper Bracket Final. Meanwhile, the losers will be relegated to the Lower Bracket Semifinal, where they will get one more chance at making a run for the trophy.

Let's dive into our predictions for the first round.

EDward Gaming vs. T1

The first match of the playoffs sees reigning VALORANT Champions EDward Gaming take on Pacific superteam T1.

EDG’s Key to Victory: CHICHOO’s Brilliance

Despite star duelist Zheng "ZmjjKK" Yongkang not hitting his usual peak, EDG has found new life through Wan "CHICHOO" Shunzhi, who has been putting up stellar performances against top teams like Team Liquid and G2 Esports. His ability to clutch rounds and secure key kills will be crucial against a confident T1.

T1’s Cinderella Run

T1 has been the biggest surprise of the tournament, proving doubters wrong by securing a playoff spot for the first time in their international history. Getting their revenge over DRX in a dominant 2-0 victory, it showcased the squad’s potential, with Yu "BuZz" Byung-chul and Ham "iZu" Woo-joo leading the charge and Kim "Meteor" Tae-O stepping up when needed.

Possible Map Veto:

• Abyss is a perma-ban for both teams, meaning only one gets to remove it.
• EDG is likely to ban Haven or Lotus, while T1 should target Bind or Haven if left open.
• This leaves Fracture, Pearl, and Split as the most likely battlegrounds.

Prediction: EDG to Take the Win

While T1 have found great form towards the end of the Swiss Stage, their inconsistency still raises concerns. Meanwhile, EDG have managed to pull off solid performances even without zmjjkk popping off. With CHICHOO stepping up, EDG have the edge here.

Our pick: EDward Gaming to win.

Team Vitality vs. G2 Esports

The second match is a clash of two powerhouse teams from their respective regions, as Team Vitality faces off against G2 Esports.

Vitality’s Star Power

Vitality came into Bangkok as one of the favorites, and they’ve been living up to the hype with a flawless 2-0 record in the Swiss Stage. D0dz, their superstar duelist, has been in peak form, proving why he remains one of the best players in the world. With the entire team performing at a high level, Vitality looks like the team to beat.

G2’s Ups and Downs

While G2 remains a tournament favorite, their journey hasn’t been as smooth. Their victory over Trace Esports was expected, but their loss to EDG exposed some weaknesses. However, Trent "trent" Cairns and Nathan "leaf" Orf have been standout performers, with Alexander "jawgemo" Mor stepping up at crucial moments. If G2 wants to take down Vitality, they need all five players firing on all cylinders.

Possible Map Veto:

• Split is a perma-ban for G2, while Vitality bans Pearl.
• G2 is expected to ban Bind, and Vitality will likely remove Lotus.
• This leaves Abyss, Fracture, and Haven as the potential maps.

Prediction: Vitality Continues Their Dominance

G2 is undoubtedly a strong team, but Vitality’s form looks too dominant right now. If Derke and company continue their current level of play, they should have the upper hand.

We predict a Team Vitality victory, though G2 could push them to the limit.

Conclusion

The opening matches of the VALORANT Masters Bangkok playoffs are set to deliver some intense action. T1 and EDG’s clash will be a test of momentum versus experience, while the showdown between Vitality and G2 will be a battle of star power. If our predictions hold true, T1 and Team Vitality will advance in the upper bracket, but as we’ve seen throughout this tournament, anything can happen on the international stage.

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: VALORANT Champions Tour/Riot Games