Fnatic lifts VCT LOCK//IN Sao Paulo trophy
Fnatic, one of the favoured teams from the EMEA region, recently added the VCT LOCK//IN trophy to their cabinet. The team remained unbeaten throughout the contest and had a streak of wins without dropping any maps. The victory was something that everyone was looking for following the loss Fnatic faced after reaching the Grand Final at Reykjavik Masters 2021. Keeping that incident in mind, Fnatic players defied all the odds and pulled off an exceptional performance in the Grand Final against LOUD. With a 3-2 score in the best of 5 series, Fnatic wrote their history as the team lifted their first international Valorant trophy with VCT LOCK//IN victory.
Fnatic’s Road to Victory
As you all already know, VCT LOCK//IN’s complete details from our previous articles, the tournament kicked off on the 13th of February. A total of 32 teams made their way to the Ginásio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to compete for a prize pool of $500,000 and secure the first VCT title of 2023. The teams were drawn into a single-elimination bracket with Alpha and Omega bracket settings.
Fnatic began their victory journey starting from their first Round of 32 Omega Bracket clash against Sentinels. Keeping the loss of VCT 2021: Stage 2 Masters – Reykjavík in mind, Fnatic gave a strong response eliminating Sentinels by 2-0 in the best of 3 games.
Following the win, it was clear that Fnatic were the favourites to win VCT LOCK//IN as the roster was confident enough. Already starting on the right foot, Fnatic quickly beat FURIA in the Round of 16 fixture, and they headed for 100 Thieves in the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals clash with 100 Thieves
Maintaining their current great form, the team went on for flawless victories thanks to their star duelist Derke, aka Nikita Sirmitev’s performance. This time also, the team went on with that mindset and dominated the show. 100 Thieves tried to make a comeback in the second map, but their hard fight went in vain as Fnatic came out as the victors with a 2-0 score in the best of 3 series.
The Semifinals against Natus Vincere
And now it was when both strong teams were up against each other. Many speculated Natus Vincere (NAVI), the counterparts from the same region, as the obstacle for Fnatic on their way towards the Grand Final. NAVI also had an unbeaten run in the competition. However, it was Fnatic’s show producing some good displays on the first two maps. Fnatic’s LEO had an overall 51 kills to his name with a great set of skills and abilities with Initiators. Fnatic secured the best of 5 series with a sweep of 3-0.
The Grand Finals: LOUD the last hurdle for Fnatic
The Grand Finals of VCT LOCK//IN Sao Paulo featured the top contenders, who all remained unbeaten throughout the contest. It was the Brazilian home side, LOUD facing Fnatic. LOUD remained unbeaten by securing wins against NRG in the Alpha Bracket Round of 32, against Giants in Round of 16, against NRG in the Quarterfinals and beating Korean side DRX in the Alpha Bracket Semifinals clash. LOUD was the reigning champion winning the VCT Champions 2022.
Fnatic got off to a strong start winning the first two maps in a convincing way to make it 2-0 in the series. However, LOUD fought back and claimed back-to-back map wins thanks to their controller Less and duelist aspas. The series got levelled by 2-2.
LOUD created a situation on the decider map which looked tough for Fnatic as the team was trailing by 11-3. But soon after a strong showing, Fnatic came out strong, and with flawless performance, they made 9 straight-round wins to tie the game. Both teams forced the match to overtime, and Fnatic drew the last blood and secured the game by 12-14 to lift the title.
Match Analysis
Both teams displayed their skills and abilities in the Grand Final, which was a very aggressive and competitive battle. Each member of Fnatic contributed to the team’s victory by playing at a high level throughout the match, with Leo being the top player. They had excellent communication and teamwork and were able to execute crucial plays when it was needed. The decider map gameplay was something Fnatic fans would remember forever as the team avoided a heavy collapse.
On the other hand, LOUD players gave home fans some relief when they pulled off the comeback after trailing by 2-0 in the series. They played well and somehow snatched the game from Fnatic. It was a show from Less and aspas, who played a crucial part in LOUD’s comeback. But in the end, Fnatic, with their superior play and tactics, kept their hopes alive.
Conclusion
Fnatic’s VCT LOCK//IN victory gave them what they were looking for. Their first international Valorant trophy is a significant milestone for which they have worked hard. Now they have established themselves as a top team in the Competitive Valorant.