Masters 2: Copenhagen Teams Power Ranking Part 1

Masters 2: Copenhagen is quickly approaching as we prepare for the Valorant’s second international tournament in 2022. The tournament will feature twelve of the strongest teams around the globe; this two-week competition will determine which team will be labeled the best in the world heading into Champions 2022, which will take place this September. While many are waiting for Masters 2: Copenhagen to commence, it is time to place every team participating in a power ranking in a two-part article.

You can read Part 2 here:

12 – KRÜ Esports

A well-known organization returning to the international stage, KRÜ Esports catapulted itself into the global scene after their Champions 2021 performance after defeating the likes of Sentinels and Fnatic to make it to the Semi-Finals of the event. 2021 was a successful year for KRÜ Esports, but 2022 has not been the kindest for the Chilean roster. Masters 1: Reykjavik 2022 was uneventful for the team as they failed to win a single map against Team Liquid and OpTic Gaming, getting knocked out of the tournament and finishing last place. KRÜ Esports also faltered during the LATAM Challengers 2: Grand Finals after getting swept by Leviatán, despite beating them in a best-of-three series earlier in the tournament. The Chilean organization has been dealt a bad hand as they are placed in a group with defending Masters champions, OpTic Gaming, EMEA’s third seed, Guild Esports, and Masters 1’s runners-up, LOUD. It would almost take a miracle for KRÜ Esports to qualify for the playoffs stage, but we have seen this organization do it before. Everything would have to go perfectly for the underdogs, especially against the tournament’s favorites.

11 – XERXIA Esports

The second-seeded APAC representatives are no strangers to the international scene. Despite their consistency in qualifying for Valorant’s international events, the Thai core has struggled to make deep runs in international tournaments. In Masters 1: Reyjkavik 2022, the roster managed to upset future tournament champions OpTic Gaming 2-0 but failed to carry the momentum to the next set of matches in the Group Stage, losing to Team Liquid and the rematch against OpTic, failing to qualify for the playoffs stage. If XERXIA wants to make it to the playoffs in Copenhagen, they have an extremely tough road ahead. The APAC representatives are seeded into a group with EMEA’s second seed FunPlus Pheonix, Korean powerhouse DRX and Japan’s newest dark horse, NORTHEPTION. We will need to see the Thai roster perform how they did back in Champions 2021 when they shocked the world by making it into the Quarter Finals when the roster played under the banner of X10 Esports if they want a chance to feature in Master 2’s playoffs stage.

10 – NORTHEPTION

While many people expected ZETA DIVISION to return to the international stage to represent Japan after their fairytale run in Masters 1: Reykjavik 2022, NORTHEPTION proved the doubters wrong by winning the Japan Challengers 2: Grand Finals and locked in their spot in Copenhagen. Although qualifying for Masters’ is an outstanding achievement, the lack of international experience might be the most significant factor in why the Japanese representatives could falter during the Group Stage. While many fans might expect NORTHEPTION to have a similar run to what ZETA DIVISION did in Reyjkavik, it is doubtful it would happen for a second time. NORTHEPTION will need to play their best to overcome the teams in their group, and many stronger rosters will take their games against the Japanese squad more seriously, considering what the Japanese region has done in the past.

9 – Guild Esports

Guild Esports has always been a favorite to represent the EMEA region in international events but could never fulfill its potential regarding the EMEA Challenger Playoffs. The organization finally broke the barriers and qualified as EMEA’s third seed after defeating M3 Champions to secure a spot in Copenhagen. With their achievements, Guild Esports finds themselves in a Group of Death scenario after being placed into a group with OpTic Gaming, LOUD, and KRÜ Esports. The young roster has little to no international experience, and they are starting their Masters’ journey in the most challenging group in the tournament. As the weakest EMEA team in the tournament, Guild Esports will need to play flawlessly to defeat the likes of LOUD and OpTic Gaming. While it is unlikely for Guild to make it out of their group, there is always a chance that the roster could play a dark horse role if they find a way to qualify for the playoffs.

8 – Leviatán

The LATAM first seed Leviatán has finally qualified for their first international tournament, and they have also earned themselves automatic qualification into the playoffs stage of Masters 2: Copenhagen. The organization has suffered multiple setbacks in the past, including a heartbreaking loss against Ninjas in Pyjamas in the LATAM/BR LCQ to qualify for Masters 1 and numerous defeats to their rivals, KRÜ Esports, in the LATAM Challengers: Grand Finals. Now Leviatán finds itself in a prime spot to secure a good placement in the tournament. Despite their automatic playoffs placement, their lack of international experience might be a factor that could hinder the Chilean roster. The competition will only get more complicated with many other experienced teams currently in or favored to qualify for the playoffs stage. We have seen higher-seeded teams falter in the playoffs due to the lack of games played on the stage. Leviatán has to find their stride in the server quickly, or they could find themselves in the lower bracket facing elimination.

7 – DRX

DRX will once again represent the Korean region in Masters 2: Copenhagen. The organization hopes its dominance over the South Korean scene will finally translate to the international stage. The Korean powerhouse claimed another KR Challengers title without dropping a single map during the playoffs. As the favorites to make it out of Group B in Masters 2, DRX will most likely be setting their sights on the playoffs, where they prove to the global stage that the Korean region should not be overlooked. DRX must surpass the struggles they commonly experience during the playoff stages in international events. If DRX can fully translate their domestic form to the Copenhagen groups and playoffs stages, there is potential where we might see an eastern region lift an international title.

Read part 2 here.