Team Vitality have become VCT 2025 EMEA Kickoff champions after a thrilling 3-2 victory against Team Liquid.
The French powerhouse had qualified for the grand final on February 7 after a one-sided victory against the Valorant Champions 2024 grand finalists Team Heretics. Before the team's victory against the Spanish organization, the Bees had also defeated Karmine Corp and FUT Esports.
Meanwhile, Team Liquid reached the VCT 2025 EMEA Kickoff grand finals after four more matches than the yellow roster. The Blue Cavalry's initial victory against KOI was followed by a 0-2 defeat against FUT Esports, which saw the team falling to the Lower Bracket Round 1. After that, the European roster had to knock out Apeks, GIANTX, BBL Esports, FUT Esports, and Team Heretics to reach the grand finals.
Surprisingly enough, Team Liquid had a great start to the series with back-to-back map wins on Split and Haven. Suddenly, the roster was one map away from clinching the region's first seed to compete at the Valorant Masters Bangkok. However, the Bees were ready to protect their nest.
From one map to the other, Team Vitality gained confidence and energy as seen in Lotus, where the Europeans secured a surprising 10-1 lead. Eventually, they closed out the map with a 13-6 win. Shortly after, the roster did the same on Bind as they got a 13-7 win. Just like that, the Bees had forced the fifth map.
On Fracture, Team Vitality's start was outstanding as they built an early 7-0 lead. Despite Team Liquid's best efforts to level the scoreboard, Team Vitality ended up securing the win to complete the comeback.
Curiously enough, this is the second time in the last two seasons we see a two map comeback in the grand finals of an EMEA top-flight competition as Fnatic defeated Team Heretics in similar fashion. Back then, the current Team Vitality player Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev was part of the orange roster.
With today's result, Team Vitality claimed EMEA's first seed at the Valorant Masters Bangkok and three EMEA Points. Meanwhile, Team Liquid claimed the region's second seed in Bangkok and two EMEA Points.