Following Fnatic and 100 Thieves' victories against Team Heretics and G2 Esports in their regional grand finals, we now know what the first stage of the VCT 2024 Masters Shanghai will look like.
Compared to the VCT 2024 Masters Madrid, Shanghai will have twelve competitors instead of eight — with each top-flight division sending three teams.
Here's how the bracket for the Swiss Stage looks as the teams now head to the second international major competition of the year:
VCT 2024 Masters Shanghai Swiss Stage Bracket
Eight of the twelve teams in the competition will start from the Swiss Stage, where each roster will be allowed to lose up to one match. The teams who are defeated twice will have to travel back home empty-handed.
Meanwhile, the best teams by the conclusion of the Swiss Stage will advance to the Playoffs and join Fnatic, 100 Thieves, Paper Rex, and EDward Gaming.
The first round of the VCT 2024 Masters Shanghai includes the following clashes:
- Team Heretics vs. Dragon Ranger Gaming
- FunPlus Phoenix vs. FUT Esports
- G2 Esports vs. T1
- Gen.G Esports vs. Leviatán
Here's a brief look at the four matches:
Team Heretics vs. Dragon Ranger Gaming
For the first time since joining Valorant's esports competitive scene, Team Heretics will play against a Chinese organization. Meanwhile, Dragon Ranger Gaming will be one of the two Ascension rosters competing in Shanghai after finishing in third place at the VCT 2024 China Stage 1.
FunPlus Phoenix vs. FUT Esports
FUT Esports are back to an international major event of Valorant since the team's Top 8 finish at the VCT Champions 2023. The Turkish side qualified for Shanghai following a third-place finish in the VCT 2024 EMEA League Stage 1.
Meanwhile, FunPlus Phoenix hopes to win a match at an international major competition of Valorant for the first time since the team's 2-1 victory against XSET at the VCT Champions 2022. Since then, the Chinese organization has lost six international matches — two of them against EMEA sides.
G2 Esports vs. T1
Of course they had to clash in Valorant too, right? G2 Esports and T1 are extending their League of Legends rivalship to Riot's shooter. The Ascension team qualified for the VCT Masters Shanghai after reaching the VCT 2024 Americas Stage 1 grand final. Later this month, the Berlin-based organization will try to take revenge on T1 after their 2-3 loss against the South Koreans last week at the MSI 2024.
Gen.G Esports vs. Leviatán
Leviatán are back to a VCT Masters two years later, as their last — and, so far, only — performance in this competition came in Copenhagen, Denmark, in July 2022.
With a completely different roster, the South American lineup qualified for Shanghai after a 2-1 victory against KRÜ Esports. The team's qualification for Shanghai also means that Erick "Aspas" Santos will make an international return ten months after his third-place finish at the VCT 2023 Champions alongside LOUD.
Meanwhile, Gen.G Esports were sentenced to start from Shanghai's Swiss Stage after the team's 2-3 defeat against Paper Rex at the VCT 2024 Pacific Stage 1 grand finals.