- What: Valorant Champions Tour 2024: EMEA Kickoff
- Date: February 20 – March 1, 2024
- Location: Riot Games Arena in Berlin, Germany
- How to Watch: YouTube and Twitch
Valorant teams from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) begin their road to the 2024 World Championships this week in Berlin, Germany, with the VCT EMEA Kickoff. In this event, which runs through March 1, Two spots at Valorant Masters Madrid and championship points are up for grabs. Eleven teams begin the event, with those squads split into three groups for the opening stage of the tournament. The winning team from each group goes to the playoff stage, and the second-place group team moves to the play-in stage. The top team from the play-in stage joins the playoff teams.
Here are the 11 teams competing in the VCT EMEA Kickoff event in 2024: Fnatic, Natus Vincere, FUT Esports, GIANTX, Team Liquid, Team Vitality, BBL Esports, Gentle Mates, KOI, Team Heretics, and Karmine Corp.
Before we look at the betting breakdown for the Valorant Champions Tour 2024: EMEA Kickoff, check out the best esports betting sites to get started on making the best Esports bets, and while you’re at it, take a look at our best Valorant betting sites.
Valorant Champions Tour 2024: EMEA Kickoff betting picks
Fnatic
Fnatic, who play out of Europe, had a strong showing in 2023. The team took first place honors at VCT 2023: LOCK//IN Sao Paulo and VCT 2023: Masters Tokyo while placing second behind Team Liquid in the VCT 2023: EMEA League. In the Valorant Champions event, Fnatic were a strong betting favorite, however the team fell to LOUD in the Lower Bracket Semifinal of that tournament and finished what can only be described as a disappointing fourth place.
Despite falling short of winning the Champions tournament, Fnatic is back in 2024 for the EMEA Kickoff event with the same roster it has had in place since late 2022.
Fnatic are in the three-team Group C. They open the 2024 EMEA Kickoff with a bye. They face the winner of the Team Vitality vs. Gentle Mates contest.
Natus Vincere
Natus Vincere had some success early in 2023, placing 3rd-4th at the Sao Paulo LOCK//IN event and finishing the EMEA League in fourth, but they struggled later in the year. The team, which plays out of Europe, placed 11th-12th at the Masters Tokyo tournament and finished the Valorant Champions tournament in 9th-12th place.
Most of the team is back for 2024, but Natus Vincere has welcomed ardiis back to the fold. He was with the team in 2021 but left to play for FunPlus Phoenix in 2022 and NRG in 2023.
Natus Vincere are in Group B along with BBL Esports, Team Liquid, and KOI. They face BBL in the opening match of the event.
FUT Esports
Competing out of Europe, FUT Esports are looking to build on the momentum they picked up in 2023, the team’s first year competing against top-tier VCT teams. Playing out of Turkey, FUT Esports finished third in the 2023 EMEA League and placed 9th-10th at the Masters Tokyo event while finishing the Valorant Champions tournament in 7th-8th place. Most recently, FUT Esports picked up a win at the Convergence 2023 tournament, where they defeated Team Vitality in the Grand Final.
The team that represented FUT Esports at the Convergence tournament is the same lineup that will compete at the 2024 EMEA Kickoff.
FUT Esports are in Group A in this event alongside Team Heretics, GIANTX, and Karmine Corp. They open the tournament against Team Heretics.
Best bet to win VCT 2024: EMEA Kickoff
Fnatic are the deepest and most well-versed team at the VCT 2024: EMEA Kickoff event. Look for them to be the most comfortable and confident squad in the tournament. The betting pick is for Fnatic to win the VCT 2024: EMEA Kickoff event, but there is some betting value in picking FUT Esports to pull off a surprise upset.
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