VCT Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen-Finals Preview

Stage 2 Valorant Masters has reached its final stage. Only four teams and four matches stand between crowning the Copenhagen Masters champions.

The day after the Group stage ended, the tournament progressed to the knockout phase. The double-elimination bracket kicked off with four upper quarterfinal matches.

The first part of playoffs is in the books

The playoffs began with APAC's Paper Rex's clean 2-0 victory over EMEA's Guild Esports, followed by the rematch of the European Challengers finals. Just like then, Fnatic defeated FunPlus Phoenix without many problems.

On Day 2 of the playoffs, Korean champions DRX defeated LATAM's Leviatán before OpTic Gaming got their revenge on XSET for losing to them in North American Challengers finals.

The losing teams moved down to the lower bracket, where FPX knocked out Guild from the tournament 2-1. The short and disappointing performance from NA's Challengers champions XSET also ended with a 2-1 loss to Leviatán.

In the upper bracket semifinals, Paper Rex ended Fnatic's great run by defeating them 2-0. Identical as in Stage 1 Masters earlier this year, OpTic and DRX met at this tournament stage. Despite DRX's best efforts, the outcome was the same, and OpTic advanced to the top four again.

Unfortunately for DRX, they got knocked out in lower quarterfinals once again. FPX was a much better team this time and easily advanced to the top four.

In the last matchup, Fnatic knocked out Leviatán in a 2-1 thriller match. After a quadruple overtime on the Bind, Fnatic managed to prevail and advance to lower bracket semis.

Can OpTic repeat?

OpTic Gaming is looking to become the first team to defend an international title in Valorant. However, Paper Rex looks very scary and will be a very difficult task. They made a step further in Copenhagen and have their eyes on the prize.

The winner of the matchup is heading to a best of five Grand final, while the loser waits for the victor of the Fnatic vs. FPX match.

For the fifth time in Stage 2, FPX will have an opportunity to take down Fnatic. Maybe "fifth time is the charm" since they are yet to secure a single victory. After playing with a substitute in the Group stage, SUYGETSU finally arrived in Copenhagen and is looking to take down Derke and the boys.

The VCT 2022 Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen playoffs continue on Friday, July 22nd, and you can watch all the action live on Twitch and YouTube.