Despite their strong international presence, the two VALORANT teams had not faced each other on the stage until this moment, creating high expectations within the community.
Shopify Rebellion entered the tournament with determination, swiftly dispatching their initial opponents and securing a Grand Finals spot after a challenging encounter with G2 Gozen.
However, the finals brought an unexpected twist as Shopify’s in-game leader, Melanie “meL” Capone, tested positive for COVID-19, forcing her to lead the team from off-stage.
On the other side, Team Liquid Brazil embarked on a challenging lower bracket run after an initial setback against G2 Gozen.
Their journey included victories over formidable opponents like Evil Geniuses and BBL Queen, culminating in a revenge win against G2 to set the stage for the Grand Finals.
The Grand Finals commenced with a nail-biting match on Haven, where both teams fought fiercely, leading to a tie in regulation.
Shopify Rebellion seized control in overtime, claiming a 1-0 series lead.
The second map saw a resilient Team Liquid Brazil, rallying back from an 8-4 deficit to secure a 13-11 win, levelling the series at 1-1.
Breeze witnessed a dominant performance from Shopify Rebellion, securing a map point.
However, Team Liquid Brazil answered with a commanding win on Sunset, forcing the series to a climactic final map on Ascent.
The deciding map turned into a fierce battle, with both teams exchanging blows.
The first half ended in a draw, setting the stage for an intense second half.
In a defensive masterclass, meL and her team showcased resilience, not dropping a single round in the second half of Ascent.
Shopify Rebellion emerged victorious, lifting the VCT Game Changers 2023 trophy and completing an emotional redemption for meL and the roster.
The series showcased intense competition, with the final map reflecting the closely contested nature of the tournament.
Shopify Rebellion’s redemption from the previous year was fulfilled, while Team Liquid Brazil’s commendable lower-bracket run demonstrated their resilience.
The stage is set for potential future rivalries, and fans eagerly anticipate the teams’ performances in the 2024 season.
@ShopifyRebels #VCTGameChangers pic.twitter.com/1BSrEWoBHI
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) December 3, 2023
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G2 GOZEN v TEAM LIQUID BRAZIL VCT BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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| Best Odds: | G2 $2.14 at GG Bet | TL $1.66 at GG Bet |
| When: | November 28, 2023 | 14:00 BRT |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/VALORANT) |
The VCT 2023 Game Changers Championship kicks off with a clash between reigning Game Changers champions G2 Gozen and home crowd favourites Team Liquid Brazil. These teams last met in November 2022, when G2 won 2-0, but a lot has changed since, which explains the offered Valorant betting odds.
G2 enter the VCT 2023 Game Changers Championship on a four-game losing streak, including three defeats at the Red Bull Home Ground #4 EMEA Qualifier. Their struggles began shortly after Maryam “Mary” Maher’s retirement, and while Sarah “sarah” Ahmed has proven to be a solid player, G2 Gozen are not the same.
Team Liquid BR showed good form in October when they won VCT 2023 Game Changers Brazil Series 2, but they haven’t played an official game since. So, while form is something to consider, neither team has an official match on record in over a month.
Team Liquid BR look like the most likely victors, but G2 Gozen have the tools to do well. Considering both teams enter this match rusty, we can expect a scrappy affair.
Over 2.5 total maps
EVIL GENIUSES GC v TEAM SMG VCT BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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| Best Odds: | EG $1.90 at GG Bet | SMG $1.84 at GG Bet |
| When: | November 28, 2023 | 17:00 BRT |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/VALORANT) |
Evil Geniuses GC enter the VCT 2023 Game Changers Championship priced at $10.00 in the outright betting markets, whereas Team SMG are $31.00 outsiders to claim the trophy. However, for this match Valorant esports betting sites have priced the teams at close to the same odds.
This largely has to do with the fact that, like many other teams, EG and SMG are ring rusty, as they hadn’t played an official game in close to two months. Evil Geniuses GC also made a roster change last week and signed Scaryshark32, an unproven talent at VCT level.
EG look better on paper, mainly because they hail from a stronger region. However, Team SMG are 33-0 this season and are by far the best APAC VCT Game Changers team. At the offered VCT betting odds, SMG are an excellent bet.
Team SMG to win
The Playoffs for this Valorant event will take place from October 3-8 in a double elimination bracket.
Below are our VCT Game Changers betting tips, odds and predictions for September 11, 2023.
Acend Rising v Excel GC tips
Match odds: Acend Rising ($1.10); Excel GC ($6.50)
Acend Rising -1.5
BBL Queens v Guild X
Match odds: BBL Queens ($1.10); Guild X ($6.50)
Total maps under 2.5
Case Hydra v NAVI Celestials
Match odds: Case Hydra ($1.72); NAVI Celestials ($2.00)
Case Hydra to win
G2 Gozen v Falcons Vega tip
Match odds: G2 Gozen ($1.08); Falcons Vega ($7.00)
Under 2.5 maps
Anonymo.fe v Rebels Velvet prediction
Match odds: Anonymo.fe ($1.57); Rebels Velvet Vega ($2.25)
Anonymo.fe to win
FUT.fe v NASR Ignite
Match odds: FUT.fe ($1.30); NASR Ignite ($3.40)
Fut.fe -1.5
KPI Shine v Karmine Korp GC tips
Match odds: KPI Shine ($2.10(; Karmine Korp GC ($1.66)
Over 2.5 maps
Odd 1 Out v Dsyre GC prediction
Match odds: Odd 1 Out ($1.22); Dsyre GC ($4.00)
Odd 1 OUT to win
Riot released a statement on February 8, stating that Alex ��Dyslexic�� Luong and Jennifer ��nabiichu�� Choe violated the Valorant Champions Tour Game Changers Rule Set by misleading tournament officials in regards to the gender of Dyslexic, when playing a match for EQ Cerise.
On October 8, 2022, EQ Cerise played CLG Red in an official VCT Game Changers match. EQ Cerise were allowed an emergency substitute for the match.
Dyslexic, who identifies as he/him, got in contact with nabiichu, a now former member of EQ Cerise, and offered to change his gender to non-binary in order to play against CLG Red, misleading the officials along the way.
Dyslexic has also been sanctioned for his use of a prohibited third-party program to cheat during competitive matches against CLG Red on October 8, 2022.
Dyslexic is banned from any association or affiliation with a team in a Riot-sanctioned competition for eight years, beginning from the date of the latest violation to October 8, 2030.
As for nabiichu, she is banned from any association or affiliation with a team in a Riot-sanctioned competition for five years, beginning from the date of the latest violation to October 8, 2027.
The relevant VCT Game Changers Rule Set that both nabiichu and Dyslexic are said to have broken are as follows;
Section 3.1: Team Members Gender
All players on a Team��s roster must be women or of marginalized genders.
Section 3.9: Eligibility Vouching
If a Player participating in a Game Changers event is determined, at the sole discretion of Tournament Officials, to have misled the Tournament Operator with regard to these Team Member Eligibility requirements, all Team members on the Player’s Team may be sanctioned.
Section 7.2.5: Cheating
Cheating is prohibited. Any modification of the VALORANT game client by a Team or Team Member is prohibited. The use of any kind of cheating device or cheat program shall be deemed cheating.
The eight- and five-year bans handed out to Dyslexic and nabiichu are the biggest to be seen in professional Valorant throughout its short history.
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The team was originally an orgless Valorant squad called MAJKL before signing with Cloud9 in October.
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Prior to the dissolution of the roster, it was made up of 20-year-old American player Alexis “alexis” Guarrasi, Canadian player Jasmine “Jazzyk1ns” Manankil, 22-year-old American player Katja “katsumi” Pfahnl, Melanie “meL” Capone, and Australian player Bob “Bob” Tran, who joined the team in June 2022.
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Cloud9 White made a good run in the 2022 season, with strong placings at both top- and lower-tier events. They soared into first place at the 2022 Valorant Champions Tour: Game Changers North America Series 1, where they trashed Shopify Rebellion GC in a match that ended 3-0. The team also emerged in first place at both Series 2 and Series 3 of the event.
Last month in Berlin, Germany, at the VCT 2022: Game Changers Championship, the team finished in fourth place after losing 1-2 to Shopify Rebellion GC in a hard-fought semifinal.
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The organization said in a tweet that the departing Cloud9 White roster had forged “a legacy of excellence, dominance, and 6x Championships”.
?https://twitter.com/C9VAL/status/1605261923318112259?s=20&t=Z6etLgWKN_tqtT4i1bT2uA
Cloud9 also published a blog post in which they detailed the squad’s achievements.
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“Valorant White was Cloud9��s first Women��s Valorant team and was quickly established as one of the top teams in the game. With Cloud9, the team had an impressive run, including 6 first-place VCT [Valorant Champions Tour] Game Changers finishes, and a top 4 finish at the VCT Game Changers Championship,” Cloud9 wrote.
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Jack Etienne, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cloud9, also said: “We��re proud to have had the chance to work with such a talented team of women and to have been a part of their success.”
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The General Manager of Cloud9 White, Ysabel M��ller, explained that he is pleased with all that they have accomplished in the past two years.
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“Seeing this team thrive in the Game Changers scene and beyond has brought us so much joy at Cloud9. I am thankful and proud of everything we have achieved over the last two years. I am sure every player here will continue to break boundaries in esports!” said M��ller.
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According to reports, most of the players have already made their way to new teams. MeL and alexis are supposedly on their way to the North American team VersionX, while Bob and Katsumi are both set to sign with XSET Purple.
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Alexis, like the rest of the players, expressed her delight at having had the opportunity to represent Cloud9.
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“My time with Cloud9 has been an unforgettable experience and I��m so thankful for everything they did to support my teammates and me. Two years ago, I never could have imagined I��d be afforded the opportunities I have today as a professional VALORANT player. Cloud9 played a major role in establishing Game Changers and it was an honor to have been a part of this defining legacy,” Alexis said.
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It is unknown where Jazzyk1ns will be heading, or if she has started negotiations with any teams. However, she expressed her gratitude to Cloud9 for a blissful Valorant journey.
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“It��s been a journey getting here today. Now that C9 White is parting ways, I��ve never been more grateful for the experience of being on one of the best GC teams. I��m determined to keep grinding and learning every day. My journey doesn��t end here, it has just begun,” she said.
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“To the fans: I want to thank you for your support since the MAJKL days. I sincerely appreciate you believing in us and cheering us on these past 2 years. Most importantly, I hope you��ll continue to support each of our individual journeys in 2023. I love you all.”
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?More esports news
Riot banned Dawn “Dawn” Park and Vivian “Risorah” Dela Cruz from competing with a team in a Riot-sanctioned event for three and nine months, respectively. Dawn was banned for making “vulgar and targeted” comments about another player on social media, and Risorah was banned for harassing and making targeted vulgar comments about another player.?
?Riot Games’ rulings read:?
“Dawn ‘Dawn’ Park made a vulgar and targeted comment towards another player via Dawn��s personal social media. This is a violation of Rule 7.3.1 of the VALORANT Champions Tour Global Competition Policy. Dawn is banned from any association or affiliation with a team in a Riot-sanctioned competition for three months, beginning from the date of the latest violation and ending on September 27, 2022.��?
��Vivian ‘Risorah’ Dela Cruz repeatedly and systematically targeted and isolated another player via Risorah��s personal social media, in addition to making multiple vulgar comments towards this player. These are violations of Rule 7.3.1 and 7.3.4 of the VALORANT Champions Tour Global Competition Policy. Risorah is banned from any association or affiliation with a team in a Riot-sanctioned competition for nine months, beginning from the date of the latest violation and ending on March 27, 2022.��?
?This is coming a few weeks after a Discord channel was shut down for the same reason. The Galorants Discord was closed down as a result of the controversy, which began when a player commented on whether teabagging in a video game is perceived as sexual harassment. ?
?The moderators of the channel where the argument took place were slow to intervene, allowing the situation to fester rapidly and spread across social media. Forcing Galorants to take down the Discord server for a week to address a slew of issues.? ?On June 24, the initial debate began and festered in July. Riot issued its official decision on the two players involved about a month later. ?
?The ruling also comes a day after an accusation of account sharing was made during the Astral Clash tournament. The unrelated tournament was hosted by Gen.G and the finalists are scheduled to compete on LAN in California.? ?In a Twitlonger post, Dawn denied using vulgar language and cited the evidence Riot claims it used to reach its conclusions.
People in the VCT Game Changers community are becoming dissatisfied with the amount of conversation going on in the scene. Many of the VCT Game Changers tournaments, as well as other women and marginalized gender tournaments for Valorant, have been fraught with controversy.? ?Game Changers appears to be the most troubled tournament community, despite some controversies that have been present throughout the VCT tier-one tournament circuit.
Riot Games has been particularly selective about the rules its enforces with Game Changers, such as allowing male participants to substitute for a women-only tournament and enforcing its lateness rule only when necessary.? ?At the time of writing, there has been no official ruling on the Astral Clash accusations issued.
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