I Called VIT vs LEV in Round 1. It's Actually Happening.
Both Vitality and Leviatán dominated their LR2 matches yesterday, and the lower semis matchup I've been waiting for since day one is now locked in.
I wrote in the Swiss stage that a deep VIT vs LEV matchup would be must-watch Valorant. Said it on June 8th. On June 19, it's actually happening.
What Yesterday Confirmed
VIT went 2-0 over FUT on Lotus (13-7) and Ascent (13-2). The Ascent scoreline is the thing. That's not just a win, that's a team running through an elimination match on autopilot. FUT had just knocked out NRG, had real momentum coming in. VIT didn't care.
LEV was equally clean. They swept XLG 2-0 on Haven (13-7) and Lotus (13-3). After grinding out a tense 2-1 against Heretics in LR1, they didn't let the series get complicated. XLG had just beaten G2 to drop to the lower bracket. LEV ended their run without a decider.
Two elimination matches. Both 2-0. Both dominant.
Why This Is the Match to Watch
These teams took completely different paths to get here. VIT fell from the upper bracket after PRX went 13-3 on Breeze in their semifinal. That's a rough way to drop down. The question is whether losing like that shakes you or focuses you. Based on how they handled FUT, I think it focused them.
LEV has been living in the lower bracket since LR1. Every match has been elimination Valorant. The fact that they keep winning without dropping maps means they've found something specifically for must-win situations.
PRX and EDG get the hyped upper final. Fine. But this lower semis is the match I actually want to see. Both teams are hot, neither is safe, and whoever comes through it is going to be a nightmare for whoever drops from the upper final.
I'll have a pick before Thursday. I don't have one yet.