PAX Arena Invitational Recap
Sentinels claimed their first competitive Valorant championship on Sunday defeating Cloud 9 three to one in the finals of the PAX Arena Invitational. After Sentinels won a close battle on Ascent 13-11, Cloud 9 bounced back on Haven 13-6, before Sentinels took down a hard-fought map on Bind 13-11. On the final map, Split, we got to see Tenz break out the Viper, but it was not enough, as Sentinels were clinical on defense opening to an 8-0 lead, eventually winning 13-7. Sentinels also had a particularly impressive performance in the semifinals taking down TSM 13-4 on Bind and 13-3 on Ascent. Fast, clean executions onto sites allowed them to nullify Wardell’s impact with the operator by forcing TSM to attempt retakes. Sinatraa has found a comfortable role entry fragging as Phoenix to the tune of a 262 Average Combat Score (ACS) for the event. Meanwhile Sick had clutch after clutch continuing to be the top fragging Sage in North America averaging a team high 1.34 K/D in the tournament and Shahzam (1.31 K/D 230 ACS) showed that having an In-Game-Leader who can also frag is as valuable as ever. Sentinels seem to have the best strategic understanding of Valorant in North America right now and will have to be considered one of the favorites if not the favorite in any upcoming tournaments.
The surprise of the event had to be Homeless, the only unsigned roster to make it out of the group stage. They beat both 100 Thieves and Built By Gamers in Group A before taking down favorites T1 in the quarterfinals. Homeless were headlined by Supamen, the former Crossfire player, who averaged a 1.3 K/D and 239 ACS, announcing his presence as a star with his stellar performance on Brimstone, while Psalm (1.16 K/D 213 ACS) had his best tournament in Valorant so far playing Sova very effectively. This roster will not stay homeless for long.
To highlight some other statistical standouts: Tenz had the top Average Combat Score in the tournament at 311 as well as an absurd 0.24 First Blood Rate. Food had a massive group stage for T1 where he averaged a 2.06 K/D and 331 ACS. As far as unsigned players, both Aproto (1.2 K/D 249 ACS) and Stellar (1.18 K/D 223) impressed for Mixup, while diceyzx (1.29 K/D 252 ACS) had strong performances on duelists for Prospects.
Overall the PAX Arena Invitational was a good tournament to watch, hitting 80k peak viewers, even if there were some unusual decisions like not casting the group stage, requiring a player from each team to stream, and then going back and changing their minds. Also, as much fun as it is to see influencer-based teams participate in competitive tournaments, hopefully future tournaments all reserve at least one spot to open qualifiers. Tournament organizers continue to do well getting experienced casting crews for these events, but Riot will have to keep improving the spectator system before we get a premier viewing experience.
Looking ahead, the Ignition Series continues with the Mandatory.gg Cup taking place for Europe on July 31st where G2 and Fish123 will be favorites. Then on August 1st, the Rage Japan Tournament, sporting a $50,000 prize pool, will give us a clearer understanding of the state of Japanese Valorant. As far as North America, the 30Bomb Summer Cup, also starting on August 1st, will host almost every top North American team. There is plenty of competitive Valorant to look forward to next weekend.
PAX Arena Invitational Preview
The Favorites
Team SoloMid
TSM boasts the most impressive resume in North American Valorant so far, highlighted by their victory in the stacked T1xNSG Showdown. The PAX Arena Invitational fields an even deeper lineup of teams and TSM will have to bounce back after the recent Pulse Invitational where they fell to Cloud 9 in the quarterfinals. TSM’s roster is headlined by their star Operator user, Wardell, who owns the highest average K/D in North America(1.56), and Drone, who arguably has single-handedly caused the high Phoenix pick-rate in North America with his outstanding play on the Agent. TSM will undoubtedly be one of the favorites to take down the whole tournament.
T1
The last tournament T1 participated in was the T1xNSG Showdown almost a month ago where they finished second. This early in Valorant’s lifespan a lot can change in four weeks, including roles within a team. Brax has starred on Omen and Raze and has stated he will be adding Phoenix to the agents he flexes onto. Skadoodle will be shifting to Sova off the Sage role, taken over by AZK, which should allow Ska to play more aggressively and have a greater effect with the Operator. This lineup is stacked top to bottom, Crashies has quietly excelled as the most successful Cypher player in North America averaging a 1.22 K/D and 223 Combat Score, fantastic numbers for playing the most passive agent in the game. T1 still has questions to answer after so few tournaments played but will enter this tournament as one of the favorites.
The Contenders
Gen.G
Gen.G must be the most consistent performer in the North American region. So far in Valorant, they have lost every match they have played against TSM, T1, and Immortals, exchanged victories with Sentinels and C9, and remain undefeated against all other opponents. They should be expected to make it out of groups and likely go on a deep run, but they will have to prove they can beat the absolute best. They are riding high right now though, after their first-place finish in the Pulse Invitational where gMd starred in the Phoenix role, the most successful rifler in that tournament averaging a 1.34 K/D and 254 Combat Score.
Sentinels
Sentinels have the star power; Shazam has been excellent on the Operator while Sick is one of the more underrated players right now, putting up the best fragging numbers for any Sage in North America. An exciting often unpredictable team, you never know when Sinatraa might break out the Odin. They have ended up in Group D where four pro teams reside including Cloud 9, so they will have to be careful to ensure they survive the group stage, but they have enough talent to take down anyone.
Cloud 9
Once known as “Tenz and Frenz”, Cloud 9 is starting to solidify their roster having now signed Tenz, Relyks, and Mitch. After several tournaments where they failed to survive the group stage, losing many close matches, they just took down TSM in a best of three in the Pulse Invitational, eventually finishing second behind Gen.G. Cloud 9 still have two unsigned players; Vice has looked solid on Cypher recently, while Shinobi fills the role of in-game-leader as a support Sage. Cloud 9 still must prove they can be consistent, both individually and as a team, but will look to build upon their recent momentum and make another deep playoff run.
Immortals
Early on in Valorant Immortals signed this young team full of potential. They have consistently been in the mix in big tournaments but are yet to win one. They have brought jcStani back into the active lineup, probably a good call since he was apparently in-game-leading for them while putting up solid fragging numbers for a Cypher with shot-calling responsibilities. Look for Asuna to play aggressively on duelists and KOLER backing him up in the fragging department. Their Group C match against Gen.G should be one of the best in the group stage.
The Dark Horses
Team Envy
Team Envy recently signed the Together We Are Terrific roster which is filled with experienced CSGO players. Among this balanced roster mummay often leads the scoreboard using the Operator on Jett. They should be expected to make it out of group B and have enough talent to go head to head with T1 at the top of the group.
100 Thieves
100 Thieves have only participated in the T1xNSG Showdown right after being signed. Possibly unfairly criticized for signing “Pubg Players” they are likely underrated by most right now. If you look at how they have performed statistically, along with Hiko’s expected excellence, Venerated has been among the best fraggers in NA, while YaBoiDre and Pride have both been better than solid in the Sage and Brimstone support roles as well. Valliate will have to get more comfortable in the Cypher role for the team to reach their potential. They are in group A which is heavily expected to be won by TSM. For 100T to advance to the playoffs they will have to prove themselves against Built By Gamers, a solid test for this lineup.
Built By Gamers
Formerly known as Code7, Built By Gamers must be taken seriously after nearly upsetting T1 in a best of 3 in the T1xNSG Showdown and defeating Immortals in the Pulse Invitational. They are led by their duelist duo of rob-wiz and pho. Expect unrivaled aggression from rob-wiz who will be dashing recklessly into sites as Jett. Meanwhile, pho has statistically been the most impressive Reyna player in competitive Valorant so far. They feel like a team designed to upset and be upset. In group A, they aren’t supposed to have trouble against new lineup Homeless, so the real question is whether they can take down 100T and move on to the playoffs.
Way 2 French
Faze Clan have been replaced in this tournament by Way 2 French, so the bad news is we will not get an answer to what is going on with the Faze Clan roster. The good news is we get to see one of the stronger amateur sides in North America try to prove themselves against the best. Way 2 French won the Trovo Challenge a few weeks ago, taking down the current Renegades roster along the way. They will have to be at their best though to take down either T1 or Envy in Group B.
The Unproven
Complexity Gaming
A relatively new lineup just signed by Complexity this will be their first big tournament. The roster includes competitive experience in CSGO, Overwatch, and Apex. However, they reside in a challenging group, Group D, with Cloud 9, Sentinels, Renegades, and OWL.
Renegades
The team formerly known as Big Frames has become Renegades. Another team signed without having participated in any of the big tournaments, they have looked dangerous in smaller ones. In their first tournament under the Renegades banner, they are unlucky to draw what must be considered the group of death, Group D.
Mixup
Aproto is the highlight, expect headshots and lots of them from the star Raze player. This team ran hot and cold early on in Valorant, sometimes looking like they could compete with the top teams and sometimes losing first games in open qualifiers where they were the top seed. Mixup is in Group C along with Gen.G, Immortals, Prospects, and Mang0 which should be a very competitive group.
Prospects
Prospects are offering a new lineup with tex and witmer recently added. Consistently showing up in qualifiers and small tournaments, this will be their first real shot to prove themselves against the top teams in Valorant. Advancing will not be easy though, with two playoff regulars Gen.G and Immortals headlining Group C.
Homeless
True to their name, this is a new look lineup made up of former stand-ins. Just looking at individual statistics from relatively small sample sizes: psalm has been ok, dephh has been good, POISED has been better than good, and supamen has been excellent, while its Laski’s first tournament. Though it is hard to expect much from a thrown-together lineup in a group with rosters that have been playing together for a month or more.
Echo 8
After dropping Req and Reformed and then losing their top fragger supamen, Echo 8 will bring 3 brand new players, Jammyz, buds, and TiGG to this tournament. It is doubtful that this roster has scrimmed together for long considering the last-minute roster changes after it was found that temporary member Phox was cheating a few days ago.
The Streamer Teams
100 Blifted
Formerly known as Team Ninja, they are yet to win a single match in a big tournament, but they have at least looked competitive in losses. Ninja, who needs no introduction, will look to make plays on Omen while Grego will also look to frag aggressively. For the recent eUnited Charity Clash they played with Vegas instead of Sonii, which honestly would benefit them to have someone fill the always important Cypher role while Vegas’s background in FPS games wouldn’t hurt either (He was one of the former Pubg pros in the Highground lineup in the Valorant Beta the rest of which went on to join Hiko in 100 Thieves).
OWL
Named after TheGamingOwl, this lineup is filled with players who have already participated in qualifiers and small tournaments so don’t expect them to be a pushover, but it will take some shockers for them to make it out of Group D where every other team is signed by an esports organization.
Team Kephrii
Overwatch steamer Kephrii also brings a group of experienced fps players onto his team, but they will be hard-pressed to match up with any of the four established teams in Group B.
Team Mang0
Smash legend Mang0 has put together a roster, so this team will be a fan favorite. It will be tough for them to make much noise in Group C against some of the longest standing lineups in NA Valorant, but it should be fun to see them try. Ultimately none of the streamer-based teams have much of a chance of even escaping the group stage, but any of them have enough talent to pull off a best of one upset if luck falls their way.
The most stacked North American Valorant tournament to date, the PAX Arena Invitational will have plenty of options on how to watch, with every team being required to have at least one player stream their point of view. The first matches start at 1700 EDT July 22.