Gen.G have been eradicated from VCT Pacific: Stage 2 Playoffs following defeat of their Decrease-Bracket spherical 1 to RRQ. The two-1 defeat leaves Gen.Gโs attendance at Valorant Champions 2025 out of their fingers.
Just some quick weeks in the past, Gen.G appeared like one of many favourites for the entire competitors, however the precarious and unforgiving nature of VCT Pacificโs teams left them with no wiggle room, and on a knifeโs edge. Gen.G slipped from first of their group in Week 3 of the group stage to fourth within the group for Week 4 following a 0-2 defeat to Nongshim RedForce. The outcome has had disastrous penalties for the Korean organisation.
The loss meant that they have been condemned to begin the playoffs within the Decrease Bracket, making the playoffs successfully a single-elimination match for them, with their preliminary opponent within the bracket set as both Rex Regum Qeon or T1.
RRQ misplaced to T1, upsetting the esports betting websites odds. The two-1 shut collection defeat despatched the Stage 1 Pacific champions to the decrease bracket in opposition to Gen.G, who they defeated again in Could to say that crown 3-1 within the Grand Remaining. Historical past repeated itself with RRQ as soon as once more prevailing, this time a lot earlier within the competitors, with Gen.G ending a meagre Seventh-Eighth within the area.
Hypothesis is already mounting on-line that the loss might set off the return of Kim โLakiaโ Jong-min to the energetic roster. Gen.G introduced his return on August 4, with Lakia stating he’s โabsolutely healedโ following a interval of damage that left him out of competitors for months.
The transfer wouldn’t be with out precedent. Gen.G launched 5 of their contracted gamers following their dismal 2023 season. The outcome was a 2024 that noticed the organisation make it to the highest of Valorantโs competitors scene, successful the VCT Shanghai Masters 2024, with Lakia.
If Gen.G want to return to that stage, which may be contemplating equally drastic steps.
Will VCT Pacific elimination kill their season?
Gen.G have had a powerful yr, regardless of a scarcity of silverware, however the loss in Pacific Stage 2 threatens to derail all the pieces they’ve labored for within the year-to-date.
Regardless of shedding the Grand Remaining of Stage 1, Gen.G have had a typically stronger exhibiting since then, inserting third at Valorantโs EWC match and Fifth-Sixth at VCT Masters Toronto.
RRQ, in contrast, have been eradicated within the teams at EWC, and have been eradicated as early as doable in Toronto, ending Seventh-Eighth. RRQ started their Toronto marketing campaign within the playoffs attributable to their Stage 1 victory, however did not win a single collection on the occasion, shedding 0-2 to Wolves and 1-2 to Fnatic.
Whereas Paper Rex is clearly the strongest crew within the area, turning into the primary Pacific crew to win a world in Valorant, Gen.G have been wanting like a possible outsider to win all of it in Paris. Now they will solely sit and watch between their fingers to see how the remainder of the bracket unfolds.
Gen.G at the moment sit joint third within the Pacific factors, however will be surpassed by Talon and RRQ. The highest 2 spots of Pacific Stage 2 will immediately qualify to Champions, making their factors irrelevant and which means the spot can drip right down to Gen.G. The general image is that they will solely hope outcomes go their manner, and permit them to qualify via Pacific factors.
One wonders how a lot Gen.G are regretting their contest in opposition to Nongshim RedForce.
Darragh Harbinson is an esports author specialising in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports Information UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.
