Top NA Valorant teams qualify for the First Strike main event

Olivia Richman Published 08/11/2020

The First Strike main event has named its first four competitors, and they make for a strong early field.

Sentinels, 100 Thieves, Envy, and Renegades each earned a spot in the First Strike main event over the weekend thanks to impressive performances at the Valorant First Strike Closed Qualifier.

Four teams from the UMG Closed Qualifier later this month will also compete in the main event in December, fighting for a piece o the $100,000 prize pool.

.@Envy have secured their invite to the @PlayVALORANT #FirstStrike main event!@FNS @mummAyTV @kabooseCS @food_cs @Crashies pic.twitter.com/GGznuBBcj4
— Nerd Street Gamers (@nerdstgamers) November 7, 2020

The closed qualifier had 16 North American Valorant teams competing for a spot in the main event. While the event is still ongoing, four NA teams rose to the occasion and secured a coveted spot before the weekend’s end.

Team Envy is still waiting to see who they will face in the finals, but they’ve secured qualification either way thanks to some successful roster moves. This includes adding former T1 players. Envy came in second in last week’s open qualifier and is now looking to come out on top.

Another team to shape up after a squad shakeup was 100 Thieves. Captain Spencer “Hiko” Martin put together one of the best teams in North America, a blend of rookies and FPS veterans. Even though they lost to Cloud9 Blue, the talented team later defeated both Luminosity and TSM to make it to the playoffs.

After one of the most intense Overtimes we’ve seen yet, @100Thieves are the fourth and final team to qualify for the @PlayVALORANT #FirstStrike Main Event from our
Closed Qualifiers!@Hiko @diceyzx @nitr0 @JoshNissan @Asunaa pic.twitter.com/ZKGUIVRvGA
— Nerd Street Gamers (@nerdstgamers) November 8, 2020

100 Thieves, Sentinels impress in First Strike qualifiers

100 Theives will next be facing Sentinels, a team that’s been revered as the best North American Valorant team to date. Even though they lost in the open qualifier quarterfinals to Gen.G, there is no denying the talent of this impressive roster. This includes fan-favorite Jay “Sinatraa” Won, a former Overwatch League MVP.

One name people may be surprised to see in the top four is Renegades. This isn’t a team that’s been on a lot of people’s radars. But after beating Cloud9 Blue in the quarterfinals with a confident 2-0 outcome, the squad definitely has earned some respect. They also earned a spot in the main event even though they lost to Envy in the semis.

The UMG open and closed qualifiers are the next tournament to keep an eye on. Four teams from the competition will join 100 Thieves, Renegades, Sentinels, and Team Envy in the main event. The First Strike final event begins on December 3.

The squad is taking on Envy in a Bo5 Grand Final of the VALORANT #FirstStrike Closed Qualifier starting NOW! Let’s bring it home, boys! #100T

Watch: https://t.co/P5Q2ycdlU3
Chat: https://t.co/QlykFlLs75
Updates: https://t.co/1zYXuCv1Vx pic.twitter.com/1Kk6cCG8Dc
— 100 Thieves Live (@100ThievesLive) November 8, 2020

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

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