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VALORANT Masters London 2026: Teams, format, prize pool and odds Esports Betting
VALORANT Masters London 2026: Teams, format, prize pool and odds Owen Harsono After a long wait, international Valorant action is back. Twelve of the best teams across four major regions have booked their spots at the upcoming VALORANT Masters London 2026 tournament, and we’re in for a treat. Here’s everything you need to know about the event. Masters London is the second international VALORANT tournament of the year, following Masters Santiago in February and March. We have several new rookies making their …
NRG vs 100 Thieves betting predictions and best picks: VCT Americas Stage 1 Valorant
NRG vs 100 Thieves betting predictions and best picks: VCT Americas Stage 1 Owen Harsono NRG will take on 100 Thieves in the lower bracket of VCT Americas Stage 1, with the winner booking the final spot at Valorant Masters London 2026. There’s a lot on the line, as this series will determine how the next few months look for both teams. Here is our NRG vs 100 Thieves VCT Americas Stage 1 predictions. Tournament: VCT Americas Stage 1 Stage: Playoffs Game: Valorant Format: Best-of-three …
EWC officially heads to Paris for 2026 as early reports confirmed Esports Betting
EWC officially heads to Paris for 2026 as early reports confirmed Michael Hassall The Esports World Cup 2026 will take place in Paris, France from July later this year as per an new announcement by the EWC organizers, the Esports Foundation. Revealed in a post on their official social media, and an accompanying release and blog post, the announcement confirmed earlier speculation that the event would move location due to the “regional situation” around Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Here’s the info: The Esports World …
Paper Rex vs FULL SENSE betting preview, odds, and best picks: VCT Pacific Stage 1 grand final predictions Valorant
Paper Rex vs FULL SENSE betting preview, odds, and best picks: VCT Pacific Stage 1 grand final predictions Owen Harsono FULL SENSE will take on Paper Rex for the VCT Pacific crown, as the two teams clash in the Pacific Stage 1 grand finals. The former made a clean run through the upper bracket, while the latter has been ramping up through the lower bracket. Here are our Paper Rex vs FULL SENSE VCT Pacific predictions. Tournament: VCT Pacific Stage 1 Stage: Grand Final Game: Valorant Format: Best of 5 …
This is how to change your name and Riot ID in Valorant News
This is how to change your name and Riot ID in Valorant Owen Harsono Are you bored of your Valorant name and want to switch things up? Fortunately, Riot Games makes it very easy to change your name in Valorant. In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to change your Valorant name. A Riot ID is pretty much the same thing as your Valorant name. Riot IDs feature a combination of your in-game display name, as well as …
Here’s why Riot Games banned canezerra for 12 months Valorant
Here’s why Riot Games banned canezerra for 12 months Khizar Mundia Riot Games is known to punish players when they violate the terms of service or cheat, and Alex “canezerra” Banyasz is the latest to fall foul of the rules — he has been banned for one year. canezerra rose through the ranks in the Tier 2 Valorant circuit and gained fame in the Challengers circuit while playing for Envy, qualifying for the VCT Americas after winning Ascension in 2025. canezerra …
Best Valorant Streamers in 2026 Valorant
Best Valorant Streamers in 2026 Owen Harsono Sometimes, playing Valorant can be a little stressful and exhausting. That’s why many Valorant fans prefer watching someone else play the game instead. If you’re looking to sit back and watch some entertaining gameplay, here are the top Valorant streamers in 2026. Mixwell is a name that’s been hovering around first-person shooter games for a while. He kickstarted his career in professional Counter-Strike, where he played for a handful of …
All Valorant Maps in Standard Mode, Competitive and in Reserve Valorant
All Valorant Maps in Standard Mode, Competitive and in Reserve Owen Harsono If you’re trying to become a good Valorant player, there are several things you need to master. Not only do you have to learn the individual agents, but you also have to study all of the maps in Valorant. In this guide is a list of all Valorant maps and what you need to know about them. As of , there are 12 maps in Valorant, released over the course …
VCT 2027: The biggest change to Valorant esports in four years Fariha Bhatti Valorant Riot Games is overhauling the Valorant Champions Tour for 2027, scrapping traditional league play in favor of a tournament-based system where any team can compete for a spot on the main VCT stage. Here’s all you need to know about the VCT 2027 ecosystem. Announced in 2020 and launched in 2021, the Valorant Champions Tour has gone through several significant changes over the years, none bigger than the franchise model …
Best Valorant Players in 2026: The Top 10 Pros Dominating Right Now Owen Harsono Valorant The Valorant 2026 season is off to an interesting start, as we have new names dominating the professional scene this year so far. Some of the familiar names that dominated previous years are no longer at the top. Here are the best Valorant players in 2026. Disclaimer: This article was last updated on May 31, 2026. It is based only on the 2026 season up to this point. A contender …
Best Valorant Teams in 2026 Owen Harsono Valorant Professional Valorant is getting interesting in 2026. We’re seeing new competition with fresh blood, which makes it more exciting than ever. With VCT Masters Santiago and Kickoffs wrapped up, we have a good idea of who the strongest teams currently are. Here is our list of the best Valorant teams in 2026. Disclaimer: This article is based only on the 2026 season and was written following the conclusion of VCT Masters …
Valorant Ranks: Our Complete 2026 Ranking System Guide Owen Harsono Valorant Valorant is one of the most popular competitive video games in the world, and many players spend hundreds or even thousands of hours grinding the game. That’s exactly why Riot Games has implemented a ranking system, which allows players to track their progress. Below we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Valorant ranking system. Valorant’s ranking system gives its players a good idea of where they currently …
From Premier to VCT Champions: Nongshim RedForce Win Masters Santiago Owen Harsono Valorant Nongshim RedForce pulled off one of the most dominant Valorant runs in recent memory, as the squad didn’t drop a single series on their way to the VCT Masters Santiago trophy. They took down Paper Rex in an all-Pacific grand final to claim their first international title. The storyline doesn’t get any better than this. Despite entering the tournament with a relatively low profile, Nongshim took down top opponents one …
Paper Rex vs Nongshim RedForce: VCT Masters Santiago Predictions Owen Harsono Esports Betting It looks like Asia Pacific is the strongest region in Valorant, as Paper Rex will face Nongshim RedForce in the VCT Masters Santiago 2026 grand final. Will South Korean Valorant put itself back on the map, or are Paper Rex due for their second international title? Here are our VCT Masters Santiago Paper Rex vs Nongshim RedForce predictions. Tournament: VCT Masters Santiago 2026 Stage: Grand Final Game: Valorant Format: Best …
NRG vs Paper Rex: VCT Masters Santiago Predictions and Odds Owen Harsono Esports Betting NRG take on Paper Rex for the third time in VCT Masters Santiago 2026, but this one will be the last. These two powerhouse squads will battle for the final spot in the grand final. Here are our VCT Masters Santiago NRG vs Paper Rex predictions.  Tournament: VCT Masters Santiago 2026 Stage: Lower Bracket Final Game: Valorant Format: Best of 5 Betting tip: These two teams have played against each …
Paper Rex vs G2 Esports: VCT Masters Santiago Predictions Owen Harsono Esports Betting Paper Rex will take on G2 Esports for the second time at VCT Masters Santiago 2026, but this time, the stakes are different. The loser of this series will be sent packing, while the winner secures a spot in the top three. Here are our VCT Masters Santiago Paper Rex vs G2 Esports predictions. Tournament: VCT Masters Santiago 2026 Stage: Playoffs Game: Valorant Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: In …
NRG vs Nongshim RedForce: VCT Masters Santiago Predictions Owen Harsono Esports Betting The first finalist of VCT Masters Santiago will be determined by a match between NRG and Nongshim RedForce. Both teams have gone undefeated in the playoffs and have already secured a top-three finish, but winning this series puts one team closer to the trophy. Here are our VCT Masters Santiago NRG vs Nongshim RedForce predictions.  Tournament: VCT Masters Santiago 2026 Stage: Playoffs Game: Valorant Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: …
G2 vs BBL: VCT Masters Santiago Predictions and Odds Owen Harsono Esports Betting EMEA’s final hope will be put to the test as BBL Esports are tasked to face G2 Esports in an elimination match at VCT Masters Santiago 2026. The winner of this series will book a spot in the top four, while the loser will be sent home. Here are our VCT Masters Santiago G2 vs BBL predictions.  Tournament: VCT Masters Santiago 2026 Stage: Playoffs (Elimination) Game: Valorant Format: Best of …
Paper Rex vs All Gamers: VCT Masters Santiago Predictions Owen Harsono Esports Betting Paper Rex find themselves on the brink of elimination at VCT Masters Santiago 2026 and will take on All Gamers to stay alive in the tournament. The winner of this series will secure a spot in the top four, while the loser will go home. Here are our VCT Masters Santiago Paper Rex vs All Gamers predictions. Tournament: VCT Masters Santiago 2026 Stage: Playoffs (Elimination) Game: Valorant Format: Best of …
Paper Rex vs NRG: VCT Masters Santiago Predictions and Odds Owen Harsono Esports Betting Paper Rex and NRG are set to face off in the upper bracket. The winner of this matchup will book a spot in the top three. Here are our VCT Masters Santiago Paper Rex vs NRG predictions. Tournament: VCT Masters Santiago 2026 Stage: Playoffs Game: Valorant Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: These two teams have already played against each other in the group stage, with Paper Rex taking the …

Riot Games has long looked to expand its footprint beyond the success of popular MOBA League of Legends, and one of its biggest successes to date in this regard is the tactical shooter, Valorant. Blending traditional first-person shooter elements with unique and flashy hero abilities, Valorant seeks to combine the best attributes of tactical shooters and hero shooters into one cohesive experience.

Based on player feedback, the game has largely succeeded in accomplishing those aims. It’s not an easy balance, and it’s one that is arguably still tenuous, but Riot Games seems to be doing as good a job of it as most fans have hoped for.

What type of game is Valorant?

Valorant is a first-person shooter that represents a unique blend of the tactical shooter and hero shooter subgenres. There are some games that represent similar gameplay elements, but not many that offer the exact experience that Valorant puts forward to players.

The tactical shooter genre is often considered to have been defined by the release of the original Counter-Strike, a multiplayer mod for famed single-player PC title Half-Life that later became a standalone game of its own. While most multiplayer FPS games to that point emphasized prolonged battles between opposing players zipping around the game at high speeds, Counter-Strike slowed things down significantly and made players much more susceptible to each other’s firepower, requiring players to take a more tactical approach to play.

That slower and more tactical approach, combined with the lightning-quick nature of action when it does occur, proved reliably popular. That popularity can still be seen today with the ongoing success enjoyed by the Counter-Strike franchise, and it’s this gameplay type that represents the core of Valorant. It’s no accident that former Counter-Strike developers were drafted by Riot Games to help create Valorant during the game’s formative stages.

What differentiates Valorant from CS and other tactical shooters it that each of the game’s characters, called agents, wield a number of unique abilities. Some are typical for tactical shooters, like flashbangs and smokes, while others are wildly different, such as an ability that transports two players to an isolated dueling arena for its duration.

These agent abilities are more reminiscent of hero shooters, a subgenre that arguably got its start with the Team Fortress games but has best been popularized by Blizzard title Overwatch. The abilities, combind with the tactical considerations that are at the core of Valorant, separate it from most any other FPS experience available for play.

How does Valorant esports work?

Like many other popular competitive shooters, Valorant does have a thriving esports scene. That scene is differentiated by the way it’s run and controlled by developer and publisher Riot Games. Riot uses a model based on the success of its League of Legends esports scene, which sees the globe’s competitive players and team’s separated by region. These regions play out their own competitions in their sections of the world before coming together at regular intervals for international tournaments featuring the best teams from each individual region.

While League of Legends once boasted a variety of regions and regional types, Riot sought to simplify that model when setting up esports for Valorant. The game has only a handful of major regions, and these regions are held as largely equitable, each sending their best teams to international events leading up to the year-end VALORANT Champions event.