Which teams will make it to the VCT Masters London playoffs?

Owen Harsono Published 07/06/2026

The first round of the VCT Masters London Swiss Stage has come to a close, and we have a pretty good idea of which teams are looking good – and which ones aren’t. Let’s take a look at the frontrunners who will likely survive the first stage with flying colors.

Team Vitality

It’s been a long time coming, but we’re finally able to see the EMEA superteam play in their first international event. And from what we’ve seen in their opening series against Dragon Ranger Gaming, it’s that they’re here to play.

Team Vitality have some of the most experienced players in VCT, with Chronicle and Derke leading the charge. They also have young prodigy Sayonara who’s adding some serious firepower to the lineup. Simply put, these guys have all the tools to make it to the next stage with ease.

Image credit: Colin Young Wolff / Riot Games

NRG Esports

The world champions had a pretty rough time in VCT Americas Stage 2, but we can never count them out at international events. We’ll have to give a huge shoutout to keiko, who is currently playing like the best Valorant player in the world.

NRG had a shaky series against Xi Lai Gaming, but keiko played out of his mind and carried them past the finish line. With all their proven experience, we believe NRG will comfortably breeze through the Swiss Stage.

Image credit: Colin Young Wolff / Riot Games

Leviatan

Leviatan enter this tournament as the youngest team with an average age of 19.4 years. Though the majority of the squad are playing in their first international event, the pressure and inexperience don’t seem like it’s haunting them just yet.

The Americas second seed took down Global Esports in their opening game, but the deeper they go, the more pressure will build. If they can continue playing their game without letting the inexperience hinder them, we see them securing at least a top-eight finish.

Image credit: Colin Young Wolff / Riot Games

The final slot

Unfortunately, only four teams will see the light of the playoff stage. We’re pretty confident the three teams mentioned above will cross the finish line, but we’re unsure which team will claim the final spot. From what we’ve seen from the matches so far, we’re torn between FUT Esports and Global Esports.

Image credit: Liu Yicun / Riot Games

The Turkish squad passed their first test with flying colors, absolutely thrashing FULL SENSE. The team’s Jett player – s0pp – popped off with a 1.61 rating across the series, while the rest of the team weren’t far behind. If their individuals continue showing up, we see them making it to the playoffs.

Despite suffering a loss to Leviatan, Global Esports’ performance wasn’t all too bad. They showed signs of being competitive and will have another chance to secure a playoff berth. Global Esports will take on FULL SENSE in a regional elimination matchup, and if they can win that series, we fancy their chances of making it through.

The playoffs provide plenty of wagering opportunities, so be sure to check out our best esports betting sites if you are looking to get into the action.

Featured image credit: Colin Young Wolff / Riot Games

Owen Harsono

About Owen Harsono

Owen lives for competition, spending most of his gaming hours on Dota 2, CS2, and Valorant. A regular on the SEA Dota 2 leaderboards, he combines his first-hand experience with a deep passion for esports journalism, following the professional scenes of all three esports betting titles religiously. When he’s not writing, he’s most probably betting on esports and watching the latest events.

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