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OpTic Gaming sweep LOUD to become 2022 VCT Masters Reykjavík champions

OpTic Gaming have been crowned as the champions of the 2022 VALORANT Champions Tour Stage 1 Masters tournament in Reykjavík, Iceland after they swept Brazil's LOUD, 3-0, in the grand finals. (Photo: Riot Games via VALORANT Esports)
OpTic Gaming have been crowned as the champions of the 2022 VALORANT Champions Tour Stage 1 Masters tournament in Reykjavík, Iceland after they swept Brazil's LOUD, 3-0, in the grand finals. (Photo: Riot Games via VALORANT Esports)

North American powerhouse OpTic Gaming claimed the championship of the 2022 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Stage 1 Masters tournament in Reykjavík, Iceland, after they soundly swept Brazil's LOUD 3-0 in the grand finals on Sunday (24 April).

It was a long road to the title for OpTic, who began Masters Reykjavík in the group stage.

After losing their opening match against Thailand's XERXIA, OpTic bounced back by defeating Argentina's KRÜ Esports then prevailed over XERXIA in a rematch to secure a spot in the playoffs.

OpTic started the playoffs by reverse-sweeping fellow North American team The Guard, 2-1, then outlasted South Korea's DRX in another 2-1 series in the upper bracket semifinals.

OpTic were then matched up against LOUD in the upper bracket finals, with the Brazilian team prevailing in a 2-1 thriller to secure the first grand finals spot and knocking OpTic down to the lower bracket finals against Japan's ZETA DIVISION.

OpTic soundly swept ZETA in the best-of-five lower bracket finals to earn a rematch with LOUD in the grand finals.

The North American powerhouse carried their momentum to the best-of-five grand finals, as they also dominated their Brazilian opponents in another 3-0 sweep to secure the Masters Reykjavík title.

As the champions, OpTic claimed the grand prize of US$200,000 and 750 circuit points. Meanwhile, LOUD bowed out with a respectable second place finish and with US$120,000 and 500 circuit points in consolation.

Here's a breakdown of the action in the grand finals.

OpTic Gaming 3-0 LOUD

The grand finals opened in Ascent, where OpTic’s Austin “crashies” Roberts surprised with a great shock dart to secure the game’s first flawless round. With support from Pujan “FNS” Mehta, OpTic took an early 3-0 lead.

LOUD wouldn’t get their first win until round five at 4-1, as OpTic’s top-tier coordination covered all bases. Down 6-1, LOUD took a timeout in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

Even with that, the North American squad kept adjusting to LOUD’s strategies, cruising to a 10-2 lead by halftime with the help of a 3k from crashies.

Luckily for LOUD, the second half started well, with the Brazilian squad getting the first three rounds in a row. To continue that much-awaited streak, Bryan “pANcada” bagged a crucial 3k during a defuse.

More great rounds from LOUD closed the gap, putting them only down at 11-9.

But just as LOUD were about to hit double digits, a clutch from Jimmy “Marved” Nguyen put OpTic at match point. Shortly after, OpTic closed out the map at 13-9 for the win.

Game two saw both teams go to OpTic’s first map pick, Bind.

There, LOUD quickly drew first blood as Gustavo “Sacy” Rossi prevented Jaccob "yay" Whiteaker from pulling a clutch. Despite that, OpTic still took the next two rounds to take the lead.

OpTic continued taking clutch rounds, including a 1v1 where Marved snuck a defuse to put his team at 6-2.

The teams went into halftime at 8-4, in favor of OpTic. Despite this, a subsequent pistol round and clutch wins from LOUD quickly tied the map at 8-8 heading into the second half.

The teams found themselves tied at 10-10 not long after, with a later ace from Victor “Victor” Wong forcing another tie at 12-12, pushing the game to overtime.

Yay popped off during the first overtime round to turn the tides in OpTic’s favor, right before Victor pulled a Showstopper ult to secure the second map for OpTic at 14-12.

With the North Americans holding a commanding 2-0 lead, the teams went to Breeze, where LOUD scrapped a couple of round wins after losing the pistol round.

Despite that, OpTic still manged to take the lead at 3-2, with Marved leading the pack by playing Chamber.

Down 5-2, Erick “aspas” Santos took matters into his own hands, using his Jett ult to get a sneaky 3k for LOUD. Even so, the Brazilians still went into halftime down at 4-8, needing another comeback.

Luckily for the LOUD, they cleanly won the next pistol round, leading to a big flawless right after thanks to a 3k from aspas’ Marshal.

As the Brazilians geared up for a comeback, however, OpTic won crucial rounds to go up 10-6. Shortly thereafter, pANcada grabbed a thrifty, showing that LOUD were not out yet.

However, a Viper ult from OpTic helped them pull off a last-second spike plant defuse, putting them up at 11-7. Unfazed, LOUD kept fighting back and winning, tying the score at 11-11.

Then, an important triple kill clutch from Matias “Saadhak” Delipetro put LOUD in the lead at 12-11. Unfortunately for the Brazilians, Less failed to clutch the next round, forcing another overtime.

Just like game two's overtime period, OpTic once again won the overtime round.

It wouldn’t be as smooth, however, as pANcada tied the scores again with a Chamber 4k. But a clutch lurk inside a Viper’s pit from FNS would put OpTic in the lead, before the NA squad ultimately finished the map at 15-13 to secure the 3-0 series sweep.

OpTic Gaming VALORANT roster:

  1. Pujan "FNS" Mehta

  2. Victor "Victor" Wong

  3. Austin "crashies" Roberts

  4. Jaccob "yay" Whiteaker

  5. Jimmy "Marved" Nguyen

LOUD VALORANT roster:

  1. Erick "aspas" Santos

  2. Felipe "Less" Basso

  3. Bryan "pANcada" Luna

  4. Matias "saadhak" Delipetro

  5. Gustavo "sacy" Rossi

Feb has been trying to speedrun Super Mario 64 ever since he started playing video games at 11 years old. He has never succeeded, but has completed other video games in the time since. When not playing, he's usually playing music or building Gunpla.

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