OpTic Gaming vs LOUD Prediction: Bet on LOUD

The first elimination match in Group A of VCT Stage 2: Masters Copenhagen will take place on Tuesday, July 12. In this game, the Americans from OpTic Gaming and the Brazilians from LOUD will clash.

VCT Stage 2: Masters Copenhagen is the main tournament of the second stage of the new Valorant Champions Tour 2022. The top 12 teams from six regions compete in Copenhagen for the VCT points that teams need to qualify for the final tournament of the season, the Valorant Champions. This tournament takes place from July 10 to 24.

OpTic Gaming faced Guild Esports in the opening match of this tournament, which was a serious test for the reigning champions. After losing their opening match 2-0 on maps, OpTic Gaming will face LOUD today in an elimination match. The last time these teams met in the final of Masters: Reykjavík, where OpTic Gaming won, but so far the championship game from them is not visible.

We have seen OpTic Gaming on the international scene several times. Although the organization missed the first international tournament, but from the second tournament it began to show good results. The 2nd place at the Masters Berlin put the guys in the strongest teams of last season, but the Valorant Champions were a complete failure. OpTic Gaming did not make it out of the group, ending the season unpleasantly. In 2022, it was a completely different story. The guys won their first Masters, showing their strength.

OpTic Gaming is an American cybersports organization primarily known for its Call of Duty team. On June 12, 2019, the organization was acquired by Immortals Gaming Club, which was then reacquired by OpTic Gaming founder Hector "H3CZ" Rodriguez on November 11, 2020. Last season went very well for OpTic Gaming. Back then, the Envy-tagged lineup could have made it to the VCT Masters: Reykjavík in 2021, but they were stopped by Version 1 in the final regional qualifiers, who had a pretty good showing there. On their second attempt, Envy made it to Masters Berlin, where they shined. Until the Grand Final, this team went undefeated on the maps, stopping their competitors from Sentinels and 100 Thieves. Only Gambit was able to fight back, taking that final 3-0. The lineup was upset, but not too much. They were able to get a straight shot at the Valorant Champions. The group was pretty easy, but the unexpected happened. In the 2nd place match Envy lost 2-1 to the guys from X10 CRIT. After their departure from the main tournament of the year, the squad was on vacation and was preparing for the new season of the Valorant Champions Tour. The new season itself began with the transition of the squad to OpTic Gaming. The lineup didn't change in any way, so there was no need to work with a new player in a hurry. The regional qualifiers started quite easily for the guys. With a score of 3-1 in their matches, they left the group in 2nd place, losing only to Version 1. The playoffs were just as easy. 2-1 in all matches and 2-0 in the Top Ten Final led OpTic Gaming to the Grand Final where they met Guard who managed to take revenge by taking the match 3-2 and thus securing a direct playoff berth in Masters: Reykjavík. Masters: Reykjavík itself didn't start with the most pleasant news. In the group stage defeat from XERXIA Esports 2-0 sent OpTic Gaming to the lower bracket, where they were able to beat KRU Esports 2-0 and revenge, beating XERXIA Esports also with a score of 2-0 on the maps. In the playoffs again they met with Guard, but this time OpTic Gaming won, sending Guard to the lower bracket, and then in a very tight match with a score of 2-1 they defeated DRX, who had a lot of chances to take this meeting, but they did not use any. In the match against LOUD everything started well. The Americans took their pick with a good lead, but then the Brazilians made a comeback in the series and took the match with a score of 2-1. Next up was a match against ZETA DIVISION for the grand final. The Japanese by this time had already been considered equal to the team OpTic Gaming, but they were enough only for the first map, where the Americans made a comeback. 3-0 in the series, thus giving themselves a second chance for the first world title, which they took full advantage of, beating LOUD 3-0 on the maps, becoming the best team in the world at the moment, and taking the Masters title at the second attempt. After the victorious Masters Reykjavík, we saw that OpTic Gaming continues to show their game. The guys made the group stage from first place, which immediately led them to the semifinals of the upper bracket. In the very semi-finals, OpTic Gaming beat Evil Geniuses 2-0 on the maps, thus reaching the final of the upper bracket. The guys picked up the match against XSET without any problems. The 3-1 on the maps gave OpTic Gaming a ticket to the Masters. OpTic Gaming lost the final, so the guys will start this Masters from the group stage.

Current VLR rating: #1 North America

Best map in terms of turn rate: Fracture - 100% for 7 maps

Worst map in terms of win rate: Icebox - 50% for 6 maps

In the opening match of the tournament LOUD met with KRÜ Esports, who showed their trademark Haven, and on Icebox, they beat their opponents, thus sending LOUD to the lower bracket. Today the Brazilians will meet the reigning champions OpTic Gaming. The last time LOUD faced the Americans was in the Masters: Reykjavík final, where they lost 3-0 on the maps. From the first games LOUD and OpTic Gaming show that the American team can not find their style, which can not be said about the Brazilians.

We have already seen LOUD on the world stage, but then the guys could not show their strength. Having sensationally made it to the final through the upper bracket, Sacy and company could not defeat OpTic Gaming again, thus missing their chance to take the Masters title for the first time. Since departing Masters Reykjavík, LOUD has not lost a single map in their region. The Brazilians currently hold the record of seven consecutive matches won without losing a single map.

Initially, the whole LOUD story began with rumors that the organization was going to enter the Valorant discipline after signing former Team Vikings players saadhak and Sacy, who are in high demand by multiple organizations including Ninjas in Pyjamas, MIBR and their former team, Team Vikings. Also, it was reported that even in this team and will move the former coach of Team Vikings - bzkA. With such a squad guys were selected for regional qualification, losing only 1 match in 7 games. This happened in the match for entry into the main stage, against MIBR. Going to Masters Reykjavík, LOUD started straight from the play-off stage. Having beaten Team Liquid, G2 Esports and OpTic Gaming along the way, the Brazilians advanced to the grand final through the upper bracket. However, as happy as Brazilian fans were, OpTic Gaming got their revenge by beating their opponents 3-0 on the maps. Back in their region, no one could compete with the guys, thereby LOUD did not lose a single map and went to the playoffs, which also passed without problems.

The current rating VLR: #1 BR

Best map in terms of win rate: Split - 100% for 2 maps

Worst map in terms of win rate: Haven - 33% for 3 maps

In this match, I see a LOUD victory, so I will take it for 2.00.

As well I will risk taking a handicap 2 (-1.5) in the match for 3.10.