The Playoffs at VALORANT Masters Toronto delivered high stakes drama as G2 Esports and Fnatic fought their way out of elimination, keeping their tournament hopes alive. In two crucial lower bracket matchups, the Americas powerhouse G2 Esports and EMEA’s last standing squad Fnatic eliminated their opponents XLG Esports and Rex Regum Qeon in do or die battles that pushed both teams to deliver peak performances.

G2 Esports came into their match with something to prove after a shaky start in the tournament. Facing China’s XLG Esports, they turned things around with a sharp and decisive 2 0 victory. On Icebox, G2 showed complete dominance, responding with confidence and control using an old school team composition featuring Sage. XLG could barely respond, managing to win only three rounds, including one pistol. The momentum carried into Haven, where G2 brought out an Omen Viper setup that paid off through coordinated strategies and smart utility usage. While XLG’s star duelist Rarga had standout moments on Yoru, they were not enough to swing the tide. G2 closed the second map 13 8, with Nathan ‘leaf’ Orf playing a pivotal role. His outstanding kill death ratio and clutch moments on Killjoy and Vyse helped seal G2’s first win of the tournament and extended their stay in Toronto.

Meanwhile, Fnatic went head to head with Pacific Stage 1 champions RRQ in an intense elimination series that went the distance. On their map pick Lotus, Fnatic delivered a masterclass in composition control, using Odin, Operator, and Killjoy setups to shut down RRQ’s site takes. With strong defense and a confident attack half, they took the map 13 5. But RRQ struck back on Haven, shifting the momentum with a fast paced Neon Yoru composition that disrupted Fnatic’s structure. Jemkin was unstoppable in the first half, racking up 18 kills and leading RRQ to a 13 6 victory.

Everything came down to the final map on Ascent, where Fnatic pulled out a surprise strategy built around a Chamber Vyse pairing. Their calculated use of lurks and information gathering proved too effective for RRQ to handle. Despite RRQ taking the second pistol round, Fnatic’s preparation and execution shone through, winning the deciding map 13 5 to keep their Masters Toronto journey alive.

With these wins, G2 and Fnatic move forward to the Lower Bracket Quarterfinals scheduled for June 17. Their opponents will be determined based on the outcome of the Upper Bracket Semifinals on June 16, which feature heavyweight clashes between Paper Rex and Sentinels, followed by Wolves Esports versus Gen.G. The winners of those matches will find themselves just one step away from the Grand Final on June 22.

Masters Toronto is proving to be a spectacle filled with upsets, redemption arcs, and bold strategies. As the tournament heads into its final stretch, every round becomes a must watch moment for fans around the world.

 

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