LOUD is set to face Fnatic once again at the VCT Champions 2023 Lower Bracket on Thursday, Aug. 24. The outcome of this encounter could shape the narrative of both teams’ journeys.
Fnatic’s aspirations to dominate all international tournaments in 2023 is still very much in the cards. However, the road hasn’t been without its bumps. While many anticipated a dominant playoff performance from Fnatic, the reality has been a mix of highs and lows.
During the playoffs, Fnatic experienced a surprising 2-0 series loss to LOUD, marking a first in the roster’s history and the first time for Fnatic since their encounter with XSET at Champions 2022. Their subsequent recovery against DRX on Aug. 20 was commendable, but the 13-1 defeat on Bind was a stark reminder of the challenges in LAN events.
Additionally, a new weakness was discovered in Fnatic that now LOUD can easily exploit in the re-match.
Source: Twitter | @ValorantEsports
LOUD have the secret formula thanks to DRX
Jacob “mini” Harris, FNATIC’s head coach, pinpointed a specific tactic that has been a thorn in their side: opponents sitting in smokes and spamming.
Post the DRX win, mini highlighted the recurring issue of enemy players exploiting smokes. “We really need the Skye dog to be used through smokes,” he emphasized.
This tactic was evident in the Bilibili game, where opponents consistently used smokes as a shield. Mini described this approach as a “frustrating underdog way of playing”.
The strategy was notably effective for DRX on Bind. Fnatic’s oversight in not deploying the Skye dog to navigate through smokes was evident. This became particularly problematic when Fnatic attempted to move through their own smokes, with DRX capitalizing on the situation. Given Fnatic’s formidable reputation and their roster brimming with talent, it’s logical for opposing teams to employ such tactics. However, Fnatic’s occasional lapse in countering this strategy is a point of contention.
Moving into the next match, LOUD by no means are considered the underdog. They did beat Fnatic only days earlier.
Now having yet another way to handle and frustrate their opponent can only be a welcome addition. If they actually do it, I have no doubt LOUD will come out victorious against FNC in the upcoming duel.
Read next: Valorant VCT Champions 2023: Schedule & Format
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