The fourth representative of the EMEA region, Team Vitality, successfully kicked off their run at the biggest tournament of the year, VALORANT Champions. In their opening match, they defeated the Pacific region's leader, Global Esports. Finnish player Elias "Jamppi" Olkkonen was the star of the series. Returning to the international stage for the first time since 2023, he stood out with 60 kills and an ace in his debut match.
The victory came in a hard-fought battle for the European squad, especially on the final map. According to Jamppi, Global Esports showcased excellent coordination and a high level of teamwork. To surprise their opponent, Vitality utilized new tactical setups, one of which was the unexpected Neon pick for Timofey "Chronicle" Khromov. This experiment, along with other new strategies, was made possible by the over one-month preparation break ahead of the championship.
Returning to the Champions arena brought out special emotions for the Finnish player. He highlighted the unique atmosphere of the tournament, where the scale of the stage and fan support significantly boost motivation. Unlike Masters events, all participants at Champions start under the same group stage conditions, making the competition longer and giving everyone an equal chance to prove their right to the title.
After facing some difficulties at the end of Stage 2, Team Vitality managed to stabilize their gameplay. According to Jamppi, the team experienced a drastic mentality shift: the players left past issues with roles and maps behind, fully uniting for a common goal at the final tournament of the year.
Assessing the overall level of the event, Jamppi emphasized that there is no heavy favorite this year, as most teams have had ups and downs throughout the season. Everyone feels the same pressure, giving EMEA teams a strong chance of success — a fact already supported by the opening victories of Vitality and Karmine Corp. Team Vitality's next opponent in the fight for a playoff spot will be the Brazilian squad LOUD.
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