OpTic defeats Evil Geniuses 2-0 to proceed to VCT NA finals
Frisco-based OpTic Gaming successfully defeated Evil Geniuses 2-0 in the upper bracket semi-finals of VALORANT Champions Tour 2022: North America Stage 2 Challengers on June 19. The matchup was an anticipated rematch after EG defeated OpTic in the previous stage.
OpTic’s stellar play successfully thwarted EG’s survival chance in the upper-bracket playoffs by demonstrating back-to-back dominance in Breeze and Haven.
OpTic will proceed to the final round against XSET to compete for a spot in the grand finals set to begin on June 25. Meanwhile, the campaign for VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters in Copenhagen will have to be postponed until next year as EG was forced to a 2-1 defeat by NRG in the lower quarter-finals.
OpTic vs. EG on Breeze
OpTic entered the playoffs with a 4-1 record in the group stage. The team only sustained a single defeat in Week 4 from EG, making OpTic trailing a single point behind its group rival.
EG decided to ban Fracture and Ascent, while OpTic banned Icebox and Split. They ended up with Breeze and Haven, with Bind serving as a reserve.
The first game began on Breeze. OpTic, led by team captain Pujan “FNS” Mehta, demonstrated a dominant display when the team successfully took the first pistol round.
The first round was packed with full surprises for fans of OpTic. Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker ended up with Chamber after learning what transpired in Stage One. Yay was then involved in a Chamber duel with Kelden “Boostio” Pupello, two of NA’s best Chamber users.
OpTic’s Victor “Victor” Wong switched and picked Jett, an agent that he had not played since December 2020. Despite the move, FNS and co. had a consistent dominant play in the first round, leading to Austin “crashies” Roberts sealing the first victory for OpTic.
The first half of the game was made for OpTic, with Victor being responsible for three no-scope kills. Meanehile, Yay’s outstanding play helped OpTic outsmart EG.
With zero signs of returning the favor back, EG was forced to trail eight points behind. OpTic thwarted EG’s chance of turning things around in the 15th round to win the game 13-5. The first game also had EG failing to win any rounds when both teams had full loadouts.
Second game on Haven
On Haven, OpTic delivered the same early-game win demonstrated on Breeze. It did not take much of an effort for FNS and co. to win the first pistol round.
EG employed a more offensive approach in the second game with Boostio pushing in the middle of the map. The strategy was unfruitful. EG only managed to add in two additional points before the end of the first half as the team trailed 9-3 behind OpTic.
The pistol round in the second half was claimed by OpTic, and the game ended in favor of the team at 13-3.
“It was just brilliant from OpTic, beautiful, I would say,” caster Arten “Ballatw” Esa said. “But ugly in terms of the devastation that they just brought upon EG.”
