One of probably the most highly-anticipated groups of VCT LOCK//IN lastly took the stage this night, going up in opposition to a brand-new roster amid a roaring house crowd.
2022 VCT champions and Brazilian favorites LOUD have been set to face Gen.G, the once-North American workforce that moved to the Pacific league after franchising. Most analysts and followers have been anticipating this match to be a tough one for Gen.G, as they not solely needed to face the defending champions however they needed to make issues occur in entrance of a Brazilian crowd.
LOUD received the match 2-0, an end result most individuals would have had on their brackets, however Gen.G shocked with how far they pushed the championship workforce. This thrilling match even included the primary extra time map of the 2023 VCT.
Pearl began off just about precisely how the roaring area in São Paulo would have wished it to. LOUD bulldozed straight by way of their opponents and netted 4 rounds on the board.
But Gen.G didn’t look fazed. Staying composed, the Korean workforce took eight rounds in a row unanswered from their Brazilian foes.
A giant purpose that Gen.G was in a position to make this enormous push in opposition to the reigning world champions is due to k1Ng. On one among his signature brokers, Viper, k1Ng performed an enormous half in retaining the workforce on this first map till the tip.
Not solely did k1Ng stroll by way of Pearl with a 21/14 KDA and 32 % headshot hit ratio, he additionally excelled in his position as a assist for the remainder of his workforce. He enabled Meteor, Gen.G’s Jett participant, to indicate why he was an anticipated participant coming into LOCK//IN.
But regardless of Gen.G’s most valiant efforts, LOUD’s assault was unbeatable.
Young star cauanzin pulled to the highest of the scoreboard and introduced all of his teammates up with him.
LOUD continued to push an aggressive fashion and overcome even the defensive-sided nature of Pearl. Gen.G simply continued to get pushed over and the entire rounds that they had constructed up throughout their very own attacking facet slipped proper by way of their fingers.
As a consequence, LOUD clutched up Pearl 13-9.
Fracture was one other wild journey. Gen.G, feeling the potential of taking a championship workforce to a 3rd map, pushed LOUD to their restrict.
LOUD’s assault facet leaned in as soon as once more to their aggressive playstyle, and after the pistol spherical Gen.G had a tough time stopping them, particularly on a map much less defense-sided than Pearl. After Gen.G took the pistol and two following rounds, LOUD got here in like a freight practice.
Though Gen.G tried to get their footing again within the second half of the map with one other effort led by k1Ng, LOUD didn’t quit and introduced their veteran presence and expertise to the stage.
Gen.G’s largest accomplishment on this match was pushing LOUD all the way in which to extra time on Fracture, the primary extra time we’ve seen up to now at LOCK//IN. It probably wasn’t in many individuals’s predictions that this match could be the primary to see a twenty fifth spherical.
Unfortunately for Gen.G, that is the place their miracle run ended. LOUD blazed their manner by way of the extra time rounds simply, successful Fracture 14-12.
One of one of the best gamers from 2022, Aspas, took the crown because the fan-voted MVP for this match. Playing Jett by way of each maps, he excelled on the position that made him a star within the championship final 12 months. The crowd in Brazil cheered louder than some other time this week as LOUD despatched Gen.G house.
LOUD will now transfer on within the Alpha bracket to face Europe’s Karmine Corp, the workforce the place brothers ScreaM and Nivera have discovered a brand new house. Their match will happen on Feb. 17 at 2pm CT.
