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The VCT EMEA Stage 1 Playoffs kicked off May 7, and after three days of results (May 8-10), the bracket has been shaken up. BBL Esports and Team Liquid are out. FUT Esports and Team Vitality have secured their Masters London spots. Six teams remain.
Here's the full bracket breakdown, results from the first three playoff days, and what's still at stake.
The EMEA Stage 1 group stage ran eight teams across two groups, with the top four from each advancing. Four teams got sent home early.
Group Alpha:
Group Omega:
Eliminated before playoffs: Natus Vincere, Karmine Corp, GIANTX, and PCIFIC Esports. That after a winless stage deserves its own article, honestly 😬.
FNATIC was the dominant force of the group stage, going a perfect 5-0 in Group Omega. FUT Esports matched them in consistency, dropping only one map in Alpha. These two earned the coveted playoff byes.
Heretics finished 3-2 in Group Alpha, with their most important result coming on the last day. They defeated FUT Esports 2-0 to lock in their playoff spot, which is a big confidence boost heading into the bracket.
Their style is structured and map-control heavy. They read setups well and play slow when they need to, but can flip the switch into aggressive plays. Expect them to be awkward opponents for Eternal Fire.
Vitality's group stage run was uneven, but when they needed to perform, they showed up loud. Their final qualifying win against PCIFIC was borderline embarrassing for the opposition: 13-5, 13-3. Two maps, zero mercy 💀.
They bring a two-style approach: slow utility-heavy rounds on defense, then chaotic aggressive takes on attack. It's the kind of game plan that can either dismantle you or collapse under pressure.
No team in EMEA right now looks as polished as FNATIC. A clean 5-0 group stage is a statement. They've earned their bye and only need one win in the upper bracket to punch their ticket to London.
FUT matched FNATIC's consistency without the same buzz around them. They're compact, disciplined, and play a clean style that doesn't give opponents easy reads. Don't sleep on them 👀.
Eternal Fire finished second in Group Omega and enters the upper bracket as a dangerous opponent. Their aggressive playstyle can be electric, but also fragile. They draw Team Heretics in the first round, which sets up one of the most interesting series of the week.
Liquid had a quietly strong group stage, going 4-1 and landing in a good bracket position. They've looked more cohesive recently and will face Vitality in a match that could swing either way.
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The playoffs run as a double-elimination format, meaning every team gets at least two chances. FUT Esports and FNATIC received first-round byes and need just one win to qualify for VCT Masters London.
Upper Bracket, Round 1 (starting May 7):
Standing by in Upper Bracket Round 2:
Teams that lose in the upper bracket drop to the lower bracket. The lower bracket is where it gets brutal: every loss is elimination. Dropping there against EMEA's best teams is not a situation you want to be in.
For a broader look at how EMEA got here, check out our VCT EMEA Stage 1 Week 4 recap and the FUT & FNATIC qualification article from earlier in the stage.
Three days in, and the VCT EMEA Stage 1 Playoffs have already delivered upsets. Two teams are going to London, two are heading home, and six are still fighting.
Eternal Fire and Team Vitality both kicked off the playoffs with wins on day one, setting up a strong start for both squads. Vitality in particular looked sharp, confirming their status as one of the bracket's top contenders.
FUT Esports and Team Vitality punched their tickets to Masters London on day two, earning their spots at the global event. Two EMEA spots confirmed, with at least one more up for grabs.
Check out the full list of VCT Masters London 2026 qualifiers to see the current international field.
The biggest results of the playoffs came on day three. Team Heretics eliminated BBL Esports, and Gentle Mates pulled off the upset of the tournament by knocking out Team Liquid. Liquid, considered one of the safer bets to reach London, are done.
Six teams remain in the bracket:
Eliminated: BBL Esports, Team Liquid
The winner of the EMEA Stage 1 playoffs, along with the second and third-place finishers, qualifies for VCT Masters London (June 6-21, Copper Box Arena, London). The prize pool sits at $1,000,000 USD.
Masters London is shaping up to be the most stacked international event of the year. China already sent XLG and EDward Gaming, two teams that looked terrifying through their own regional stage. The Americas bracket is still ongoing, with teams like LOUD and Cloud9 battling for slots.
EMEA will send its top three finishers to London. For the teams in this bracket, this is the biggest stage of the year so far.
The competitive meta in EMEA has been converging on a core set of picks. Here's what you should watch for in these playoffs:
Duelist slots: Jett and Neon are still the go-to options for site entry and aggressive early-round picks. If a team outduels the other in round openers, they often win the map.
Controller: Clove is the flex controller pick right now, offering smoke coverage plus a unique kit that rewards aggressive positioning. Teams running Clove properly look almost impossible to isolate.
Initiator: Sova remains king in EMEA. His information gathering and Shock Dart pressure are almost mandatory on maps like Icebox or Bind. Teams that out-Sova their opponents typically win.
Sentinel: Chamber and Cypher are both in the picture depending on the map. Chamber's Rendezvous gives teams a safety valve that punishes aggressive pushes hard.
If you want to test these compositions yourself, Amber.gg's Valorant ladders are where EMEA-style competitive play happens outside of the VCT.
The EMEA playoff picture has already surprised us. Liquid out, BBL out, Gentle Mates still standing. The six teams left are hungry, and at least one more London spot is on the line.
Watch for Heretics to keep building momentum after eliminating BBL. Eternal Fire and FNATIC remain the top favorites, but Gentle Mates just proved they can take down a heavy hitter.
Six teams left, three London spots on the line. Compete in Valorant ladders on Amber.gg while the pros battle it out.
Follow the playoffs and compete in Valorant tournaments on Amber.gg while the pros battle it out.
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