The wild Stage 3 Challengers 1 Qualifier in NA determined the eight teams that would take part in the Main Event. The Main Event was just as wild with some surprising results throughout. What wasn’t surprising was the overall result of the tournament. It was an action-packed weekend with the best of North American VALORANT. The first four rosters with a ticket to Challengers Finals did not have an easy path through the VCT NA Stage 3 Challengers 1 Main Event.

VCT NA Stage 3 Challengers 1 Main Event Results

Upper Quarterfinals

• 100 Thieves 2:0 Version1
• Team Envy 2:0 Kansas City Pioneers
• XSET 2:1 Rise
• Sentinels 2:1 Gen.G Esports

Everything was business as usual in the Upper Quarterfinals. The victory by 100 Thieves was probably the most impactful. They defeated one of the teams that represented NA at Masters Reykjavik. Team Envy, XSET, and Sentinels winning checks out. Those teams came into the VCT NA Stage 3 Challengers 1 Main Event with momentum on their side from simply being among the best teams in the esport.

Lower Round 1

• Kansas City Pioneers 2:1 Version1
• Gen.G Esports 2:1 Rise

This is where the shocks began. Gen.G defeating Rise is not a huge surprise, but the Rise team has done nothing but improve as of late. The real surprise comes from KCP taking down Version1. Yes, V1 has a substitute player once again, but no one expected them to fall two matches in a row. The KCP team showed that hard work in VALORANT pays off. Playing those smaller tournaments pays off. After dropping the first map, KCP got the reverse sweep and sent V1 to the Challengers 2 waiting room.

Upper Semifinals

• 100 Thieves 2:0 Team Envy
• XSET 2:1 Sentinels

XSET has been a dark horse team for the entirety of the VALORANT Champions Tour. Everyone thought they would do well during the Stage 3 Challengers 1 Main Event, but not a single soul included beating Sentinels in that thought. XSET showed how much being at the top of NA VALORANT means to them. Three incredibly close maps gave viewers a treat and XSET a victory. In the other contest, 100 Thieves continued their winning ways with a decisive sweep of Envy.

Lower Round 2

• Sentinels 2:0 Kansas City Pioneers
• Team Envy 2:0 Gen.G Esports

Lower Round 2 saw two titans of NA VALORANT keep their Stage 3 Challengers 1 Main Event hopes alive. Sentinels and Team Envy both bounced back with quick outings in their respective series. While KCP was gearing up for a Cinderella story, Sentinels had other plans. As well, Team Envy took the fight to Gen.G, holding nothing back.

Upper Final

• XSET 2:1 100 Thieves

The dominance of XSET continued. They firmly planted their flag at the top of NA VALORANT with this victory. No more questioning if they have what it takes. Two close maps, one being an overtime win, with a one-sided loss sandwiched between them gave XSET a huge challenge. 100 Thieves are constantly in the conversation of the best teams in NA. XSET belongs there now, too.

Lower Round 3

• Sentinels 2:0 Team Envy

Sentinels kept rolling after falling to the Lower Bracket. An always formidable Team Envy squad was no match for the champions of Masters Reykjavik. NV failed to put up double digit rounds in either of the maps against SEN. Sentinels cleaned house against one of NA’s most consistent teams and took one step closer to winning another tournament.

Lower Final

• Sentinels 2:0 100 Thieves

Sentinels versus 100 Thieves is NA VALORANT’S tale as old as time. Map one was Haven and went to Sentinels after double overtime. 100 Thieves put up a hell of a fight, but losing that first map proved to be their downfall. Sentinels took Breeze 13:8 and secured themselves a rematch against XSET in the Grand Final of the Stage 3 Challengers 1 Main Event.

Grand Final

• Sentinels 3:1 XSET

Sentinels versus XSET in the Grand Final was set to be a banger. The first map went to XSET. All that did was light a fire under the Sentinels players. The final three maps of the series were all SEN. They got their revenge, as they typically do, winning the tournament and taking the number one seed in the Challengers Playoffs. Joining them for a chance at Berlin is XSET, Team Envy, and 100 Thieves.

Stay tuned to Run It Back for more VALORANT Champions Tour coverage!