KOI vs NAVI VCT EMEA 2023: KOI pulls off sensational victory over NAVI

The 2023 VCT EMEA season has finally begun, and we start off with a huge clash in the form of KOI vs NAVI. Both sides will be looking to make a strong start to their league campaigns today and you can follow all of the action right here.

The VCT EMEA 2023 season kicks off with a true clash of the titans. NAVI are revered as being one of the strongest teams in the VCT this season. And they certainly proved their worth with some impressive performances at the LOCK//IN tournament in Sao Paulo this past February. The former FPX roster will be hoping for much of the same this time. And with the addition of cNed, who was back to his best at LOCK//IN, this super team will certainly be tough to beat. But that doesn't mean it will be a cakewalk for them by any means this season. Especially against this KOI roster.

Despite KOI's early exit at the hands of NRG at LOCK//IN, the team put on a solid overall performance. They are a super team in their own right, with each of their players boasting plenty of VCT experience. Most notably former M3 Champions player Sheydos, former VCT World Champion Starxo, and former Guild Esports star Trexx. On paper this KOI roster has the potential to do some real damage this season. But only time can tell whether they will truly rise to the challenge, or if they will be swept aside.

We start off with a trip to Ascent for Map 1. In a match that promises plenty of thrills we were treated to a special treat as new agent Gekko makes his debut in the VCT curtosey of Shao. NAVI wins the first two rounds to open their accounts in this match. KOI responds with two rounds of their own. KOI manages to carve out a solid 8 - 4 lead to take into halftime, with Sheydos having a particularly impressive performance with 18 kills and only 5 deaths.

KOI wins the first two rounds of the second half as they continue to build on their lead from the first. NAVI answers back with three of their own in an attempt to stabilize things. NAVI IGL Ange1 and cNed look much improved from the first half on the fragging front. However, KOI bounce back in a big way as to hit map point on Ascent. The map had started off well for NAVI, but as the game went on KOI's mid-round aggression, and a high-fragging performance from Sheydos, proved to be the difference maker. Allowing KOI to snatch Ascent away from NAVI 13 - 7 to take a 1 - 0 lead in the series.

The series has been shaken up in more ways than one with KOI beating NAVI on their map pick to start things off. Prompting NAVI to bust out another unusual team comp heading into Lotus, with Shao sticking with Gekko, cNed picking Omen and Zyppan going with Skye.

NAVI wins the first two rounds of the map, but KOI answers back immediately in a similar fashion to map 1. A big play from Suygetsu prevents KOI from tying the map up, and their lead continues to build. KOI puts their second round up on the board following a brief timeout. But an unreal ninja defuse play from cNed stops KOI from being able to chain it into anything significant. As NAVI takes a 9 - 3 lead into halftime.

KOI put together two flawless rounds to start the second half to give themselves a glimmer of hope on Lotus. A solid post-plant setup from NAVI, combined with a brilliant play from cNed, takes them to double digits. But KOI responds with two round wins following a brief timeout to reduce the lead to 10 - 7. NAVI call a timeout of their own, but it is KOI who benefits from the pause once more as they manage to tie the map at long last. They do manage to regain some control over KOI as they reach map point at 12 - 11. But one last collective effort from KOI enables them to send the map into Overtime.

The map continues in a similar fashion in Overtime as both teams hold strong on their defenses. With neither team able to gain a foothold after three sets of OT rounds. Followed by a trade in offensive rounds for the next couple of sets. Both teams benefited from some phenomenal plays throughout this fierce battle. But in the end, thanks to a truly heroic performance from both Sheydos and Starxo KOI managed to claim victory on Lotus 20 - 18 after seven sets of Overtime rounds to close out the series 2 - 0.

It is a new era for the VALORANT Champions Tour as we get set for the first season of Franchising. The VCT season will see 30 teams split into three region-based leagues of 10 teams, competing for the chance to secure a spot at both Masters Tokyo in June and Champions 2023 in August. Fans who wish to watch the Fnatic vs Giants match in the 2023 EMEA League may do so by heading to the VCT EMEA Twitch and Youtube Channels.

You can catch all the EMEA action and live results on our VALORANT EMEA hub.

Stay tuned to esports.gg for more esports news and VALORANT coverage throughout the VCT 2023 Season.