Vitality vs NAVI VCT EMEA 2023: NAVI walk away with a 2 – 0 victory over Vitality

We have a battle between two European Esports giants in the form Vitality vs NAVI in Week 5 of VCT EMEA. Keep your eyes peeled on this page as we look to bring you all of the action as it happens.

We have reached the halfway point of the VCT EMEA 2023 season and we have a big matchup on our hands today. Both sides have had relatively good starts to the season, but have also had a few shaky moments. Though they may both be dressed in black & yellow, only one will emerge with the gold at the end in a match that could very well determine each other's destiny for the remainder of league play.

NAVI were the victors the last time they took to the Messa Berlin stage; beating Karmine Corp 2 - 0. Yet, despite sitting in second in the League Standings after four weeks of play, they have yet to truly hit the kind of form they showcased last season; where they were one of the most dominant teams in the VCT. They still look on track to lock up a spot at Masters Tokyo. But as we reach the business end of the EMEA season, the question is whether they still have what it takes to reach the heights of last season or not? A question that could very well be answered against their opponents today.

Team Vitality have had a bit of an up-and-down season thus far. Though they currently sit in sixth place in the standings, their loss to BBL Esports in Week 4 casts a lingering shadow over their hopes of reaching Masters. A win today could see them jump back into the Top 3 and they have certainly proved themselves capable of taking on the bigger teams within EMEA. But as they prepare to square off against their toughest opponents thus far in the league, many will be wondering which Vitality we will see in the Colosseum today.

We begin with a trip to Split, curtesy of Vitality, to get the match underway. And NAVI opt to use an interesting change to their usual team composition as Ange1 opts to use Cypher and Zyppan on Skye instead of Breach.

NAVI gets off to a good start by winning the first pistol round as well as their anti-eco. Vitality responds with their first round of their own, but the lead remains in NAVI's hands. Their dynamic duo of cNed and Zyppan get off to a particularly hot-start, but so too is Twisten on Vitality as the match turns into a battle of the entry-fraggers. But it becomes a bit of a one-sided affair from Round 9 onwards as NAVI begins to suffocate Vitality who struggle to deal with Ange1's Cypher utility as well as their overall aggression on defence. All of which enable NAVI to take a well-deserved 9 - 3 lead into the second half.

Vitality takes the second pistol round as well as their anti-eco as they look to claw their way back into the map. NAVI hit the 10 point mark soon after, but a much improved Vitality mange to keep things close. And though NAVI manage to get an 11 round on the board, Twisten continues to be a nuisance for them as Vitality hit the double digit mark themselves. But a huge Thrifty round, thanks in part to Suygetsu, gets them to match point, putting the pressure back onto Vitality. They had looked much the better side in this second half of Split. But thanks to the sheer will of Ange1 and cNed, NAVI were able to take the map in dramatic fashion 13 - 10. Giving themselves a hard-earned 1 - 0 lead in the series.

After making it out with the win on Split, NAVI brings us to Fracture for Map 2. And they look to bring the chaos against Vitality this time around as cNed hops onto Yoru alongside Ange1's Cypher and Shao on Omen. Whereas Vitality opt to use a more standard double initiator composition.

Vitality get off to a good initial start as they take the opening pistol round as well as their anti-eco round. NAVI split the difference with two rounds of their own in the first couple of rifle fights. But an early blunder from NAVI allows their opponents to reclaim their slim lead. The map turns into another scrap which seemed to suit NAVI. And what was looking like a promising start on defense slowly begins to slip away from Vitality, with cNed's Yoru beginning to give NAVI the added value on offense they were in search of. But a big blunder from NAVI gifts Vitality some semblance of life despite leading 7 - 5 after the first half.

Vitality takes the second pistol round, but NAVI respond with a flawless thrifty round as they maintain their two round lead on the map. A pair of 4ks from Twisten and Cender allow Vitality to draw within striking distance of NAVI's lead. But a heroic defuse play from Shao enables them to hit the double digit mark. Vitality does manage to tie the map up soon after whilst also putting a dent on NAVI's economy. A issue that doesn't end up hindering their progress as NAVI manages to hit match point. It was another valiant showing from Vitality, who looked as though they could have snatched this map away from NAVI. But in the end it was NAVI who managed to find that extra bit of oomph to get them over the line. Resulting in them taking Fracture 13 - 10 and claim a 2 - 0 victory in the series.

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 Vitality vs NAVI 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.