With all the group stage matches completed, all eyes are on the VCT EMEA Stage 1 playoffs. With the stakes in the game getting higher during this phase of the tournament, the opportunity to qualify for VALORANT Masters London is on the line. One of the first sets of fixtures is the match of Eternal Fire vs Team Heretics.
This fixture will be the first match of the playoffs of VCT EMEA Stage 1. At the same time, this will be the first time these two teams face off against each other in VALORANT Esports.
Eternal Fire have been on a strong run of form with a 4-1 record in the group stage. The only match that they lost was against Fnatic. Within Group Omega, Fnatic were undefeated, and Eternal Fire came close, but it just wasn’t enough.
On the other hand, Team Heretics have had quite the mixed bag of performances in the group stage. The team lost its first two matches against NAVI and Team Liquid.
Following that, they went on a three-game unbeaten run to qualify for the playoffs with a 3-2 record. Both teams are currently on a winning streak of four games and three games, respectively.
Image credit: Riot Games
A glance at the betting odds for this match, and many fans will be confused. This is because the favorites to win this game are Team Heretics.
A major reason for this is the caliber of teams that they beat in the group stage, the likes of FUT Esports and Gentle Mates. The result against FUT Esports has shifted the narrative quite a bit about Team Heretics.
One player who has been leading the charge for Team Heretics is Enes “RieNs” Ecirli. In the previous match against FUT Esports, he had an ACS of 331. This was the highest amount showcased by a player in the match during this competition.
An important aspect of the game that Eternal Fire is really good as it is pistol and anti-pistol rounds.
If Eternal Fire wins the pistol round, then they have an 89% win-rate of winning the anti-pistol round as well. In full loadout rounds, Team Heretics has showcased a higher win percentage at 56.8%.
Our prediction is that Eternal Fire will win this fixture 2-1. The reason for this is that the team has won most maps that go to overtime. There is a high possibility that we will see the first and second maps going into overtime. If that is the case, then we believe that Eternal Fire will have the upper hand.
Also read: Global Esports vs RRQ odds, betting prediction, and preview: VCT Pacific Stage 1 2026 playoffs
Featured image source: Riot Games
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