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The VCT 2022 Stage 1 EMEA Challengers has returned to action with a Super Week that brings ten exciting matchups.
CIS organization Natus Vincere will take on the European side BIG in an engaging best-of-three series to earn a decisive point in both teams' attempts to qualify for the VCT Stage 1 EMEA Challengers Playoffs.
Fixtures from Week 3 and Week 5 have been combined this gameweek, as the best teams from EMEA compete for a Stage 1 Masters slot. More information on the Week 5 matchup between NAVI and BIG is detailed below.
Natus Vincere vs BIG: Which team will finish in top three in Group A of VCT Stage 1 EMEA Challengers?
Natus Vincere and BIG have not partaken in an official VCT fixture since their Week 2 outings. The former is 4th in Group A while BIG trails behind in sixth place.
After two weeks of inactivity, both sides resume their Stage 1 Challengers campaigns in an attempt to affirm their spots in the playoffs of the tournament.
Prediction
After a win and a loss, Natus Vincere is determined to cruise through the remainder of the Group Stage to clinch a late entry to the Playoffs. They have put up a great fight in both their matches so far, losing to Team Liquid only by a small margin.
The underrated NAVI squad finally has a team capable of competing at the highest level of Valorant, with players like Cloud, Jady, and 7ssk7. However, pitted against them is BIG, an organization with a well-rounded roster and an FPS gaming veteran in gob b as the IGL.
Despite the quality BIG has exhibited in two weeks of the EMEA Challengers, they have failed to convert decisive opportunities against the likes of LDN UTD and FunPlus Phoenix. However, they have no choice but to give it their all and win the remaining matches to even have a chance of qualification.
Head-to-head
The VCT EMEA Challengers Week 3 matchup between NAVI and BIG will be the first official encounter between the sides.
Recent results
NAVI enjoyed a great run before the start of the VCT Stage 1 EMEA Challengers Group Stage, losing only two of their qualifier matches. So far in the tournament, they have a win and a loss. NAVI looks better than BIG, who have won four of their last five official matches.
BIG had a much better start to the tournament, winning all but one of their VCT Stage 1 EU Challengers matches. However, they lost both their Group Stage outings, bringing down their current form.
They have enjoyed two wins in their last five official fixtures, though.
Potential lineups
Natus Vincere
- Denis "dinkzj" Tkachov
- Mikhail "Duno" Fokin
- Artur "7ssk7" Kyurshin
- Yaroslav "Jady" Nikolaev
- Kirill "Cloud" Nehozhin
BIG
- Fatih "gob b" Dayik
- Nico "Obnoks" Garczarczyk
- Kasper "Kaspe" Timonen
- Ceyhun "Aslan" Aslan
- Karel "Twisten" Asenbrener
When and where to watch
Valorant enthusiasts can catch the VCT Stage 1 EMEA Challengers action live on Valorant Champions Tour's official handles across Twitch and YouTube. Natus Vincere will take on BIG on March 12 at 11.30 pm IST.
