Welcome to EgamersWorld.
The upcoming G2 Esports vs Cloud9 matchup in the Mid Bracket Quarterfinals of the VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 Americas Kickoff is a crucial elimination series. The losing team will drop further down the bracket, leaving no room for mistakes. Both squads are under pressure to perform, and this match promises tense, competitive action as G2 and Cloud9 battle to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Let’s dive in.
How the bookies view it: G2 Esports favored
Bookmakers see G2 Esports as the favorite in this matchup, with odds of 1.50 compared to 2.44 for Cloud9. This suggests that G2’s recent form and overall consistency give them the edge, though Cloud9 still has a chance to pull off an upset in this high-stakes Mid Bracket Quarterfinals clash.
G2 Esports form. What result can be expected from G2 Esports
G2 Esports is a European VALORANT esports team representing the G2 organization and consistently competing in both regional and international VALORANT tournaments across online and LAN formats. Throughout 2025, G2 demonstrated strong performances, winning multiple regional events and securing high placements at international competitions, which cemented their reputation as one of the top VALORANT teams globally. The current lineup combines fragging firepower and strategic depth, featuring players leaf, valyn, trent, jawgemo, with JonahP having left the active roster late in 2025. This roster maintains a balance of experienced players and tactical versatility to compete at the highest level in Europe and internationally.
- G2 Esports roster: leaf, valyn, trent, jawgemo, babybay.
Throughout 2025, G2 achieved notable results across multiple tournament tiers. They won VCT 2025: Americas Kickoff 3–2 and VCT 2025: Americas Stage 1 3–1, later capturing VCT 2025: Americas Stage 2 with a 3–0 score and Red Bull Home Ground 2025 3–0. Internationally, the team finished 2nd at VALORANT Masters Bangkok 2025 (2–3) and placed 4th at VALORANT Masters Toronto 2025, while also performing competitively at the VALORANT Radiant International Invitational (4th) and Esports World Cup 2025 (13th–16th). At VALORANT Champions 2025, G2 finished 7th–8th, showing solid competitiveness against top international teams. These results highlight G2’s consistency, resilience, and ability to challenge elite squads across multiple regions.
The departure of JonahP late in 2025 was the most significant roster change heading into 2026, but the team’s core remains strong. Leaf and valyn provide reliable fragging power, while trent and jawgemo contribute strategic depth and map control. This synergy aims to maintain G2’s high level of play and competitive consistency against top European and international opponents.
G2 Esports has historically been a dominant presence in European competitions and a strong contender globally. While international events exposed moments where coordination and clutch execution could be improved, the team’s experience, combined with their roster stability, positions them as one of the favorites in any matchup.
G2 Esports map pool
Based on their recent matches, G2 Esports demonstrates strong activity across most maps in the current competitive pool, which includes Pearl, Split, Bind, Haven, Abyss, Corrode, and Breeze. Their strongest map is Pearl, where they have a 100% win rate, showing confident execution and control. Split and Bind are also reliable, with approximate win rates of 75%, while Haven sits around 71%, and Abyss and Corrode are slightly lower at 67%. Breeze is less frequently played but remains a viable option, with a 60–65% win rate in recent matches. Overall, G2 tends to perform best on Pearl, Split, Bind, and Haven, while Abyss, Corrode, and Breeze are situational picks. This map pool flexibility allows them to adapt strategies effectively and maintain a competitive edge against top-tier opponents.
Cloud9 form. What result can be expected from Cloud9
Cloud9 is a North American VALORANT esports team representing the Cloud9 organization and regularly competing in both regional and international VALORANT tournaments across online and LAN formats. After a challenging 2025 season, in which the team failed to qualify for international events, Cloud9 entered 2026 with a refreshed roster aimed at restoring stability and competitiveness at the top North American level. The current lineup is built around Xeppaa, v1c, and OXY, with Zellsis providing IGL leadership and penny adding sentinel/flex depth. This combination of experienced players and new talent is intended to improve strategic flexibility and consistency in high-pressure matches.
- Cloud9 roster: Xeppaa, v1c, OXY, Zellsis, penny.
Throughout 2025, Cloud9 had mixed results across multiple tiers of competition. The team achieved notable victories over 100 Thieves and LEVIATÁN in VCT Americas Stage 2 but also suffered defeats to elite teams such as G2 Esports and Sentinels. At the VCT Americas Kickoff and Stage 1, Cloud9 struggled to advance past early rounds, highlighting areas for growth and the need for stronger coordination under pressure. On smaller tournaments, the team placed 7–8th at Red Bull Home Ground 2025 and 4th at SEN City Classic 2025, showing flashes of individual skill and potential but lacking consistent dominance.
The roster changes ahead of 2026 — most prominently the return of Zellsis as IGL and the addition of penny — were designed to address these weaknesses by strengthening leadership and tactical decision-making. Xeppaa and OXY provide consistent fragging power, while v1c anchors the team’s strategic control with the controller role. This synergy aims to make Cloud9 more competitive against top-tier North American teams and better prepared for international events.
While Cloud9 has historically been a strong presence in regional competitions, maintaining consistency against elite opponents has been a challenge. Matches against Sentinels, G2, and other top teams exposed moments of instability and strategic gaps, but the roster restructuring gives the organization a renewed chance to solidify its position among North America’s best.
Overall, the 2025 season reflected a period of rebuilding and recalibration for Cloud9 in VALORANT. With the revamped lineup, the team’s main objective for 2026 is to regain a consistent presence in international tournaments while converting regional competitiveness into deeper runs at Masters and Champions events.
At the ongoing VCT 2026: Americas Kickoff, Cloud9 has already played one match, defeating LOUD 2:0 without much trouble.
Сloud9 Map Pool
Cloud9 shows mixed results across maps in recent matches. The team performs confidently on Sunset, winning 100% of their three games and maintaining a high round win rate on both attack (71%) and defense (53%). Bind also remains one of their stronger maps, with a 75% win rate (3 wins out of 4) and solid performance on both sides. On Icebox, Cloud9 has a positive record, winning 67% of matches (2 out of 3) with round win rates of 54% on attack and 49% on defense. Lotus is more balanced, with a 56% win rate (5 wins out of 9), showing moderate consistency. At the same time, Cloud9 struggles on Split (29%, 2–5) and Pearl (0%, 0–2), particularly on attack rounds. Haven is unpredictable, with a 50% win rate (5–5), while Ascent (0%, 0–1), Abyss (0%, 0–1), and Corrode (33%, 1–2) show weak results. The team has not played Breeze or Fracture recently, making these maps relatively unknown. Overall, Cloud9’s map pool combines maps where they are strong, like Sunset and Bind, with more risky maps where they may struggle, which is important to consider when preparing for matches against top opponents.
G2 Esports and Cloud9: Head‑to‑Head
G2 Esports and Cloud9 have faced each other seven times in VALORANT across VCT competitions and other events, with G2 clearly dominating the matchup. Out of these encounters, G2 has claimed six victories while Cloud9 has managed just one, and the map count reflects a similar trend, with G2 winning approximately 11 maps to Cloud9’s 4. Notable matches include Cloud9’s 2‑0 win at Red Bull Home Ground #5 in November 2024, but G2 quickly regained control in 2025, securing wins in VCT Americas Kick‑Off, Stage 1, Stage 2, and later Red Bull Home Ground clashes. Overall, G2’s consistent performance in both regular season and playoff stages highlights their strong advantage in this rivalry, making them the clear favorites in head‑to‑head encounters against Cloud9.
Predicted result of the match between Cloud9 vs G2 Esports at VCT 2026: Americas Kickoff
G2 Esports enters the match against Cloud9 in the Mid Bracket Quarterfinals of VCT 2026 Americas Kickoff as the clear favorite. The team demonstrates consistent gameplay and strong coordination, with their experience in international tournaments giving them an edge in crucial moments. While Cloud9 has revamped their roster and is still seeking stability, G2 maintains a strong balance between individual skill and team strategy. The history of head-to-head encounters also favors the European side, which has dominated previous matchups. All of this points to a likely victory for G2 Esports in the series, with the team expected to secure the win without needing a third map.
Predicition: G2 Esports wins.
