Top 5 Initiator players to look out for at VCT Masters Shanghai

VCT Masters Shanghai is the second international event of the 2024 season. Here, a total of 12 teams from the four franchise leagues will go head-to-head against each other to get their hands on the Masters trophy. Like Madrid, teams will first start with the Swiss Stage and then head to the Playoffs which will help determine the winner of this event.

Initiator players are among the most important in a team. Their utility is what enables the other teammates to execute set plays and win rounds. Below is a list of five Initiator players that viewers need to look out for at VCT Masters Shanghai.

Note: This list is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.

The best Initiator players to keep an eye on during VCT Masters Shanghai

1) eeiu

eeiu at VCT Americas Kickoff (Image via Riot Games)

Daniel "eeiu" Vucenovic is a Canadian esports player who currently plays for the team, 100 Thieves. He has mainly fulfilled the role of Initiator Agents, Sova and Fade but has also played as the Controller Agents, Omen and Brimstone in the past.

VCT 2024 is eeiu's first time playing in a tier-one event. While he has had a great performance in Ascension 2023, the Americas League is where he becomes the best version of himself. In Americas Stage 1, he was able to achieve an ACS (Average Combat Score) of 195.4 himself. Now eeiu has the opportunity to bring glory to 100 Thieves winning VCT Masters Shanghai.

2) Leo

Leo at VCT EMEA Stage 1 (Image via Riot Games)

The Swedish esports player, "Leo" Jannesson plays for the renowned team, Fnatic. While primarily known for his expertise in Initiator Agents, Leo has demonstrated versatility by assuming roles such as Sentinel, Sage, Controller, and Omen for his previous teams.

Last year, Leo was regarded as one of the best esports players in Valorant. His performance was among the top reasons for Fnatic's major successes, winning them two trophies back to back. After an underwhelming start in Kickoff and missing out on Masters Madrid, Leo was able to return in form with his team. During the EMEA Stage 1 Grand Finals, Leo showcased remarkable resilience by amassing an impressive total of 85 kills despite battling illness and being unable to play on stage. His exceptional performance across four different Agents earned him an astounding ACS of 210.6. Leo's prowess on the battlefield undoubtedly positions him as one of the most formidable adversaries in VCT Masters Shanghai, striking fear into opposing teams.

3) Wo0t

Wo0t at VCT EMEA Stage 1 (Image via Riot Games)

Mert "Wo0t" Alkan is a Turkish esports player who plays for Team Heretics. His main role has been to play as the Initiator Agent for his team but he has also fulfilled the role of the Controller, Viper, and Duelist, Reyna on certain maps.

VCT EMEA Stage 1 was Wo0t's first event with Team Heretics. The Turkish player added a lot more firepower to the team and was incredible throughout this event. While slightly inexperienced, the young gun was able to stand toe to toe against other veteran teams and players to put up some brilliant performances. He secured an ACS of 205.1 in the entire event and is set to make his international debut at VCT Masters Shanghai.

4) d4v41

d4v41 at Valorant Champions 2023 (Image via Riot Games)

The Malaysian esports player, Khalish "d4v41" Rusyaidee plays for the team, Paper Rex. He plays multiple roles for his team ranging from the Initiator Agent, Skye to the Sentinel Agents, Sage and Killjoy to the Controller Agents, Omen and Viper depending on the map.

d4v41 is one of the best Initiator players to come from the Pacific region.d4v41 consistently delivers multi-kills and exerts a high level of impact in nearly every round. His versatility and proficiency across multiple Agents enable his team to explore various compositions with confidence. During Pacific Stage 1, he demonstrated remarkable adaptability, boasting an ACS of 210.8 while adeptly maneuvering through six different Agents. With d4v41 and his team operating at peak performance this season, they stand as strong contenders poised to seize the VCT Masters Shanghai trophy.

5) nobody

nobody at VCT Masters Madrid (Image via Riot Games)

Wang "nobody" Senxu is a Chinese esports player who plays for EDward Gaming. He mainly fulfills the role of an Initiator for his team but has been the Sentinel Agent, Sage on certain maps when required.

nobody was a key aspect of EDward Gaming's incredible performance last year. In the 2024 season, the team was able to maintain its top spot in the region and has gone through an almost flawless run. nobody has also looked exceptional throughout these regional events by putting up decent numbers on the scoreboard while having a high amount of impact. In China Stage 1, he had an ACS of 202.8. nobody has the chance to get the home crowd their first international trophy by winning VCT Masters Shanghai.

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