All four top seeds are out after the first round of playoffs. Let that sink in.

VCT Masters Toronto just witnessed what can only be described as a full-blown first seed meltdown. The teams that earned a playoff bye by winning their regions? Every single one of them lost. And now, controversy is brewing over Riot’s format like never before.

Let’s break down what happened, who’s catching fire, and what everyone’s saying about this now-infamous “first seed curse.”

Four First Seeds. Four Losses.

G2, Fnatic, RRQ, and Sentinels—all sent straight to the losers bracket after just one match. Every team that earned the coveted top seed advantage ended up looking more cold and unprepared than dominant. Meanwhile, their opponents—who battled through Swiss—looked razor sharp.

It’s led to coaches, players, and fans asking one thing: Is the playoff bye actually a disadvantage?

Wolves Keep Winning—and Get Personal

Wolves Esports defeated RRQ 2-0, and are quickly becoming the Cinderella story of the tournament. After their rough start vs Sentinels, they’ve looked unstoppable—eliminating Heretics, BLG, and now RRQ.

Juicy’s Jett popped off, and Sufat shared a touching story about how Zelsis helped him regain confidence after their loss to Sentinels. That moment? Fuel for a playoff push.

Gen.G Take Down Fnatic Amid Power Outage Drama

Gen.G defeated Fnatic 2-1 in a wild series marred by an in-venue power outage that interrupted the momentum. Still, Gen.G looked confident, with Texture and Foxy9 combining for 42 kills in the final map on Sunset.

Criticism flew toward Boaster’s slow calling and the pacing of Fnatic’s gameplay, which didn’t hold up under Gen.G’s aggressive pressure. With EMEA’s top seed now in the losers bracket, Europe’s playoff hopes are on thin ice.

Paper Rex and G2: More Banter, More Fire

Paper Rex secured revenge against G2, who beat them at both Champions and Masters Shanghai. This time, PRX took it 2-1.

Zechen and Zelus had some cheeky words before the match, joking that losing to Paper Rex would be “embarrassing”—well, now the joke’s on them. G2 is headed to the lower bracket, and the trash talk may have backfired.

Sentinels vs XLG: Johnqt Gets His Wish… and Pays the Price

Sentinels IGL Johnqt jokingly said he wanted to play all the Chinese teams, and XLG made that happen. Unfortunately for NA fans, XLG came out on top, completing Sentinels’ tour through CN teams with a bitter end.

Sentinels now face elimination—and the region’s #1 seed joins the rest in losers.

Format Under Fire: Is the First Seed Advantage Actually a Trap?

This is the burning question now echoing across social media and press rooms.

Four first seeds. Four immediate losses. Coaches like Zikz (100T) and JoshRT (G2) are now calling the bye a clear disadvantage, citing:

  • Loss of momentum
  • Lack of stage experience
  • Pressure from watching opponents warm up while sitting cold

JoshRT even said, “I’d rather play Swiss and earn the championship than get a bye and go cold.”
And honestly? The results speak for themselves.

Shazam even admitted that back in 2021, they discussed this with Riot: skipping games doesn’t help—in fact, it hurts. The pros want momentum, not theorycraft.

Riot’s Dilemma: Balance Prestige with Practicality

Giving top seeds a playoff bye is supposed to reward regional dominance, but right now, it looks like a punishment in disguise.

Sure, teams get a guaranteed top-8 finish, but as JoshRT put it: “What’s the difference between placing 8th or 12th if you don’t win the thing?”

If tournament momentum is king, the current format needs a rethink.

The upper semifinals are locked in, and the losers bracket begins today. With G2, RRQ, Fnatic, and Sentinels fighting for survival, the next few matches could make or break entire regions.

Stay up to date with every twist at AllValorant.gg
Source: VALORANT News – TacticalRab

Frequently Asked Questions about the VCT Masters Toronto Playoffs

What is the “first seed curse” at Masters Toronto?

All four top-seeded teams (Sentinels, Fnatic, RRQ, G2) lost their first playoff match, sparking discussion that skipping the Swiss Stage is actually a disadvantage.

Why are teams upset about the playoff bye format?

Coaches and players argue that starting cold while others gain stage experience puts first seeds at a disadvantage, especially in a momentum-driven tournament.

Who are the standout teams so far?

Wolves, Gen.G, Paper Rex, and XLG are all on fire. Each knocked out a first seed and now head into the upper semifinals with serious momentum.

What happened between G2 and Paper Rex?

G2 lost to PRX after some pre-match banter backfired. Paper Rex got their revenge after being eliminated by G2 in two previous international events.

Has Riot responded to the format backlash?

Not yet. But players and coaches have publicly shared feedback, suggesting Riot consider new ways to make seeding matter without creating early disadvantages.

What’s next in the tournament?

The losers bracket begins now, featuring G2, Fnatic, Sentinels, and RRQ. One first seed will be eliminated immediately, keeping the drama at an all-time high.