Apeks and FOKUS will play in the second round of the group stage of VALORANT Challengers Ascension 2023: EMEA. This is one to watch here, as FOKUS managed a shot at the Play-In and made it here.
However, Apeks in their current form are the main contender to take the partnership slot for the next two years. And the teams have played the whole season together, and there's a full 'bye-bye' for FOKUS.
All in all, the main The International riga is whether FOKUS can take the map away from their bitter rival. It seems to me that they can't. So here I would lean on a resounding victory for the Apeks team.
Form Apeks
The sixth-ranked team in Europe won the VALORANT Challengers 2023 Northern Europe: Polaris Split 1 without a chance, confidently shutting down their opponents.
Furthermore, the Apeks also won the VALORANT Challengers 2023 Northern Europe: Polaris Split 2 at the end of the regional season, finishing the championship without a single defeat.
All in all, the opinion is that the European side are considered to be the main favourites to win the EMEA League. And given the way the squad looks, it's hard not to agree.
Recent results for Apeks:
- A 2-0 win over Les Petits Bouffons.
- A 2-1 win over eMasters.
- Victory over FOKUS 2-0.
- Victory over Les Petits Bouffons 2-0.
- 3-1 win over FOKUS.
Apeks top scores:
- Lotus - 100% wins.
- Ascent - 90% wins.
- Haven - 89% wins.
- Pearl - 86% wins.
- Split - 75% wins.
Let's not forget that the European squad tries not to appear on the Fracture map.
FOKUS Form
Thirteenth team of the European ranking was the second in VALORANT Challengers 2023 Northern Europe: Polaris Split 1 and expectedly passed Apeks.
That said, the Danish-British team took silver again for VALORANT Challengers Northern Europe 2023: Polaris Split 2, as you would think, again stacking their ambitions ahead of Apeks.
But FOKUS showed their mettle in the VALORANT Challengers Ascension 2023: EMEA Play-In, losing by a single point to Team RA'AD, but still playing well in the play-offs.
Recent FOKUS results:
- 1-3 defeat to Apeks.
- 13-15 defeat for Team RA'AD.
- 13-7 win over GMT Esports.
- 2-0 win over GTZ Esports.
- Defeated S2G Esports 3-1.
Top FOKUS scores:
- Bind - 100% wins.
- Fracture - 90% wins.
- Split - 67% wins.
- Haven - 55% wins.
- Ascent - 50% wins.
- Pearl - 50% wins.
In turn, the Danish-British team usually avoids appearances on the Bind map.
Apeks - FOKUS match statistics
Within the current season, the teams have played six meetings:
- Apeks' 2-0 victory in the VALORANT Challengers 2023 Northern Europe: Polaris Split 1.
- Apeks win at VALORANT Challengers Northern Europe 2023: Polaris Split 1 2-1.
- Apeks win for VALORANT Challengers Northern Europe 2023: Polaris Split 1 3-1.
- Apeks win for VALORANT Challengers Northern Europe 2023: Polaris Split 2 by 2-0.
- Apeks win for VALORANT Challengers Northern Europe 2023: Polaris Split 2 by 2-0.
- Apeks win for VALORANT Challengers Northern Europe 2023: Polaris Split 2 3-1.
Probably not much to comment on here.
Forecast for the Apeks vs FOKUS match
As I said before, the main The International riga is with what score Apeks will win the meeting. I do not think that the team somehow get confused on LAN, because the experience of the composition is a serious thing.
In general, in this particular match I have absolutely no faith in FOKUS. Therefore, I'd recommend a 2-0 win for Apeks.
