GiantX moved closer to being crowned VALORANT Champions 2026 after overcoming Challenger side Eintracht Frankfurt in the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Play-Ins, even if the run wasn't as simple as the opening map suggested it would be (they were 0-6 down at one point). Speaking to THESPIKE.GG after the series, GiantX's westside acknowledged the team can do better and pointed to a recurring problem of bad starts that force them into mounting a dramatic comeback all too often.
The win was a three-map affair. GiantX dominated on Lotus before Frankfurt pushed back hard on the following two maps, with the VCT side needing to recover an early deficit on both. Play-Ins run from Aug. 5 to 17 in a 12-team double-elimination bracket that mixes eight Group Stage teams with four sides from EMEA Regional Challengers. Eintracht Frankfurt earned their spot through the EMEA Last Chance Qualifier.
A dominant map one, then a reality check
"To be honest, after the first map, we thought the series was going to be a bit easier,” said Westside, “but we were surprised by how challenging the next two maps were," he told THESPIKE.GG. "We started both the second and third maps at a significant round disadvantage, so we always had to fight our way back into the game."
The pattern isn't new for GiantX and Westside tied it directly to what held the team back in 2025. "Like last year, we were sometimes down 0-5 and had to fight our way back into the game, or we'd lose the first map and then have to win the next two," he said. "I think we need to start strong from the very first round, set the pace early, and not let the game snowball in our opponents' favor."
It's a self-aware take from a player who, having been here before, knows the roster's ceiling. While it’s true that GiantX have the individual talent to recover from deficits, they don’t want to be relying on comebacks all the time — especially against the strongest sides in the region. It’s exciting, sure; but how many lives do they have left?
Phoenix, Cypher, and splitting the duelist load
We won the decider after coming back from 0-6!!
— GIANTX VALORANT (@GIANTXVALORANT) August 6, 2026
See you on Saturday against FUT👊#GXWIN |#VCTEMEA pic.twitter.com/mxZStvG1kD
One of the more interesting threads we found in the interview was how GiantX are dividing agent responsibilities between westside and Flickless, particularly around Phoenix. The agent has had a notable presence in the current VALORANT meta, and the two players are sharing those reps.
Westside explained the logic behind the split as Cypher fitting maps where he can anchor a site and get maximum value from his setup, while Phoenix lets him operate more freely. "With Phoenix, I play more independently, using the flashes and creating opportunities for the team," he said. "I feel like I can play more around myself on Phoenix compared to Cypher." For Flickless, Cypher is better suited to maps that reward cross-map rotation and information gathering.
The agent flexibility also reflects a broader shift in how westside has evolved his game this year. He noted that being put on Phoenix after spending all of Champions 2025 on Cypher felt like a welcome change, giving him more room to take aggressive duels that the sentinel role simply doesn't allow.
On the sentinel meta more broadly, westside was upfront about the challenges, noting that double-duelist compositions, with their ability to dash or teleport through setups, have made it difficult to justify picks like Vyse. He suggested Deadlock has the potential to punish those aggressive entries, though her GravNet's 60-second cooldown limits round-to-round impact.
Flickless as IGL and the road to Shanghai
The stakes for the Play-Ins are straightforward. GiantX and PCIFIC both need a top-two finish in the split if they’re to qualify for VALORANT Champions Shanghai, meaning that every series in this bracket has jeopardy. The tournament's playoff structure uses double-elimination best-of-threes, with best-of-five series reserved for the lower final and grand final. First place earns $100,000 and eight Championship Points; second place receives $65,000 and six points.
Westside was genuinely positive about Challenger teams competing for a Champions spot. "If I were in Tier 2, I'd obviously want the opportunity to compete for a spot at Champions as well," he said. "It gives them a chance to show what they can do on a big stage and prove themselves against top-level competition."
GiantX's next match in the double-elimination bracket will determine whether they stay in the upper portion of the draw or have to navigate the lower bracket to reach the Playoffs and keep their Champions Shanghai hopes on track.
