March 12, 2025
The stage has been set. VCT 2025: Game Changers NA has kicked off with its first of two Open Qualifiers. The Open Qualifier began on March 4th and featured 32 teams duking it out until the top eight advanced to Stage 1.
The group stage consisted of 8 GSL groups of four teams each, and all matches were best of three. The top two teams from each group advanced to the Playoffs, consisting of a sixteen-team double-elimination bracket. All playoff matches were best of three as well.
Here’s a rundown of some of the action that took place during the Open Qualifier and a closer look at the eight teams that advanced to Stage 1.
Shopify Rebellion Gold
Shopify Rebellion Gold is no stranger to the VCT Game Changers stage. The team took home third place in 2021 Series 2, and second in 2021 Series 3. Shopify continued that streak, earning second in Series 1, 2, and 3 of VCT 2022: Game Changers NA, the VCT Game Changers Championship 2022, and VCT 2023 Series S1.
In the VCT 2025: Game Changers NA Kick-Off, Alexis, dodonut, meL, Noia, and sarah played for Shopify Rebellion Gold. They advanced to the Playoffs, winning 2-0 against Starry Cats :3 and Alliance Angels.
In the Playoffs, Shopify Rebellion Gold continued its win streak. The team breezed through Prosperity X, winning 13 to 4 at Lotus and 13 to 2 at Haven. Up next, Fisher Fumblers also came up short, losing 12 to 14 at Fracture and 8 to 13 at Haven.
Wadadaa
Wadadaa made its return to VCT Game Changers after a recent win at the VCT Game Changers NA: Kickoff event back in February of this year. Australis, joona, StarBound, and PowerPixele returned from their Kickoff lineup while Femboy played instead of SleepyAria.
The team worked well together and made it to the Playoffs by defeating Terps GC Premier and YDZ Black 2-0, dominating Group B.
Once in the Playoffs, Wadadaa had a strong start, winning 13 to 5 on Lotus and 13 to 0 on Bind against Alliance Angels. However, the team was knocked to the lower bracket in a 2-1 loss to YFP X. Wadadaa would regain momentum in the lower bracket, however, and managed to score a 2-0 victory over YDZ Black to earn the place as a qualifier.
Aussie & Friends
Consisting of Jazzyk1ns, lidyuh, marceline, riv, and Slandy, Aussie & Friends had a near spotless record in its journey from the group stage to qualifying. Starting in Group H, the first match was against Monarch-X GC, who managed to defeat 13 to 5 and 13 to 2 on Bind and Haven, respectively. They next faced off against Catnappers and managed to beat them 13 to 5 at both Pearl and Split.
In the Playoffs, their opening match was against :3. The team won the first match on Haven 13-11, after which the only loss of the qualifier would follow on Pearl. Down but not out, Aussie & Friends rallied and managed to secure the round with a 13 to 11 victory on Bind. In the next round, the team faced Shrimp Gaming and won back-to-back matches, earning the qualifying spot.
YFP X
YFP X is also a VCT Game Changer returnee, coming in first at VCT 2024: Game Changers NA Series 3 – Open Qualifier 2, and third at VCT 2025: Game Changers NA Kickoff earlier this year. The team in this round included edith, k0rupt, melya, misu, and scaryshark.
YFP X started the group stage in Group D. The first match was against Erinite GC, Where the team took decisive victories both on Pearl and Bind. The second round against Fisher Fumblers saw a little bit more resistance; after winning the first match 13-9, YFP X couldn’t maintain the lead in the following match. However, the team came back in the end and won 13-3 on Fracture to earn its spot in the Playoffs. Once in the Playoffs, YFP X managed to take down both Teddy Tactics and Waddadaa to sail through the rest of Open Qualifier 1.
FlyQuest Red
Second-place winners of VCT 2025: Game Changers North America Kickoff, FlyQuest Red returned to see if it could go all the way to gold this time. The team included aluvily, Bob, evv, L4CE, and theia, and started off in Group C.
FlyQuest Red sailed through the group stage without a single loss. The team beat both Team Aquila and Berzerkers Dawn 2-0, and moved on to the Playoffs. In the Playoffs, the opening match was against Catnappers, where FlyQueset continued its win streak in another 2-0 victory. The final match of the playoffs was against OVERKILL. FlyQuest won the first match 13-10 on Fracture, but lost the second match on Lotus. In the final round, the team managed to run away with the victory in a 13 to 5 landslide.
OVERKILL
OVERKILL’s roster included ariel, bunnybee, KETARYS, miyara, and reverie. The team had a strong start out of the gate, beating Teddy Tactics and Labyrinth Aura 2 and 0 in Group F before moving on to the Playoffs. In the Playoffs, however, the journey got a little tougher.
In the first match of the Playoffs, OVERKILL faced off against YDZ Black. The first match went into overtime, but OVERKILL managed to snatch the 16-14 win on Split. The team would lose momentum on Lotus next, but has, however, managed to turn things around in the final round, winning 13 to 4 ot Fracture.
FlyQuest Red would halt OVERKILL’s win streak, defeating them 2-1 and eliminating them from the upper bracket. However, when OVERKILL faced off against Teddy Tactics again in the lower bracket, the team took the 2-1 for the qualifying spot.
:3
A team consisting of Aniemal, CYN, LunaFox, Sliicyy, and TEDDY, :3 had a bumpy road, but managed to overcome its obstacles to earn a qualifying spot. Started the journey in Group E with a victory over Empire Redux GC, :3 lost the next match against HyperSpeed White. The team had one more chance to make it to the Playoffs, playing against estrogen gayming in the decider match. It was a hard-fought battle, but :3 managed to win 13-9 on Haven and 13-8 on Bind to move on to the Playoffs.
In the Playoffs, :3 was knocked to the lower bracket after the first round against Aussie & Friends, but the team wasn’t done fighting! In the first match lower-bracket match against Berzerkers Dawn, :3 too a 2-1 victory. Now, one last trial stood before :3 and qualifying, and that was Fisher Fumblers. Things started off a little shaky with the 11-13 loss on Haven in the opening match, but the team managed to pick up momentum and win the next two maps to earn its spot!
Shrimp Gaming
Shrimp Gaming started in Group G and managed to beat U4RIA Magnolia and Prosperity X 2-0 to quickly move on to the Playoffs. Their team included aeri, Angel, ciabatta, colby, and qrthur. They would keep their momentum heading into the Playoffsand beat Berzerkerz Dawn in the opening match. However, in Shrip was sent to the lower bracket in their second match against Aussie & Friends.
All was not lost, however, as the team once again faced Prosperity X in the lower bracket. Shrip Gaming managed to win 13-3 at Lotus and 13-6 on Fracture to bring home the victory and earn the qualifying spot.
Congratulations to all of these wonderful teams who met adversity and persevered! Good luck in the rest of the season!