VCT 2026 Americas Stage 1 Playoffs betting tips – Friday, May 22

Only four teams remain in the VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 Americas Stage 1 Playoffs, and only three will stay in the title race after Friday, May 22, when NRG take on 100 Thieves in the lower bracket semifinal, and Leviatan clash with G2 Esports in the upper bracket final.

Here you can find free VALORANT betting predictions and expert tips for the two games, with esports odds from the top-rated bookmakers.

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  Fast Payouts

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LEVIATAN vs G2 ESPORTS

Best Odds	LEV +150 at BetOnline | G2 -200 at SportsBetting
When	May 22, 2026 | 14:00 PDT
Watch Live	Twitch

G2 Esports enter the VCT Americas Stage 1 upper bracket final as firm favourites to defeat Leviatan. Considering the form they have shown this stage, that is more than fair.

Leviatan have looked stronger in the playoffs than they did during the group stage, with victories over FURIA and MIBR. However, FURIA played poorly, and the win over MIBR was a bit dicey, especially on Split and Fracture.

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  The bookies' bookie

Leviatan have plenty of firepower and have shown high highs, but they do not look as potent or as complete as G2 Esports. G2 have been more flexible, more consistent, and they field some of the best-performing players in the league.

That includes Andrej “babybay” Francisty, Jacob “valyn” Batio, and Trent “trent” Cairns, who have all been among the standout players of VCT Americas Stage 1.

Leviatan are dangerous enough to make this interesting, but G2 have been the better team across the stage and look much more reliable heading into the upper bracket final. This is G2’s game to lose.

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NRG vs 100 THIEVES

Best Odds	NRG -175.44 at BetOnline | 100T +125 at SportsBetting
When	May 22, 2026 | 17:00 PDT
Watch Live	Twitch

100 Thieves are underdogs on the best VALORANT bookmakers to defeat NRG on Friday, having already lost three meetings against them this season.

Considering how dominant NRG have looked in the second half of the stage, the number is understandable. Still, it is fair to question whether they have been properly tested during that run.

During the regular season, NRG defeated Evil Geniuses, Sentinels, and reverse-swept 100 Thieves. In the playoffs, they have taken down the struggling FURIA and KRU Esports. Their last two wins were dominant, but neither FURIA nor KRU have looked particularly strong this stage.

100 Thieves are 2-1 in the playoffs, with their only loss coming against G2 Esports. Since then, they have posted convincing victories over LOUD and MIBR, showing a solid game plan and a useful ability to adapt depending on the opponent.

NRG deserve to be favourites, but they have not been that much better than the market suggests. At this price, 100 Thieves are worth a look to upset the high-flying NRG.