G2 Esports open as outright favourites for the $1 million Masters London, but a seven-event international drought keeps the value with three-time finalists Paper Rex at 6-1.
G2 Esports are the favourites to win VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Masters London 2026, the shortest-priced side on the outright board at esports books GG.BET and Thunderpick as of May 31, 2026. The 12-team event runs June 6–21 at the Copper Box Arena in London for a $1 million prize pool, and the betting interest splits between G2’s regional dominance and Paper Rex, the most-backed value side at 6-1.
Key Facts:
• Masters London features 12 teams from June 6–21, 2026, with a $350,000 first prize and 8 VCT points — Riot Games
• G2 Esports, Team Heretics, Paper Rex and EDward Gaming seed straight into the playoffs as regional Stage 1 winners — Liquipedia
• G2 have reached seven straight international events without a Masters title — Esports.gg
• Paper Rex have reached three consecutive international VCT finals — Liquipedia
How the field shakes out
The four first seeds — G2 Esports (Americas), Team Heretics (EMEA), Paper Rex (Pacific) and EDward Gaming (China) — skip the Swiss Stage entirely and enter the double-elimination playoffs on June 12. The remaining eight teams, including Team Vitality, NRG, Leviatán and FUT Esports, fight through a Swiss Stage from June 6–10 for the last four playoff places. The grand final on June 21 is a best-of-five.
Why G2’s international drought matters
G2 reached London by claiming a fourth VCT Americas title at Stage 1, but the squad of valyn, trent, leaf, jawgemo and babybay still lacks an international trophy. That gap, capped by Heretics’ EMEA Stage 1 title and a deep Pacific field, is why sharper markets are wary of backing G2 at a short price.
“If they want us to be the villains, so be it,” said JoshRT, head coach of G2 Esports. (Esports.gg)
The rising volume of esports prop-betting markets means outright prices on a name like G2 tend to shorten quickly on regional reputation, often faster than international form justifies.
Form, head-to-head, and the value angle
Paper Rex, ranked second in the global power rankings, arrive on the back of three straight international finals and an aggressive, play-everything style that has repeatedly unsettled more structured Americas and EMEA sides. Heretics and EDward Gaming round out a top four with realistic title equity, while Team Vitality headline the Swiss field as the most likely qualifier to crash the bracket.
The Betting Angle
Favourite: G2 Esports are the shortest-priced outright favourites at GG.BET and Thunderpick as of May 31, 2026. The most-backed value side, Paper Rex, sits at 6-1 — written +600 in American odds, where a $100 stake returns $600 in profit, or 7.00 in decimal.
Predicted result: Paper Rex to lift the trophy, beating G2 in the grand final. Three-final form is the most reliable signal in tier-one VALORANT, and G2’s history of falling short on the international stage points to another near miss.
Prop bets worth a look:
- Paper Rex top-two finish — three consecutive international finals make a deep run the safest read on the board (Liquipedia).
- Grand final to reach a deciding map — the title match is a best-of-five between elite, evenly matched sides.
- Team Vitality to qualify from the Swiss Stage — the strongest second seed in a beatable group.
What to fade: G2 Esports at a short outright price. Seven straight international events without a Masters title is a long enough sample to want a bigger number before backing them to finally break through.
Odds correct as of May 31, 2026. Informational only — not financial or betting advice. 18+ / 21+ depending on jurisdiction. See Responsible Gambling notice below.
FAQ
Q: Who is favoured to win VCT Masters London 2026?
A: G2 Esports are the outright favourites on the futures board, with Paper Rex the most-backed value side at 6-1, as of May 31, 2026.
Q: When and where is Masters London 2026?
A: June 6–21, 2026 at the Copper Box Arena in London, with 12 teams competing for a $1 million prize pool.
Q: Which teams skip the Swiss Stage?
A: G2 Esports, Team Heretics, Paper Rex and EDward Gaming seed directly into the playoffs as regional Stage 1 winners.
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