Team Vitality enters the VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 1 grand final with strong recent form, including a four-match win streak and consistent map control that has positioned them as the trader consensus favorite. Their roster depth and execution in upper-bracket matches, including the 2-1 defeat of FUT Esports, have reinforced this edge. Team Heretics has mounted an impressive lower-bracket run, securing Masters London qualification with victories over Eternal Fire and FUT, yet faces the challenge of back-to-back high-stakes series against a rested opponent. Historical patterns in EMEA playoffs show upper-bracket teams often carry momentum advantages into the decisive best-of-five, though Heretics' peak performances on maps like Ascent and Fracture keep upset potential alive.