Edward Gaming proved once again why they wear the crown. After falling behind in a best-of-three series against FUT Esports at Valorant Masters London, EDG clawed back to win 2-1, advancing in one of the year’s most prestigious esports tournaments.

The match, played on June 13, drew attention not just from Valorant fans but from crypto traders placing bets on the outcome across platforms like Polymarket, Coinbase, and Bitget.

The comeback

FUT Esports came out swinging on Haven, the first map of the series, taking it 13-10.

EDG responded by taking Pearl, evening the series at 1-1 and forcing a decisive third map on Fracture. EDG closed out the map and the series to complete the reverse sweep.

For EDG, this win reinforces a resume that already includes the 2024 Valorant Champions title and the 2026 VCT CN Stage 1 championship.

Prediction markets light up

The match generated notable trading volume on prediction market platforms, including Polymarket, Coinbase, and Bitget. Bettors were actively wagering on match outcomes, map scores, and series results in real time.

The Masters London tournament carries a $1 million prize pool, which gives the matches genuine stakes beyond bragging rights.

Why crypto traders should care about esports

Prediction markets have covered esports for a while now, but the volume and platform diversity around this particular match suggest the trend is accelerating. Traditional esports sponsorship revenue has shown signs of softening in recent years, and blockchain-based betting and prediction markets offer a way to monetize viewer engagement without relying on declining brand deals.

There’s also the integrity question. Esports has dealt with match-fixing scandals before, and the introduction of easily accessible, pseudonymous betting markets could amplify those concerns. Tournament organizers like Riot Games, which runs the Valorant Champions Tour, have historically taken a cautious stance on betting partnerships.