The VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2025 marks the fifth official tournament circuit organized by Riot Games. It was officially announced on August 20th, 2024, via a YouTube video.

Tournament Format

Pro System Overview

The VCT 2025 will consist of four international leagues across different regions. Each league will have 12 teams:

• 10 partner teams
• 2 teams from Ascension (one from 2023 and one from 2024)

International Leagues and Their Locations:

1. Americas League

• Covers North and South America.
• Based in Los Angeles, California at the Riot Games Arena.

2. China League

• Covers Mainland China.
• Based in Shanghai at the China VCT CN Arena.

3. EMEA League

• Covers Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
• Based in Berlin, Germany at the Riot Games Arena.

4. Pacific League

• Covers Asia (excluding West Asia and Mainland China) and Oceania.
• Based in Seoul, South Korea at COEX Artium.

Championship Points System

Championship Points will make a return in 2025. Points will be distributed in a way that rewards strong performances in the Masters events.

Key Events and Stages

Kickoff Events

• Four regional on-LAN events will be held in January/February 2025, each with a double-elimination bracket featuring the region's 12 teams.
• The top two teams from each Kickoff event will qualify for Masters Bangkok.

Masters Events

There will be two major Masters events in the 2025 circuit:

1. Masters 1 - Bangkok

• Scheduled for February/March in Bangkok, Thailand.
• 8 teams (2 from each region) will compete.
• The tournament format will be confirmed, but previous Masters followed a Swiss stage leading into a double-elimination playoff.

2. Masters 2 - Toronto

• Set for June in Toronto, Canada.
• 12 teams (3 from each region) will participate, with a format similar to Masters 1.

International League Stages

The 2025 circuit will have two stages of International Leagues:

• Stage 1 (March-May):

The top 3 teams from each region will qualify for Masters Toronto.

• Stage 2 (July-August):

Top 4 teams from each region will qualify for Champions. Teams can also qualify through Championship Points.

VALORANT Champions 2025

The final event of the year, VALORANT Champions 2025, will take place in Paris, France, in September/October.

• 16 teams (4 from each region) will compete for the ultimate title.
• The format is yet to be confirmed, but previous Champions tournaments featured double-elimination group stages followed by a playoff bracket.

Ascension and Team Rules

Teams that qualify for the International Leagues through Ascension will have different rules based on their performance:

• Teams finishing 9th–12th will be automatically relegated to the VCL (Valorant Challengers League).
• Teams finishing 5th–8th can compete in Ascension to keep their spot.
• Teams finishing in the Top 4 (qualified for Champions) will automatically keep their spot for the next season.

Semi-Pro System and Challengers Leagues

A semi-pro system is also part of the 2025 circuit, with Challengers Leagues offering opportunities for up-and-coming teams:

• 15 regional leagues across three international territories (Americas, EMEA, Pacific) will feature teams that can compete for a spot in Ascension.
• Top Challenger teams qualify for the Ascension tournament in their international territory. The winners will secure a place in the 2026 International League.

Game Changers (Women and Marginalized Genders Pro System)

The Game Changers circuit will continue to support women and other marginalized genders, with regional competitions throughout the year. The Game Changers Championship will expand from 8 to 10 teams in 2024, offering even more opportunities for top teams in these communities to shine.

My Thoughts 💭 

The VCT 2025 promises to be an exciting year for competitive VALORANT with international events, opportunities for both professional and semi-pro teams, and expanded support for diverse communities through the Game Changers initiative.

Watch the Offical video of Valorant Champions Tour 

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