Overview of the Valorant Ascension League 2023

As we all know, Riot Games decided to make a 180-degree change regarding the VALORANT competitive scene worldwide by introducing the new VCT format and the new Ascension League.

While it is true that the changes implemented are not the most obvious, the new partnership or franchise system that Riot has introduced has changed the way teams can be part of the VCT from next season onwards.

VALORANT Champions Tour 2023

As we already know, Riot Games formalized the partnership program with 30 organizations worldwide in the three regions that will compete for the champions trophy, i.e., ten franchised teams per region.

The remaining teams from these regions will compete in sub-regional tournaments or Challenger leagues to fight for a place in the VALORANT Ascension League. Finally, the winners of this league will be part of the VCT 2024.

How will the Valorant Ascension League work?

Like the VCT, the VALORANT Ascension League will be played in the Americas, EMEA, and Pacific regions. In addition, these three regions will have sub-regional tournaments. The sub-regional events will be played in two different phases.

The top teams from these phases will compete in the Ascension League in their respective regions for a place in the VCT 2024 and 2025.

The three regions mentioned above will have their particular Ascension Leagues, which will continue until 2026.

Riot Games plan to expand the VCT quota per region from 10 to 14 teams, and there is no doubt that this is an exciting way to do it.

In addition, these teams that obtain the VCT quota through the Ascend League will have two years in this top-level league without relegation.

If the results are not as expected, these teams will be relegated back to their original leagues and have to fight through the Ascension League again.

Start date and Teams

As we have mentioned, the teams participating in the Ascension League perform best in their respective subregional tournaments in the three VCT regions. Unfortunately, this means that, at present, we cannot guarantee the participation of any team.

Now, the start date of this Ascension League has been probed by Riot Games in the form of some time frames rather than an exact date.

This has been done for the EMEA stage of the tournament, but there is a good chance that other regional leagues will also be held during this same period.

Phase 1 qualifiers for Challenger leagues in the different regions are expected to be played between February and March 2023, while Phase 2 qualifiers are scheduled to be played between May and June.