VALORANT Champions, as the final stage of a VCT season, pits the best teams in the world against each other for the most precious esports title of the game. With new VCT rule changes made in 2024, Riot Games has established a clearer, more balanced qualifying system in which a team must prove itself over time but can also make the cut showcasing timely stellar performances.
Format Summary: 16 Teams, 4 Regions Worldwide
In 2025, VALORANT Champions will consist of 16 teams: Four will be plucked from each VCT region.
- Americas
- EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Asia)
- Pacific
- China
Each region receives four guaranteed slots, thereby ensuring that the international event receives fair regional representation. There are no wildcards and no global qualifiers. Every team must earn their spot outright through regional accomplishments.
Two Qualification Methods Are Formalized
Image via Riot Games
At any rate, the teams get into Champions 2025 through the following means:
Path 1: Reach the Grand Final of Stage 2
- The easiest way to attain it is by reaching your region’s Stage 2 Grand Final. Those are the last playoffs of the regular VCT season.
- Top 2 teams from each region’s Stage 2 playoffs (champion and runner-up) will automatically qualify for Champions.
- A single deep run during Stage 2 can definitely punch a team to Paris: this stage is just that high in the stakes and season-defining process.
- This method rewards teams that arrive at their peak performance at the last moment. It allows teams that were shaky at the start of the year to have redemption if they managed to pull through when it matters the most.
Path 2: Accumulate Championship Points
- The Path Two way is for those who will fail to qualify in Stage 2 by Championship Points, a system that measures performance through the whole season.
- Once Stage 2 finalists are decided, the next two highest-ranked teams on the Championship Points leaderboard (excluding already qualified teams) will secure the final two slots per region.
- This route goes to Favour the teams who have been consistent all year long. For example, an organization like G2 Esports, who have had great placements both within regional events and international events, could qualify on points should they slip in Stage 2.
What Are Championship Points?
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Championship Points are given to teams based on where they finish in a VCT event whether it’s regional or international. While the exact structure may look slightly different from region to region, the idea is the same:
- The deeper you finish = the more points you get
- The more consistent your results across several events = the better rank you end up with.
This is important for good full season performance to be taken into account and awarded meaning no one bad week can take away from months of good results.
No More Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQs)
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There will not be any LCQs for VALORANT Champions whatsoever in earlier editions.
In 2024, LCQs were liquidated; instead, the final and deciding tournament was made to hold all the stakes by Stage 2. This lessens schedule congestion and player burnout buildup late into the season, therefore letting teams put their best foot forward when it comes to Champions specification.
The 2025 VALORANT Champions will soon be happening in Paris with only 16 qualified teams. With the new format, the qualification process for Champs is now more difficult and competitive. Whoever makes it this time is going to really earn it.
