Riot Video games has introduced additional particulars surrounding its Path to Champions initiative for VALORANT Challengers in 2026.
This contains slot distribution throughout all VCT Worldwide Leagues, eligibility standards, monetary assist and extra.
Regional Slot Distribution
Each VCT Worldwide League will function 4 Challengers groups in Stage 2 Playoffs.
Furthermore, each workforce that secures a spot in at Path to Champions will obtain a $75,000 (~£56,331) stipend to cowl prices comparable to journey, visas, and extra.
Right here’s how the organisations can be decided:
VCT Americas
VCL North America and Brazil will every promote one squad, whereas the LATAM North and South Challengers Leagues will collectively ship one workforce.
The ultimate slot can be determined via a Final Probability Qualifier that includes the second seeds from North America and Brazil, together with the loser of the LATAM finals.
VCT EMEA
The Challengers groups qualifying for the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Playoffs can be decided via the area’s factors system throughout all of its regional leagues.
VCT China
Riot Video games will announce particulars in regards to the promotion of groups to VCT China at a later date.
VCT Pacific
The highest Challengers groups from Southeast Asia, Japan, and Korea every will straight advance to the Stage 2 Playoffs. The ultimate slot can be determined via a Final Probability Qualifier that includes the primary seeds from South Asia and Oceania, together with the second and third seeds from Southeast Asia.
Eligibility for Path to Champions
Much like the earlier format, Academy rosters is not going to be eligible for the Path to Champions programme, although groups are nonetheless allowed to compete within the tournaments. Riot Video games has; nonetheless, eliminated relegation safety from the groups, and if an academy workforce finishes on the backside, it should battle for its spot.
Affiliate groups, then again, can be eligible for qualification, and if a roster advances to the VCT, the partnership doesn’t have to be terminated. Nonetheless, VCT roster restrictions will apply all through the Stage 2 Playoffs and Champions roster lock durations.
Lastly, the minimal age required for a participant to be a part of a Challengers roster is 16 for the Americas, Pacific, and EMEA areas, and 18 for China.
