VCT Pacific has unveiled a brand new system to find out which group receives precedence for map and facet choice in matches with equal seeding.
For Pacific’s upcoming 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), equally seeded groups will choose one participant every to struggle for map veto benefit in a 1v1 skirmish.
Replace 14/01/26: It has since been confirmed by Leo Faria, World Head of Valorant Esports, that this new system might be trialled throughout all VCT Worldwide Leagues in 2026.
VCT Pacific Kickoff 2026 would be the first occasion to check this new methodology. From January twenty second till February fifteenth, 12 groups will compete for one in every of three slots on the first VCT international occasion of the 12 months, VALORANT Masters Santiago.
With Kickoff’s new triple-elimination format, the occasion will characteristic quite a few best-of-three (BO3) and best-of-five (BO5) matches.
Sometimes, the higher-seeded group receives the appropriate to make the primary map ban and first map choose forward of a multi-map collection. In flip, the lower-seeded squad could make the second map ban/choose until the upper seed has been awarded a double-map ban benefit.
Furthermore, groups are at all times allowed to decide on which facet they want to begin the sport for maps picked by their opponent. As an illustration, if Crew A selects Bind as its first map, then Crew B could select if it want to begin on Bind’s Attacker or Defender facet.
Nonetheless, for matches between equally seeded groups, a coin toss generally determines which group will obtain precedence through the pre-match map veto. This method is used at each VCT international occasions and regional tournaments throughout EMEA, Americas, Pacific and China.
How Does The New System Work?
Immediately, VCT Pacific revealed its new ruleset for awarding map-veto precedence and have become the primary VCT area to deviate from the ecosystem’s customary coin-toss methodology.
In line with the official announcement on social media, a 1v1 skirmish between two equally seeded groups will decide which group receives map choice benefit:
- Every group submits a participant for its beginning roster to compete within the skirmish.
- The time and site of skirmishes are designated by league officers.
- Skirmishes are performed in a first-to-five-round format.
- Talents are disabled, leaving solely uncooked gunplay and mechanics because the deciding elements.
- The skirmish winner earns map veto benefit.
Though not but confirmed, it’s seemingly that these 1v1 battles might be a part of VCT Pacific’s official broadcast, offering an extra layer of competitiveness and leisure to those considerably lower-stakes matches.
Followers can tune into the motion through the league’s official Twitch and YouTube channels, beginning on January twenty second at 8 AM BST.
