Look Sports Media – Riot Games has unveiled significant updates to the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Path to Champions for the 2026 season, introducing enhanced support systems, refined regional slot allocations, and clarified eligibility criteria designed to empower Challenger teams. These changes aim to create a more competitive and inclusive ecosystem within the VCT.
The 2026 VCT circuit promises high-stakes action with VCT Masters 1 in Santiago, Chile, the debut of Valorant Masters 2 in London, UK, and the season-culminating VCT Champions in Shanghai. A key highlight is the opportunity for tier-two Challenger teams to qualify for VCT Champions without needing an existing VCT slot.
Under the revised structure, each of the four major territories – Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China – will send four teams to the Stage 2 Playoffs. These Challenger squads will then clash with established tier-one competitors for a coveted spot at VCT Champions. The article then details how the top four teams will be determined in each region.
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To bolster the participation of Challenger teams, Riot Games will provide a USD$75,000 cash stipend to teams that qualify for Stage 2 Playoffs. This financial assistance is intended to alleviate the burden of travel, visa acquisition, and other logistical expenses, ensuring that top Challenger teams can compete regardless of their organization’s financial resources. VCT emphasizes that teams must be prepared to travel for IRL matches in the 2026 season, including the Stage 2 Playoff roadshows. While Riot provides financial aid, teams remain responsible for securing necessary documentation and accommodations.
Riot Games has also clarified and adjusted roster eligibility requirements for the VCT Path to Champions. Academy teams are ineligible for the VCT Path to Champions but can still compete in regional Challengers Circuits. Academy teams will lose their relegation protection, meaning they must fight for their place if they finish at the bottom of their regional Challengers Circuits. Affiliate teams remain eligible for the VCT Path to Champions, and affiliate relationships do not need to be terminated if the team qualifies.
Furthermore, no player transfers are allowed between the main roster and the affiliate roster during Stage 2 Playoffs and Champions roster lock periods. Regional regulations also affect roster composition rules. In China, teams with players under 18 may need to adjust their rosters due to local laws. In VCT Americas, EMEA, and Pacific, players must be at least 16 years old to be eligible for rosters, but the minimum age for tier one competition remains at 18. Only Challenger Circuit teams that qualify for Stage 2 can include players aged 16-17. Teams must have at least three players from their region and a maximum of two global players.
With these comprehensive changes, the VCT Path to Champions 2026 is poised to be a battleground where tier-two teams can rise to the pinnacle of competitive Valorant.
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