Look Sports Media – The Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA Stage 2 explodes onto the scene on Wednesday, July 16th, igniting the race to Valorant Champions (Champs) Paris. Europe’s elite Valorant teams will clash in a high-stakes battle for glory and a coveted spot at the year’s most prestigious tournament, held on home soil this year. The pressure is immense, with teams not only vying for Champs qualification but also fighting to maintain their VCT status, as Gentle Mates and Apeks face the threat of relegation.
The format mirrors Stage 1: twelve teams divided into two groups, battling it out in a single round-robin, best-of-three series. Only the top four from each group advance to the Playoffs, a modified double-elimination bracket offering a crucial advantage to the strongest Group Stage performers. Best-of-three matches dominate until the Lower Final and Grand Final, both elevated to best-of-five showdowns to crown the Stage 2 champion and determine the first two Champs Paris qualifiers. All matches will be played on Patch 11.0, a decision attributed by Riot Games to ongoing game infrastructure changes, likely related to the anticipated transition to Unreal Engine 5 and the recent introduction of the replay system.
The top two teams emerging victorious from the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Playoffs secure automatic qualification for Champions Paris. The remaining two spots will be decided based on Championship Points accumulated throughout the season. Fnatic currently leads the pack, boosted by their Stage 1 victory and Masters Toronto finals appearance. However, with everything still up for grabs, the final stage promises intense competition.
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Key Dates:
- Group Stage: July 16th – August 15th
- Playoffs: August 21st – 24th
- Upper Bracket Final & Lower Bracket Semi-Finals: August 29th
- Lower Finals: August 30th
- Grand Final: August 31st
The map pool for Stage 2 features the exciting debut of Corrode and the return of Bind, replacing Pearl and Split. The updated map pool consists of: Corrode, Lotus, Icebox, Haven, Bind, Ascent, and Fracture. This promises a fresh and dynamic competitive landscape. The fight for Champs Paris is on!
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