By Sagar V. Mankar Riot Games has announced an exciting roadmap for Valorant Esports in 2025.
The 2025 Valorant Champions Tour (VCT), which begins in January, will feature a longer calendar, expanded regional leagues, and revamped competition structures.
Expanded Global Ecosystem
The 2025 season will feature an expanded global ecosystem with 12-team regional leagues across four major regions: EMEA, Pacific, China, and Americas.
Kickoff Events
Each regional league will start with an exciting 12-team double-elimination tournament. Top-performing teams from the previous year will receive a strategic advantage, getting a bye to the second round. The top two teams from each region will then advance to Masters Bangkok in February. Beginning date for Kickoff Events:
- January 11, 2025: VCT China
- January 15, 2025: VCT EMEA
- January 16, 2025: VCT Americas
- January 18, 2025: VCT Pacific
International Masters
Two major international events are planned:
- Masters Bangkok (February 20 – March 2)
- Masters Toronto (June 7 – 22)
These events will feature Swiss-stage competitions followed by intense playoff formats, bringing the best teams from around the world together.
Championship Points Revamp
Riot has introduced a more inclusive Championship Points system. Now, points will be awarded at every stage and global event, giving teams multiple opportunities to secure their spot in the prestigious Champions Paris tournament.
Qualification Paths
The 2025 season introduces innovative qualification paths:
- Two teams will qualify from Stage 2 Playoffs
- Two teams will qualify based on Championship Points
This approach ensures that both current performance and consistent season-long achievements are recognized.
Season Format Improvements
Riot has carefully designed the new format to address previous challenges:
- Increased total matches by 12.5%
- Guaranteed minimum of 12 matches per team
- Average matches increased to approximately 18
- Maximum matches potentially reaching 23
The league stages will now be divided into two groups of six teams, with groups reshuffled in the second stage to create more balanced and exciting matchups.
Champions Paris: The Grand Finale
The season will conclude with Champions Paris from September 12 to October 5. This ultimate tournament will feature:
- A group stage with four 4-team groups
- An 8-team double-elimination playoff
- The crowning of the VALORANT World Champion
By extending the season, increasing team participation, and introducing a more nuanced points system, Riot is setting the stage for an unprecedented year of VALORANT esports.
Source: Official Riot Games Announcement and VCT 2025 Blog Post