The 2025 VALORANT Champions Tour is waiting for us, and it’s shaping up to be the most extensive and competitive season yet. With new talent to the scene and teams, a reworked format, a packed schedule, and promising to deliver some of the best matches all racing for the Champion title, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming year VCT.
Contents
Season Overview
The Complete 2025 VCT Schedule/ Image courtesy of Riot Games.
The VCT 2025 season kicks off in January and runs through early October. It starts with the Kickoff tournament from January 11th to February 9th, followed by the first international event of the year, Masters Bangkok, from February 20th to March 2nd. Shortly after, fans will know the start of Stage 1, which runs from March 22nd to April 25th. The top teams from this stage will move to the second Masters, Masters Toronto, between June 7th and 22nd. After that, the Valorant world will see the second stage, from July 12th to August 15th, and the season will end with Champions Paris.
This year, the calendar has been expanded to host more matches, and teams have new opportunities to shine at every stage.
Critical Dates for Kickoff Tournaments
The action starts with the International League Kickoff Tournaments from January 11 to February 9.
- January 11 – VCT China
- January 15 – VCT EMEA
- January 16 – VCT Americas
- January 18 – VCT Pacific
These tournaments feature a 12-team double-elimination bracket in each region. The top two teams from each league will secure spots at Masters Bangkok, the first global event of the year.
What’s New in 2025?
All VCT Team/ Image courtesy of Riot Games.
More Matches, Better Formats
The season has been expanded to give players and fans more matches without overwhelming teams. Each league now has 12 teams, ensuring more balanced competition.
Here’s how the new format works:
- Kickoff Tournaments: The top four teams from the previous year get a bye to the second round.
- Regular Season Matches: Each team will play at least 12 matches, with the top-performing teams potentially playing up to 23 games before the global events.
This structure allows for more exciting and high-stakes matchups, especially as the season progresses.
Revamped Playoffs
Playoffs have been expanded to include eight teams per league, meaning more teams will stay in the race longer. A double-elimination format ensures every match is meaningful.
The Stage 1 and 2 Playoffs are key milestones, with teams battling for spots at Masters and earning points towards qualification for Champions Paris.
Global Events and Championship Points
Masters and Champions
The road to Champions Paris includes two major global events:
- Masters Bangkok – Eight teams compete in a Swiss Stage followed by a 4-team double-elimination playoffs.
- Masters Toronto features the same Swiss format but leads to an 8-team double-elimination playoff.
At Champions Paris, teams will face off in a Group Stage followed by an 8-team double-elimination playoffs to crown the 2025 VALORANT World Champion.
New Championship Point System
Championship Points System/ Image courtesy of Riot Games.
To ensure every match matters, the distribution of Championship Points has been updated:
- Points are awarded for wins in regular-season matches.
- More teams will earn points in Kickoff, Playoffs, and Masters events.
Two teams from each region will qualify for Champions Paris based on Stage 2 performance. At the same time, two more spots will be awarded based on Championship Points, recognizing consistent results throughout the season.
A Fresh Start for Everyone
The league stages are now self-contained to keep the competition balanced and fair. Teams will start fresh in Stage 2, shuffling groups to avoid repetitive matchups. This means every team gets a shot at redemption, even if Stage 1 didn’t go as planned.
What’s Next?
With 48 teams, three global events, and one World Champion, VCT 2025 promises nonstop action, drama, and unforgettable moments. Mark your calendars and get ready to cheer for your favorite teams as they battle for the Champion’s trophy!
Stay tuned at Blix.gg for more follow-up news regarding the 2025 Valorant season.
