Feb 4, 2022
With Closed Qualifiers in the rearview mirror, it’s time to welcome back challengers from across EMEA as the VALORANT Champions Tour returns! Four EMEA titans from 2021 — Team Liquid, Fnatic, Gambit Esports and defending VALORANT World Champion Acend — return to the premier circuit, entering an incredible lineup of teams that embodies the highest quality of competitive VALORANT play.
With Masters 1 and more on the line, let’s dig into the facts, format and frenzy of 2022 VCT Stage 1 - Challengers EMEA.
FORMAT & SCHEDULE
2022 VCT Stage 1 - Challengers EMEA is split into two phases — the Regular Season and Playoffs. During Regular Season play, all 12 teams are sorted into two groups of six for best-of-three matches. At the end of a single Round Robin, the Top 3 teams of each group advance to the Playoffs, with each top seed awarded a first-round bye. The bottom team of each group will compete in the VALORANT Challengers Promotion tournament.
Beginning on Friday, February 11, the Regular Season will be held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with two best-of-threes per day. Broadcasts begin at 3pm CET each day, with matches starting at 4pm CET.
After the Regular Season ends, the Stage 1 - Challengers EMEA Playoffs will consist of a six team, double elimination bracket. All matches will be best-of-three series — with the exception of the lower bracket final and grand final, which will be best-of-fives. While all teams will be awarded VCT Circuit Points, only the Top 3 teams will advance to Masters 1.
QUALIFIED TEAMS
Group A:
- Gambit Esports - Direct Invite
- Team Liquid - Direct Invite
- BIG - EU Closed 1 Qualifier
- FunPlus Phoenix - CIS Closed 1 Qualifier
- LDN UTD - EU Closed 2 Qualifier
- Natus Vincere - CIS Closed 2 Qualifier
Group B:
- Acend - Direct Invite
- Fnatic - Direct Invite
- Guild Esports - EU Closed 1 Qualifier
- Papara SuperMassive Blaze - TR Closed 1 Qualifier
- G2 Esports - EU Closed 2 Qualifier
- BBL Esports - TR Closed 2 Qualifier
GROUP DRAW METHODOLOGY
To compose Groups A and B, the 12 VCT Stage 1 - Challengers EMEA were placed into one of three pools based on when they qualified for VCT.
- Pool 1 Teams - Acend, Gambit Esports, Team Liquid and Fnatic
- Pool 2 Teams - Guild Esports, BIG, Papara SuperMassive Blaze and FunPlus Phoenix
- Pool 3 Teams - G2 Esports, BBL Esports, LDN UTD and Natus Vincere
Then, teams were randomly drawn from one pool at a time, beginning with Pool 1, followed by Pool 2 and then Pool 3. The drawn teams were alternatingly placed into Groups A and B until all teams within the pool were placed. Teams that qualified from the same closed qualifier could not be drawn into the same group. A new group draw will take place between Stages 1 and 2.
Click here to watch the 2022 VCT Stage 1 - Challengers EMEA Group Draw Show
PRIZE POOL
Total Prize Pool: €200,000
- 1st Place: €40,000
- 2nd Place: €30,000
- 3rd Place: €22,000
- 4th Place: €18,000
- 5th/6th Place: €15,000
- 7th/8th Place: €12,000
- 9th/10th Place: €10,000
- 11th/12th Place: €8,000
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