Riot Games today revealed the creation of an ecosystem of Challengers expanded for the 2023 season. The Challengers will consist of 21 regional circuits in the Americas, APAC and EMEA regions, with the aim of helping new talent. The Challengers will play a most important role, providing an opportunity for new talent to rise to the top, and will test teams aspiring to play in the international leagues, combining game and sport.
In the Challengers Leagues, high-level competition will take place starting with open qualifying tournaments and dividing teams into two divisions for the regular season over several weeks. In addition, teams starting in the Challengers will have to follow a specific path to reach the international leagues and even world events.
“Over the past few months, increased demand from teams wanting to compete in the VALORANT eSports ecosystem has led us to expand the VCT Challengers”Explain Rozelle Whalehead of esports events at Riot Games. “Having a strong Challenger ecosystem is a critical part of VALORANT esports long-term success, and we believe connecting all levels is the best way for new talent to shine, as well as for teams to compete in tournaments at the highest level.”
New events and promotion system
Next year, the Challenger Leagues in each of the three territories will culminate with a new series of events: Challenger Rise. The three Challenger Ascension tournaments will crown the best teams from each region. The winning teams of the three Challengers promotion tournaments will have a place in the international league for the following year.
Thanks to the Challengers promotion system, the three international leagues will have one more team per year, until reaching a maximum of 14 teams in 2027. Teams that win the Challengers promotion tournaments will earn a spot in their territory’s international league for two years. Promoted teams will have the opportunity to prove themselves against the rest of the international league in the VCT season, will receive similar benefits and the same opportunities to qualify for World Events, like Masters and Champions. After those two years, teams will return to their leagues to find their way back to glory in Challengers and promotion tournaments.
Increased support from Riot Games
Today’s announcement is just part of the exciting plans Riot Games has in mind for VALORANT Champions Tour 2023. Earlier this year, Riot Games has revealed that it will start by creating three international leagues which represent the highest level of competition for the 2023 season. This new model will incorporate long-term collaborations without registration fees to a limited number of teams to ensure the stability of the fastest growing esport in the world .
Riot Games will innovate the competitive esports scene by waiving all entry fees for certain organizations, with a view to establishing fruitful long-term partnerships with them. Throughout 2022, Riot Games will conduct a selective process to identify the most suitable long-term partners to make VALORANT the largest esports FPS in the world. Teams that meet the criteria will receive financial support from Riot Games in the form of an annual stipend and the exclusive opportunity to participate in game-related collaborations and products.
I’ve traveled to worlds you’d never believe, ended up with enemies that elude all mysticism. I felt my pulse quicken with each battle, and the sigh of someone who knows they will have to get back up. There’s always a villain waiting and an adventure just around the corner.
