In the electrifying realm of competitive Valorant tournaments, where split-second decisions and pinpoint accuracy define legends, one grand narrative weaves through every regional skirmish and online qualifier: the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT). Forget fleeting victories; every spike defused, every ultimate unleashed, every tactical masterclass, ultimately channels toward the singular, earth-shattering crescendo of one of the biggest Esports tournaments on earth.
All Roads Lead to Valorant Champions Tour (VCT)
While there are regional tournaments, all Valorant tournaments culminate to the biggest competition of the game: Valorant Champions Tour aka VCT.
Only the best of the best fight for glory. First announced in 2020, the VCT made its explosive debut in 2021 and has since become the pinnacle of competitive Valorant, drawing in top teams and passionate fans from around the world.
Valorant Tournaments: VCT Kickoff
VCT Kickoff is where the Valorant Champions Tour begins annually! It’s the beginning of the Valorant tournaments for the year, with teams from different regions—Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China—fighting to qualify for the first Masters event. In essence, it’s setting the tone for the remainder of the year and informing us which teams are going to dominate.
Since each region has its own strengths, the competition is always unpredictable. Some teams, like G2 Esports in the Americas or DRX in the Pacific, have a reputation for being powerhouses, but anything can happen!
The Kickoff format is meant for fast, high-stakes action, so teams have to come out guns blazing from day one. Fans love it because it’s their first glimpse of new rosters, new tactics, and potential breakout teams. With so much on the line so early, the hype is genuine, and ratings are always gigantic!
This year’s China Kickoff champion is Edward Gaming, clutching a 3-1 win against Trace Esports!
VCT Masters
VCT Masters is where the top teams from each region go head-to-head on the international stage! These Valorant tournaments are a mid-season showdown, giving us a look at which regions—and which teams—are the strongest in Valorant.
To make it here, teams have to be among the best in the world of their region’s league, qualifying to play against the cream of the crop. Victory here is not just about prestige—it’s also an opportunity to gain VCT points, which are required for a spot at the largest of them all: VCT Champions. Sentinels and other big guns have established themselves here at Masters by demonstrating they’re among the best.
As of 2025, T1 reigned supreme in this year’s VALORANT Masters Bangkok!
VCT Challengers
VCT Challengers is where up-and-coming teams fight it out for a chance at the big stage! These regional Valorant tournaments serve as a stepping stone for teams who wish to break into the top VCT leagues and demonstrate that they possess what it takes to play at the top level.
It’s all about opportunity and growth—teams hone their craft, develop experience, and get to present their talent to the world. Because the best teams advance, there’s no one dominant team in Challengers. Rather, it’s an ongoing battle for the top, so every season is full of surprises and thrills!
For young players and teams, Challengers are where to establish themselves and get noticed by the best orgs. It’s the ground floor of the VCT universe, guaranteeing new talent always has an opportunity to climb up the ranks!
VCT Game Changers
Women in Esports? They’re more likely than you think! It’s not always a boy’s playground.
VCT Game Changers is all about providing opportunities for women and other underrepresented genders in Valorant Esports. These Valorant tournaments provide a specialized competitive environment, so the scene is more inclusive, diverse, and friendly for all.
The program has been expanding rapidly, with increasing teams, players, and levels of competition each season. As more and more talent emerges at the top, the games are becoming even more heated!
Game Changers isn’t merely a tournament series—it’s a movement (literally, game-changing!). It’s shaping a more inclusive esports future while providing players with the recognition they deserve. And with increasing viewership and hype, it’s growing only bigger!
Valorant Champions 2025
And when all roads end at VCT – they travel one final time to the Valorant Champions. All the top VCT teams gather in the biggest finals known to Valorant tournaments. But it’s not just VCT champs – other teams who earned enough points also qualify to try and knock off these top teams’ crowns!
At Valorant Champions, the world champion is determined. Who will take the crown in 2025?
Wrapping Up
And that’s about most of the major Valorant tournaments to date! Everything all boils down to the VCT, and it’s the final battleground for only the best of the best teams in the Valorant esports world. T1 is known for being at the top of their game, constantly winning VCT tournaments at every turn. But as they say in sports: the ball is round, and things could turn around in the blink of an eye.