Riot Games recently announced the details for the VCT EMEA 2026 Kickoff, a new tournament format that’s generating both excitement and concern among fans. The competition will involve 12 teams battling it out over four weeks in a unique triple-elimination bracket – a format not often seen in competitive Valorant.
The new format is built to create more exciting competitions and get fans more involved, though it might take a little getting used to.
VCT EMEA 2026 Triple Elimination Format Revealed
Triple elimination tournaments are more forgiving than standard single- or double-elimination formats. Teams get three chances – their first loss sends them to a ‘Middle Bracket,’ a second to the ‘Lower Bracket,’ and a third loss knocks them out. This system prevents a single bad game from ending a team’s run, leading to more competitive play.
Each qualifying bracket will feature a different winning player. The three bracket winners will advance to VALORANT Masters Santiago, guaranteeing opportunities for a variety of competitors.
Four of last season’s strongest teams – Fnatic, Team Liquid, GIANTX, and Team Heretics – will start their tournament in the second round of the winner’s bracket, meaning fans will see exciting, competitive matches from the very beginning.
The tournament will unfold in a structured timeline that unfolds between January 20 to February 15:
- Week 1: Upper Bracket R1 & R2
- Week 2: Middle Bracket and Upper Bracket Semis
- Week 3: Lower Bracket matchups
- Week 4: Three Bracket Finals
In addition to awarding Masters qualifications, the Kickoff tournament also gives teams Championship Points that count towards overall rankings. These points are crucial because they’ll decide which teams qualify for VALORANT Champions Shanghai at the end of the season, making this tournament incredibly important.
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2025-12-17 09:48