A Look ahead: VCT 2022: Stage 2 Challengers

With VCT Masters Reykjavík in the books, Valorant competitive scene entered Stage 2. Starting this weekend, teams around the globe start their journey to Stage 2 Masters, while trying to secure as many Circut points towards Champions qualification.

Throughout seven weeks, teams from Europe, North America, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, APAC(Southeast Asia and Oceania), and LATAM will compete to determine their representatives in VCT Stage 2 Masters. However, not only Circuit points are up for grabs as Riot Games secured close to 800.000 USD in prize pools across the regions.

North America

Courtesy of OpTic Gaming, North America conquered Reykjavík Masters second year in a row. The question is can they keep up their dominance for the rest of the year, or will other regions catch up once again?

North American VCT Stage 2 Challengers consists of 12 teams split into two groups. After a Best-of-three Round Robin, the top four teams will advance to the double-elimination playoff bracket. All matches are played in a BO3 format except the Losers Bracket Final and the Grand Final, which will be a best-of-five series. Finally, the top two teams will qualify for Stage 2 Masters.

EMEA

After a disappointing performance from EMEA teams in Reykjavík, Europeans are looking to bounce back and reestablish their dominance after winning the final two major tournaments in 2021.

Just as NA, European Stage 2 Challengers consists of 12 teams split into two groups. They also play a BO3 Round Robin; however, only the top three teams advance from each group, with group winners having a round bye in playoffs. After a double-elimination bracket, we will find out which three teams will represent EMEA in Stage 2 Masters.

BRAZIL

LOUD reaching the Grand Final was one of the most pleasant surprises in Reykjavík. Brazilians finally showed the world that they are indeed a tactical FPS powerhouse, Valorant included.

Brazilian VCT Stage 2 Challengers is divided into two groups as well; however, it has five teams each. The playoff format is the same as in other regions, with the champion securing its spot in VCT Stage 2 Masters. The runner-up will play an additional qualifier series versus the runner-up from the LATAM region for a shared spot at masters.

Other Regions

LATAM region includes Latin America North and Latin America South, each having its own Challengers. Top 2 teams from LAN and LAS collide for one direct Masters spot, while the runner-up has a chance to qualify vs. Brazil.

Japan and Korea have shown they are capable of playing some great Valorant. Japanese team ZETA Division surprised everyone in Reykjavík by finishing third, while Korea had yet another good international showing, with DRX losing only to ZETA and OpTic in two tight BO3s. In Stage 2, champions of each region will qualify for Masters.

Finally, the Asia-Pacific region consists of eight small regions (Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malesia & Singapore, Hong Kong & Taiwan, Vietnam, South Asia, and Oceania), each with individual qualifiers. The best teams from each region fight for two Masters spots at the APAC Challengers.

How to watch:

VCT 2022 Stage 2 Challengers starts on Friday, May 13th, and you can watch all the action live on Twitch and YouTube. Also, check out the full schedule over at valorantesports.com.