Riot is reshaping the VALORANT Champions Tour for 2027 around one idea: everything is a tournament. Long-form league play gives way to a more open, higher-stakes model — Cups replace the regular season, Open Qualifiers create more paths into the system, and performance decides how far every team goes.
For partner teams that means no more guaranteed runs. For everyone else — open teams, creator squads, and the grassroots scene — it means the door is wider than it has ever been. This page summarises the official changes (sources at the bottom) and what they mean if you're building a team from the bottom up.
What's changing
- Cups replace regular-season play. The season becomes a series of tournaments rather than a long round-robin league.
- Open Qualifiers add real paths in. Open teams aren't fighting for a single slot — there's room for several at every major event.
- Performance over partnership. Partner teams keep an initial advantage, but they are not auto-qualified into every Cup. Everyone has to keep earning their place.
The 2027 starting point
Kickoffs for VCT Americas, Pacific, and EMEA feature 12 teams: 8 partner teams and 4 from Open Qualifiers. At Kickoff, the top three teams from each territory qualify for Masters. After that, qualification is based on performance.
- VCT CN runs a slightly different structure: partner and visitor teams get direct entry into Kickoff and the first two Cups. Its Kickoff field is 8 partner, 2 visitor, and 2 Open Qualifier teams, with the visitor model continuing through promotion and relegation.
- VCT Pacific adds a Last Chance Qualifier, where the top teams from South Asia and Oceania can fight for a place in Kickoff and Cups — an extra pathway for the broader Pacific region.
No guaranteed paths
Once the season begins, teams that place outside the top positions at a Cup or Masters move down into Open Playoffs, where they have to fight their way back. Teams with no previous results, or that perform poorly at the previous Opens, start again at the beginning of the next Open Qualifiers.
The trade is symmetrical: partner teams can fall, and open teams can rise. Every match matters.
Roster continuity: keep 3 of 5
Open and creator-led teams can compete, qualify, and build toward larger events like anyone else. The key requirement is roster continuity: if a team keeps at least three of its five players, it keeps its points and progress.
Real money for open teams
One of the biggest 2027 changes is predictable financial support for open teams that qualify into major stages. Riot is introducing fixed payments by qualification:
- Qualify for Kickoff or a Cup — $100,000
- Qualify for Masters — $200,000
- Qualify for Champions — $400,000
Open teams remain eligible for prize-pool earnings and additional incentives on top of those payouts — for example, a non-partner team that qualifies for the Game Changers Championship receives an extra $100,000. The aim is a system where strong performance translates into real support regardless of partnership status.
Where the climb starts
An open path is only useful if you can get onto it. The 2027 system rewards teams that form early, stay together, and rack up reps before the Open Qualifiers ever open — which is exactly the grassroots layer Ascend is built for.
- Find a roster on the recruit board — every profile ships with live tracker stats, so you can vet players before you commit (and keep your core 3-of-5 intact).
- Get reps in 5v5 community hubs with captain draft and MMR, then run scrims against other teams.
- Compete in community tournaments to test your team under bracket pressure before the qualifiers do.
Sources
- VALORANT Esports — VCT 2027 announcement & format
- VALORANT Esports — Community Competition Guidelines (2027 update)
Frequently asked
What is the VCT 2027 format?
Starting in 2027, the VALORANT Champions Tour moves from long-form leagues to an open, tournament-first model. Cups replace the regular season, Open Qualifiers add more paths in, and qualification is based on performance. Americas, Pacific, and EMEA Kickoffs feature 12 teams — 8 partner teams and 4 from Open Qualifiers — and the top three per territory qualify for Masters.
Can open (non-partner) teams qualify in 2027?
Yes — that's the headline change. Open teams reach events through Open Qualifiers, and there's room for several at every major event rather than a single slot. Partner teams keep an initial advantage but are not auto-qualified into every Cup; open teams can rise and partner teams can fall on performance.
How much do open teams earn in VCT 2027?
Riot is introducing fixed qualification payouts for open teams: $100,000 for qualifying for Kickoff or a Cup, $200,000 for Masters, and $400,000 for Champions — plus prize-pool earnings and additional incentives (for example, +$100,000 for a non-partner team that qualifies for the Game Changers Championship).
What is roster continuity?
An open or creator-led team keeps its accumulated points and progress as long as it retains at least three of its five players across changes. Keeping a stable core is what lets a team build momentum over the season.
How do I start competing toward VCT 2027?
Build a roster early and keep it together. On Ascend you can find players on the recruit board, get reps in 5v5 community hubs and scrims, and test your team in community tournaments — the grassroots layer beneath the Open Qualifiers.
