All 12 teams participating in VALORANT Challengers EMEA 2025 Stage 1 have officially been confirmed.
Running from March 3rd to 9th, the first split of the 2025 Challengers season sees tier-two rosters from across EMEA compete for a chance to ascend to the primary VCT EMEA circuit at the end of the year.
Challenger teams qualify for EMEA splits through various competitions across different countries and regions of EMEA. Although the Grand Final of Spain’s circuit is yet to be held, all slots for Challengers EMEA Split 1 have been assigned:
- VALORANT Challengers 2025 DACH: Evolution Stage 1 – FOKUS (1st place) and CGN Esports (2nd place)
- VALORANT Challengers 2025 France: Revolution Stage 1 – Joblife (1st) and Mandatory (2nd)
- VALORANT Challengers 2025 NORTH//EAST: Stage 1 – Team Liquid Academy (1st), Szach Mat (2nd), Enterprise Esports (3rd) and Metizport (4th)
- VALORANT Challengers 2025 Spain: Rising Stage 1 – HGE Esports (TBD) and DNSTY (TBD)
- VALORANT Challengers 2025 Türkiye: Birlik Kickoff Split – BBL PCIFIC (1st) and Eternal Fire (2nd)
VALORANT’s Challengers ecosystem consists of tournaments across EMEA, the Americas and the Pacific to provide tier-two teams with competitive opportunities and a chance to earn a spot in the main VCT league for their region.
New VCT Challengers EMEA format
Following format changes to the EMEA Challengers ecosystem announced by Riot Games in June last year, the circuit is now divided into three stages as opposed to two. The first upcoming split features a Group Stage with four single round-robin format groups.
From March 6th-9th, a double-elimination playoff bracket determines the tournament winner. All matches are best-of-threes (BO3s) except for the best-of-five (BO5) Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final.
EMEA’s Challengers changes also include implementing an Ascension Points system for the first time. Rosters can collect points from both regional Challengers events and the main EMEA stages.
Higher tournament placements award more points, increasing a team’s chances of qualifying for the annual Ascension tournament. The Ascension winner, which may include previous Ascension winners, earns a one-year slot in VCT EMEA’s tier-1 circuit.
