VCT Kickoff format and dates unveiled ahead of 2024 season

The VCT Kickoff format and dates have been announced across all regions by Riot Games.

Riot has also explained how Championship points will be distributed through the VCT 2024 competitive season.

The VCT season across the Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China leagues will follow a similar format, with one tournament per region in lieu of 2023’s LOCK//IN – the Kickoff Tournament.

• Full list of Valorant Lotus map guides: Agent tier lists, lineups, smokes, walls
• Sentinels pros predict the Outlaw will put an end to current Valorant meta

VCT Kickoff format and dates

The VCT Kickoff format, while standard across all four regions, has been adapted to fit the eleven teams in each region.

Each Kickoff Tournament will be divided into three stages – groups, followed by play-ins, and culminating in the playoffs.

The ten VCT teams from 2023 for each region, as well as the winner of Ascension from last year will be placed in three groups. While two groups will have four teams each, one will only have three.

The VCT Kickoff format will ensure the best team of each region (the highest-placed team at Champions 2023) is a part of the three-team group and the overall seeding is based off of 2023 performance.

The group stage will be played in a standard GSL bracket, except for the three-team group which will feature a modified GSL bracket instead.

The winners from each group will directly qualify for the playoffs stage, while the second-place teams will battle it out in a single round-robin play-ins. The winner of this stage will join the playoffs stage as the final and fourth team.

The playoffs will feature a single-elimination bracket, where the finalists will qualify for Masters Madrid. The winner of the VCT Kickoff tournament will be considered the higher seed at Madrid.

Championship Points return for VCT 2024

VCT Championship Points are also making a return in 2024, but will function in a different manner compared to 2021 and 2022.

A victory at any event, be it the Kickoff Tournament, Masters Madrid, Masters Shanghai, or the playoffs for Stage 1 and Stage 2 will net a team three points. Each match win (10 matches per season) during Stage 1 and 2 will also earn the team one point.

The first and second seed during the course of Stage 1 and Stage 2’s group stage will earn a bye to the second round of competition, and net an additional point since they will miss out on playing a match.

Qualification criteria for VCT 2024 Champions revealed

At the end of Stage 2, the top three teams will earn a slot at Champions 2024. The fourth spot for each region will decided based off of Championship points.

Masters Madrid will take place in March, and Stage 1 will commence in the beginning of April, running until the end of May.

The top three teams from each league will qualify for Masters Shanghai, following which Stage 2 will begin. The winner of the Stage 2 playoffs will be the region’s first seed at Champions 2024.

Follow ONE Esports on Twitter and Facebook for more news and guides.

READ MORE: VCT Masters Madrid tickets: Where to buy, price, venue