VCT EMEA Stage 1: Everything You Need to Know

After VALORANT Masters Santiago, EMEA teams return for VCT EMEA Stage 1 from April 1 to May 17. The event has twelve teams split into two groups of six, Alpha and Omega. Each team will play five best-of-three series in a single round-robin format within its group. The bottom two teams in each group will be eliminated, ending their run for Masters London, the season’s second international event.

The remaining eight teams will advance to the Playoffs. Regular-season standings will set the seeding in a modified double-elimination bracket. The top team from each group qualifies directly for Round 2 of the Upper Bracket. Second and third-placed teams start in the opening round. Fourth-placed teams begin in the Lower Bracket, facing immediate elimination matches. Only the top three teams at the end will qualify for the Masters London.

The Group Stage runs April 1 to May 1, with matches held Wednesday to Friday each week. After a one-week break, the playoffs are scheduled from May 7 to May 17. The final will mark the end of this first major phase of the season. Matches start at 17:00 CET, except on the final weekend, when they begin at 18:00 CET.

The opening matches already show a demanding level of competition. Fixtures include Fnatic vs Team Heretics, Team Liquid vs Karmine Corp, and NAVI vs Team Heretics. In addition to three Masters London spots, Championship Points are at stake for VALORANT Champions Shanghai. Every match will carry weight from the start.

VCT EMEA Stage 1 will award Championship Points, which contribute toward qualification for Champions Shanghai at the end of the season. The Championship Points distribution for Stage 1 is as follows: Regular Season.