The VALORANT Esports competitive season is heating up in EMEA, and we still have so much more to come.
Now, we’re excited to announce two marquee LAN events taking place later this year, spotlighting the very best players and teams in Tier 2.
First up, Ascension EMEA returns to the Riot Games Arena in Berlin this October, featuring a revamped format and full LAN play. With a coveted VCT EMEA slot on the line, the competition will be fiercer than ever.
Then, on November 2, Game Changers EMEA Stage 3 Finals will take the spotlight in Istanbul, hosted once again at the iconic ESA Arena. Expect electric energy as the region’s top Game Changers teams battle for glory.
Read on for everything you need to know about the event formats, dates, venues, and how to get your hands on tickets.
VCT Ascension EMEA 2025
EMEAs rising stars prepare to take the stage. This October, the region’s top Tier 2 teams will clash at VCT Ascension EMEA, with one life-changing prize on the line: a coveted slot in VCT EMEA.
From October 19–26, the action unfolds live from the Riot Games Arena in Berlin. All matches will be played on LAN, ensuring a level playing field and peak competitive intensity.
The tournament will culminate in a Grand Final on stage in front of a live audience, while the earlier rounds will be played from our Pro Player High Performance Rooms. With everything to play for, these teams are fighting not just for victory, but also for a chance to call Berlin home next season.
VCT Ascension EMEA 2025 Format
This year, we expanded the Tier 2 ecosystem through Challengers EMEA, providing more teams the platform to prove themselves against the very best.
Now, with VCT Ascension EMEA on the horizon, we’re raising the bar even higher.
To ensure only the best of the best reach the next level, we’ve streamlined the Ascension format, reducing the number of qualifying teams from ten to six. That means tougher competition and less room for error.
The tournament will feature a double-elimination bracket played in best-of-three series. The tournament builds with dramatic close, with best-of-five showdowns in the Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final to crown our Ascension champions, and determine who will join the VCT EMEA next season.
Qualification
With two VCT EMEA teams – Apeks and Gentle Mates – granted the chance to fight for their Tier 1 status, this year’s Ascension race comes with multiple permutations. But, here’s what we know for sure:
- One slot is awarded to the winner of Challengers EMEA Stage 3.
- Three slots will be offered to the top Tier 2 teams on Ascension Circuit Points (academy teams excluded).
The last two spots at Ascension EMEA will be decided based on VCT EMEA Stage 2 outcomes, specifically the performances of Apeks and Gentle Mates.
To automatically retain their place in VCT EMEA, either team must qualify for VALORANT Champions Paris, which would see them skip Ascension entirely.
- If both teams qualify for Champions, then only the higher-performing team at the event will remain in Tier 1. The lower-performing team will drop into Ascension.
- If their performances at Champions are identical, the tiebreaker will be decided by:
- Total Championship Points
- Followed by their Stage 2 placement
- Followed by their Stage 1 placement
- Followed by their Kickoff placement
In that scenario, the 4th-ranked Tier 2 team based on Ascension Circuit Points would join the relegated team in Ascension to complete the six-team bracket.
If neither team qualifies for Champions, there’s still a path to Ascension. They’ll need to:
- Reach the Stage 2 Playoffs, or
- Finish in the top 8 (including joint 8th) overall based on Championship Points.
If either team meets the criteria, they’ll enter Ascension as the first or second seed, with a chance to reclaim their spot in VCT EMEA.
In this scenario, no additional Challengers teams would qualify, unless only one of Apeks or Gentle Mates secures a Playoffs spot or Top 8 Championship Points finish. If that happens, the 4th-ranked Tier 2 team based on Ascension Circuit Points will fill the final slot in the tournament.
Finally, if both fail to meet these criteria, their slots will go to the 4th and 5th ranked Tier 2 teams on the Ascension Circuit Points leaderboard, guaranteeing two new challengers in next year’s VCT EMEA.
VCT Ascension EMEA 2025 Schedule
This year’s Ascension features an action-packed schedule, with six days of tense competition between our six teams.
The full schedule is as follows:
VCT Ascension EMEA 2025 Grand Final tickets
Want to witness the final of VCT Ascension EMEA 2025 and witness a career-changing final for our region’s promising talent? We’ll reveal when tickets will go on-sale via our social channels in the coming weeks, so stay tuned and follow us for further details.
Game Changers EMEA Stage 3 Istanbul
Last year, we took Game Changers on the road for the first time, bringing the EMEA Stage 3 Grand Finals to İstanbul, Türkiye, and the result was nothing short of electric.
The community showed up in full force, delivering an unforgettable atmosphere that matched the moment. So this year… we’re doing it again.
We’re thrilled to announce that the Game Changers EMEA Stage 3 Grand Finals are heading back to ESA Arena in İstanbul for another epic best-of-five showdown on November 2.
The stakes are high, with the Stage 3 winner, along with the two teams with the most Game Changers Circuit Points, qualifying as EMEA’s representatives at the VALORANT Game Changers Championship.
With fierce competition all season long, the 2025 edition is shaping up to be unmissable.
The road to the Grand Final begins with the Game Changers EMEA Stage 3 Group Stage and Playoffs, running from September 30 to October 25, and it all leads to one final clash on stage, with fans in the building, on November 2.
Make sure you secure your place in person by keeping an eye on our social channels listed below, where we’ll be revealing how to secure tickets in the coming weeks.