VCT Ascension: Dates, locations, and format

Here is everything you need to know about all three VCT Ascension tournaments and how these teams can qualify for the Partnered Leagues.

• What is VCT Ascension?
• When does VCT Ascension begin?
• What is the format for VCT Ascension?
• How many teams are competing in VCT Ascension?
• When is VCT Masters Tokyo?

The VCT 2023 season saw Riot Games shift competitive VALORANT into a brand new era featuring partnered teams across the world. As a result of these new changes, 30 partnered teams were divided into the Pacific, Americas, and EMEA regions as they all compete for spots at VALORANT international events in 2023.

Now, Riot Games has officially revealed more information surrounding the highly-awaited VCT Ascension tournament, where three teams across three regions will receive a promotion to the partner leagues in the VCT 2024 season.

Here is everything you need to know about VCT Challengers Ascension and how you can tune into the action.

When does VCT Ascension start?

Roadmap for VCT 2023 season

Image via Riot Games

VCT Ascension will feature three separate Ascension tournaments that will determine which three teams earn promotion into the VCT Franchised Leagues for the 2024 season.

Here are all the dates for the VCT Ascension Americas, Pacific, and EMEA tournaments.

VCT Ascension Americas

• Group Stage: June 30-July 3
• Playoffs: July 4-9
• Location: São Paulo, Brazil

VCT Ascension EMEA

• Group Stage: June 30-July 4
• Playoffs: July 13-16
• Location: Berlin, Germany

VCT Ascension Pacific

• Group Stage: July 28-July 4
• Playoffs: July 7-9
• Location: Bangkok, Thailand

VCT Ascension Americas will kickstart with a Group Start that takes place from June 30 to July 3. Shortly after, the six teams will return for the VCT Ascension playoffs which will take place from July 4 to July 9 in São Paulo, Brazil in the VALORANT Brazil studio.

How many teams compete in VCT Ascension?

Format for promotion through the VCT Ascension tournaments.

The amount of teams competing in VCT Ascension is dependent on if it is for the Pacific, Americas, or EMEA regions. Both the Pacific and EMEA regions will feature 10 teams each competing in the VCT Ascension tournament while the VCT Ascension Americas tournament will only feature six teams.

The following is a breakdown of how the regional slots will play out for the VCT Ascension Americas tournament.

VCT Ascension Americas teams

• 2 from Brazil
• 2 from North America
• 1 from LATAM South
• 1 from LATAM North

What is the format for VCT Ascension?

Qualified teams will be sorted into 2 groups of three teams in Americas and five in both the Pacific and EMEA VCT Ascension tournaments. The Group Stage will consist of a Single Round Robin that will seed every team into the Double Elimination Playoff bracket. All teams will start in the Upper Bracket, the top 2 teams will earn a bye and begin in the second round, while the remaining teams will begin in the first round.

All of the matches in the Playoffs will be in a Best-of-Three format while the Grand Finals for all three Ascension tournaments will be decided through a Best-of-Five series. Additionally, all VCT Challengers Ascension matches will be played in front of a live audience.

For now, VALORANT fans can tune into the VCT Americas League to see which three teams will represent the region at VCT Masters Tokyo from June 11-25. These 12 teams across the Pacific, Americas, EMEA, and Chinese regions will battle to become the next international VALORANT champion before setting their sights on VCT Champions Los Angeles later in August.