Riot Confirms VCT 2027 Open Qualifiers Start in November, Financial Support

Riot Games has confirmed that Open Qualifiers for the 2027 VALORANT Champions Tour will kick off this November, giving aspiring teams their first path into the revamped VCT ecosystem.

As reported by Hotspawn and Insider Gaming, these qualifiers will determine which non-partnered teams earn spots at the regional Kickoff tournaments scheduled for January 2027.

Free agency opens on 2 November, the date when most current professional contracts are set to expire. Qualifier registration will follow, with the first Masters event pencilled in for February.

How Kickoff Spots Are Distributed

VCT Americas, EMEA, and Pacific Kickoff tournaments will each feature 12 teams. Eight of those spots belong to partner organisations, with the remaining four awarded through Open Qualifiers.

Regions may run more than one qualifier per tournament cycle, giving teams multiple opportunities to break through. VCT China's structure remains to be confirmed.

Sub-Regions Across 16 Territories

The qualifiers are divided into sub-regions rather than run at the broad regional level. Americas splits into North America, Brazil, Latin America North, and Latin America South. EMEA covers Europe, Türkiye, and MENA.

Pacific is the most expansive, spanning South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Asia, Oceania, and a combined Southeast Asia bracket that includes the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and the rest of the region.

Roster eligibility rules are broadly consistent. At least three of a team's five players must be from their competing region.

To carry competitive progress forward across events, open and creator-led teams must also retain at least three of their five players between tournaments.

Financial Support for Open Teams

Riot has structured a financial support system specifically for non-partner teams that advance. Reaching Kickoff or a regional Cup earns a team $100,000 USD.

Qualifying for Masters adds a further $200,000 USD, and a berth at VALORANT Champions comes with an additional $400,000 USD. A team that qualifies for every event on the calendar could accumulate up to $1.1 million USD in support payments across the year.

That funding is separate from the shared prize pool. According to Hotspawn, a total of $7 million USD in prize money will be available to all participating teams across the full 2027 season.

What Teams Should Do Now

Registration is not open yet, but Riot has advised teams to begin preparations immediately.

That includes assembling a competitive roster, ensuring all players hold valid passports, and following regional channels for specific dates, formats, age restrictions, and MMR thresholds.

Teams should also settle on a name and branding that does not infringe on existing trademarks.

Exact formats and eligibility details may vary by region, with Riot indicating further specifics are still to come from individual regional organisers.

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