VCT 2023: Challengers leagues and Challengers Ascension explained

August 16, 2022

by Brian Bencomo

On Tuesday, Riot Games unveiled the new Tier 2 system that will operate in the VALORANT Champions Tour beginning in 2023. Riot revealed that there will be 21 Challengers leagues around the world just below the three Tier 1 international leagues: Americas; Europe the Middle East and Africa; and Asia Pacific.

These Challengers leagues will feed into the three international leagues offering a pathway to promotion for teams not selected to be part of the inaugural slate of international league teams. Riot confirmed that there will be 10 teams in each international league. Teams from these international leagues will get a chance to qualify for global events involving teams from around the world.

Beginning in 2023, there will be a Challengers Ascension tournament in each of the three regions, and the winner will be promoted to the international league. The winner of Challengers Ascension will get promoted for two years into the international league.

This will happen every year, with two teams getting promoted to each league each year beginning in 2026, expanding each international league until it reaches a cap of 14 teams in 2027. With promoted teams being in the international league and then falling back down every two years on a rolling basis, there does not appear to be any relegation for the 10 partnered teams.