VALORANT's 2022 EMEA season includes new regional leagues, circuits, updated VCT structure and new game-changing events.
The 2022 EMEA VALORANT Champions Tour will have a major overhaul with new regional leagues, Game Changers events and regional circuits for future talent to make their mark on the stage.
The 2021 VALORANT Champions Tour has concluded with Acend taking the crown as the first VALORANT Champions, but there are still many exciting changes fans can look forward to in 2022.
According to Riot Games, the EMEA VCT structure will change next year to “fit the entire region and allow all local regions within the broader EMEA umbrella to grow and maintain a healthy level of competition.”
Fans can look forward to the VALORANT Regional Leagues, which will provide "a highly competitive platform for talent development with a distinct national talent." Here are the eight VRLs coming in 2022:
- Spain: Players from Portugal and Italy operated by LVP are eligible for this league.
- France: Players in the Benelux, operated by Freaks 4U Gaming, are eligible for this league.
- United Kingdom, Ireland and Scandinavian Countries: Operated by Promod Esports.
- Poland + EE: Players from Israel operated by FRENZY are eligible for this league.
- CIS: Operated by GIG Me.
- MENA: Operated by Calyx Gaming.
- Turkey: Operated by ESA Esports.
- DACH: Freaks is operated by 4U Gaming.
Each league will consist of two stages throughout the year, each consisting of a regular season and the playoffs where a champion will be determined. Some of the participating teams will be determined by the VRL open qualifiers, which will take place at least once a season. The winner of each league will go on to the VCT Promotion Tournament. Each Stage Two VRL winner will advance to the VRL EMEA Finals, although the number of places available and VRL qualifiers may vary depending on the VCT Promotion Tournament.
The 2022 season for each VRL season kicks off on January 24 with open qualifiers. The first split will begin the week of February 14.
The four EMEA teams that have reached the champions – Ascend, Gambit Esports, Team Liquid and Fnatic – will be invited to VCT Phase One in 2022. Eight more places will be available through two open qualifiers and closed qualifiers in each region. Four rows in the EU, two in Turkey and the last two rows will be in the CIS. MENA teams can compete in any qualifier.
Teams can qualify for the VCT Stage Two through the VCT Promotion Tournament, which will feature the winners of the eight VRLs from Stage One. These teams will face the bottom two VCT teams.
Fans can also expect much more Game Changer content in 2022. The three VCT Game Changers EMEA series will take place in January, May and September. Teams that are successful in these events will take part in the Global Changers event scheduled for November. According to Riot, the new Game Changers EMEA Academy also provides “a place for new teams and friends to compete in a safe space in up to six tournaments throughout the year.”
The VCT Game Changers EMEA 2022 circuit will also work “in parallel” with the “broader EMEA ecosystem” to allow these teams to compete in both Game Changers and the VRLs and VCT open qualifiers.
Riot says the new VALORANT Regional Circuits will also help “develop and promote grassroots VALORANT capabilities in the region.” This new amateur competitive environment will help players experience organized competition and earn circuit points for their teams. At the end of the season, the teams with the most points will compete to become the circuit champion.
Various events in 2022 will be broadcast in at least eighty languages, giving EMEA fans more opportunities than ever to enjoy VALORANT content.
