Houston Astros
Cleveland Guardians
Texas Rangers
San Diego Padres
VCT EMEA Introduces Brand New Format and Map Pool
- Rosters will be split in two, group OMEGA and group ALPHA.
- The top organizations will qualify for VALORANT Champions.
- A total of 12 lineups will be present in the tournament, all being from the European region.
The VALORANT EMEA esports scene is getting ready for another competitive split with Stage 2. Before the last stage of the 2025 season kicks off next week, Riot Games has shared all the details about the format and the new map pool for VCT EMEA Stage 2. Stay up to date on VALORANT rumors thanks to our expert esports tips!
What to Expect From the Format?
— VALORANT Esports EMEA (@valesports_emea) June 26, 2025
The 12 teams are divided into Group Alpha and Group Omega, competing against each other in a best of three round robin format. The top four teams from each group will move on to the Playoffs.
Teams that win their group will automatically qualify for the upper bracket semi-final, while those finishing second and third in the group stage will secure a spot in the first round of the upper bracket. The team that places fourth will start the Playoffs in the first round of the lower bracket.
The Playoffs will follow a best of three series format until the lower bracket final and the Grand Final, which will be a best of five. The leading two teams from the Stage 2 Playoffs will secure their spots in Champions Paris automatically, and the other two positions will be filled based on the championship points accumulated throughout the whole season.
Stage 2 kicks off on July 16th, marking the start of five weeks of matches in a row. The Playoffs will happen six days after the group stage ends, running from August 21st to 24th.
New Map Pool and Teams That Will Battle in It
#VCTEMEA Stage 2 kicks off on July 16!
Check out the schedule for the first week ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/DIzFpg2HRI
— VALORANT Esports EMEA (@valesports_emea) June 26, 2025
VCT EMEA Stage 2 is going to have a new map pool. With the introduction of Corrode, this map will be making its first appearance in competitive play, and Bind is coming back into the mix. Because of this change, Pearl and Split will be taken out of the rotation. So, here’s the list you can look forward to: Corrode, Lotus, Icebox, Haven, Bind, Ascent, and Sunset.
The 12 organizations set to clash horns at VCT EMEA’s Stage 2 are the same as those in Stage 1. This lineup includes the league’s ten partner teams plus two teams that qualified from the 2023 and 2024 Ascension tournaments.
Here’s the complete list: Fnatic, Team Heretics, Team Liquid, BBL Esports, NAVI, FUT Esports, Karmine Corp, Team Vitality, KOI, GIANTX, Gentle Mates, and Apeks.
Overall we are set to see an extremely competitive season within Europe’s VALORANT scene, with the ultimate prize being the coveted chance of winning Champions. Don’t forget to bet on your favorite teams at BetUS Sportsbook & Casino, as we have a plethora of VALORANT odds for you to enjoy!
