Image Credits: Adela Sznajder, Riot Games
Riot Games has introduced a brand-new triple-elimination format for its 2026 VCT Kickoff events, which will be utilised across every international league.
A total of 12 teams in each International League will begin their 2026 campaign in the upper bracket, with each team needing to lose three matches before being eliminated from the tournament.
While the newly introduced VCT Kickoff format aims to provide stability in an often volatile start of the season, it also brings its own set of challenges for both fans and players alike.
Keep Reading
- VCT Pacific to use 1v1 skirmishes to determine map priority
- NRG unveils VALORANT academy with Maryville University
- Riot Games partners with KitKat for 2026 VCT and Game Changers EMEA
Pros: More Margin for Error and Improved Competitive Experience
Over the past few seasons, Riot Games has made efforts to reward consistency. Most notably, this has been through the introduction of Championship Points, starting with the 2024 VCT season. The implementation of the triple-elimination format is another step in that direction.
With the number of series across the tournament increasing, teams will be required to maintain consistent performances across upper, middle, and lower brackets to secure a place at this year’s Masters event in Santiago, Chile.
As is common for the start of a new VCT season, most teams will also be entering 2026 with fresh line-ups. When combined with the latest map pool changes and agent balancing, early matchups can be highly unpredictable. As a result, changing from double-elimination to triple elimination provides an additional lifeline that allows teams more room to adapt, refine, and improve strategies on the fly.
“I kind of like the triple-elimination just because, at a new year, sometimes upsets can happen. But with triple-elimination, I do think the best representation will be at the first Masters,” G2 Esports’ IGL Jacob ‘valyn’ Batio told Esports Insider during the VCT Americas Kickoff pre-event press conference.
His teammate, Andrej ‘babybay’ Francisty, then added: “It’s kind of sick because you are gonna have like three Grand Final matches technically, it’s kind of dope.”
From a viewer and broadcast perspective, the increased number of matches opens the door to richer storylines. The possibility of surprise upsets, miracle runs, and the formation of new rivalries early in the 2026 season has all been increased because more games are being played.
From a business standpoint, the expanded schedule will also allow Riot Games to offer more visibility and value to commercial partners. Finally, viewership statistics, such as total number of views and watch hours, are also expected to increase significantly across all four regions due to its increased length.
Cons: Increased Complexity and Fatigue
Despite its competitive advantages, the triple-elimination format is more complex in comparison to the traditional double-elimination brackets.
With the addition of the middle bracket, it can be hard to track upcoming matchups without visual graphics as teams drop from the upper tier.
Moreover, fans who follow multiple regions may feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of matches. To be precise, a total of 120 games will be held across EMEA, Americas, China, and Pacific during VCT Kickoff, potentially forcing the viewers to be selective. This could result in viewership disparities depending on the popularity of teams.
Riot Games has scheduled regular breaks throughout the tournament across all regions to give teams enough time to rest. However, player fatigue is still a concern. If a team loses both the upper final and middle final, it will be forced to play three high-pressure best-of-five series in three days, which might negatively impact player performance.
“I was thinking about this, and I’m not saying this is going to happen to anyone, but what if you make every final and still don’t make it?” babybay said.
“That is the most brutal side of the format, I think. If that happens to anyone, I think that’s the worst outcome of this format. Other than that, it’s amazing.”
Hit or Miss?
Overall, the triple-elimination bracket appears to be a step in the right direction, with its benefits largely outweighing its drawbacks, especially as it allows teams to play more series and build momentum heading into the rest of the season.
VCT Kickoff will send three teams from each region to the first VALORANT Masters event of the year, from February 28th to March 15th. All matches will be broadcast live on each region’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.
