The First VALORANT Tournament by Riot Games is Almost Here
The inaugural VALORANT tournament produced by Riot Games is just around the corner. First Strike, as it is called, will kick off with online open qualifiers for Europe from November 9 to 22, according to a recent blog post. The main stage of the tournament will take place in early December, where the top eight teams will compete head-to-head in the finals.
Open Qualifiers and Playoffs Structure
The open qualifiers for First Strike will comprise four separate tournaments, with the top 16 teams from each tournament advancing to the play-in stage. From there, the top eight teams from two play-in events (total of 16 teams) will move on to the playoffs. Finally, eight teams will make it to the main event.
Multiple Opportunities for Teams
Teams that do not qualify for the play-ins will have the chance to compete in the next qualifier stage, providing up to four opportunities to move forward in the tournament. The First Strike: Europe quarterfinals will take place from December 3 to 4, followed by the semifinals on December 5, and the best-of-five finals on December 6.
Eligibility Criteria and Significance of First Strike
Players who wish to compete in First Strike need to be at least 16 years old and have reached at least the Immortal One rank at the time of registration or during the previous act. First Strike is an important milestone for the VALORANT competitive scene, which has mostly been organized by third-party organizations. The investment made by Riot Games in this tournament suggests a more structured ecosystem for the game’s competitive scene in the future.
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