The Upcoming NA VCT Stage Three Challengers Playoffs
The inaugural year of the VALORANT Champions Tour is coming to a close, and we’re now entering the final stretch. The NA VCT Stage Three Challengers Playoffs will mark the end of regional-only play for North America in the VCT. Only international events, such as Masters Three Berlin and the world championship in Champions, will remain. The Challengers Playoffs begin on Aug. 11 and have more at stake than just three spots in Berlin.
The teams that reach Berlin have the opportunity to surpass Version1 in the NA VCT standings. The team that goes the furthest will likely secure the second spot in the rankings, guaranteeing a direct spot at Champions. Winning Berlin grants a direct spot at Champions regardless. So if an NA team were to win Berlin, that would mean four teams representing the region at Champions.
As for the Last Chance Qualifier, four teams are in contention for the remaining three spots: Gen.G, Cloud9 Blue, TSM, and Rise. TSM and Rise, still competing, have their destiny in their own hands at the Challengers Playoffs.
Participating Teams
The eight teams competing consist of the top four from Challengers One and the top four from Challengers Two. The first-round matches will be determined based on the final placements of each team at their respective Challengers events. This means the first-place team from Challengers One will face the fourth-place team from Challengers Two, and so on.
Challengers One Teams
- Sentinels
- XSET
- 100 Thieves
- Team Envy
Challengers Two Teams
- TSM
- FaZe Clan
- Luminosity Gaming
- Rise
The Bracket
The NA VCT Stage Three Challengers Playoffs will use a double-elimination bracket format. All matches, except for the grand finals, will be best-of-three series. The grand finals will be a best-of-five. The top three teams will advance to Masters Three Berlin. Teams must reach either the upper bracket final or the lower bracket final to qualify.
All eight teams are competing for a $100,000 prize pool, with $40,000 going to the first-place finisher. The teams are also competing for VCT points, which are necessary for qualification for Champions at the end of the year. Teams finishing in the top eight will earn 40 VCT points, while those in the top six will earn 50 VCT points. Fourth place will take home 60 VCT points. The top three teams won’t earn any points directly from this event but will receive at least 175 points at Masters. Teams at Masters can earn up to 375 points or secure a direct spot at Champions if they come in first.
Sentinels, 100 Thieves, and Team Envy have all secured a top-three finish and a spot at Masters Three Berlin.
- 1st: Sentinels (VCT Points TBD at Masters Three Berlin)
- 2nd: 100 Thieves (VCT Points TBD at Masters Three Berlin)
- 3rd: Team Envy (VCT Points TBD at Masters Three Berlin)
- 4th: XSET (60 VCT Points)
- 5th/6th: Rise (50 VCT Points)
- 5th/6th: FaZe Clan (50 VCT Points)
- 7th/8th: TSM (40 VCT Points)
- 7th/8th: Luminosity (40 VCT Points)
Schedule
All times are in CT (Central Time) and subject to change or delays.
Aug. 11
- Upper bracket round one
- Sentinels 2-1 Rise (SEN 13-3 Breeze, Rise 13-7 Ascent, SEN 13-4 Bind)
- Team Envy 2-1 TSM (Envy 13-7 Haven, TSM 13-11 Breeze, Envy 13-8 Ascent)
- 100 Thieves 2-0 FaZe Clan (100T 13-6 Haven, 13-9 Breeze)
- XSET 2-0 Luminosity (XSET 13-6 Haven, 13-5 Split)
- Upper bracket round one (Masters Three Berlin qualifying round)
- Sentinels 2-0 Team Envy (SEN 13-11 Icebox, 13-11 Haven)
- 100T 2-0 XSET (100T 13-11 Haven, 13-11 Ascent)
Aug. 12
- Lower bracket round one
- Rise 2-1 TSM (TSM 13-10 Split, Rise 13-6 Haven, Rise 13-5 Breeze)
- FaZe 2-1 Luminosity (LG 13-8 Ascent, FaZe 13-6 Split, FaZe 13-9 Bind)
- Lower bracket round two
- Envy 2-1 FaZe (FaZe 14-12 Haven, Envy 13-10 Bind, Envy 13-8 Ascent)
- XSET 2-1 Rise (Rise 13-7 Haven, XSET 13-10 Split, XSET 13-7 Ascent)
Aug. 13
- 4pm CT: Upper bracket final
- Sentinels 2-0 100 Thieves (SEN 13-2 Split, 13-8 Haven)
- 6:30pm CT: Lower bracket round three (Masters Three Berlin qualifying round)
- Envy 2-0 XSET (Envy 13-11 Ascent, 13-7 Haven)
Aug. 14
- 2pm CT: Lower bracket final
- 100T 3-2 Envy (Envy 13-5 Haven, 100T 13-10 Breeze, 100T 13-10 Ascent, Envy 13-8 Icebox, 100T 13-5 Split)
Aug. 15
- 2pm CT: Grand finals (best-of-five)
- Sentinels 3-1 100 Thieves (Sentinels 13-11 Bind, 100T 13-11 Breeze, Sentinels 13-6 Haven, Sentinels 13-5 Split)
Related NA VCT, VALORANT Champions Tour, Challengers Playoffs, Masters Three Berlin, Champions.