VCT Ascension 2025: Guide to Pacific, EMEA, China, and Americas

VALORANT Champions Paris closes the VCT calendar, but Riot and the Challengers ecosystem keep the pressure on: VCT Ascension 2025 kicks off almost immediately, offering the best non-partner squads one last shot at a partnership league berth for 2026. Running from October 11–26, Ascension 2025 spans four major regions — China, Pacific, Americas, and EMEA — each offering its own path to glory.

The four regional Ascension events are staggered across October and vary in size and stakes — some regions will send two teams up, some only one: for Americas and China, only one slot is available since G2 and XLG qualified for Champions. In the case of XLG, their win over Sentinels ensured they were the ones to retain the slot over DRG, who also reached Paris but finished with a worse placement.

VCT Ascension China 2025

• Dates: October 11–19, 2025
• Slots to Partner League: 1
• Prize Pool: ¥1,000,000 CNY (about $140,000 USD)
• Location: Shanghai, China

China’s Ascension event features eight top domestic rosters in a battle for one golden ticket back to the international stage. Dragon Ranger Gaming, 2024’s Ascension winners, will be fighting for redemption after their relegation, hoping to reclaim their spot in the partnered league. Meanwhile, Rare Atom enter as the top seed via circuit points, and Chosen Clique Gaming look to prove their consistency from the National Circuit season. The diversity of playstyles and the rise of new talent promises a thrilling clash.

VCT Ascension Pacific 2025

• Dates: October 14–26, 2025
• Slots to VCT Pacific: 2
• Prize Pool: $100,000 USD
• Location: Samut Prakan, Thailand

The Pacific Ascension event is the largest of the four, with two promotion slots up for grabs and ten of Asia’s most competitive challengers taking the stage. Nongshim RedForce lead Korea’s charge, determined to retain their VCT Pacific slot: this was the same core that won Ascension last year under Sin Prisa Gaming.

BOOM Esports, FULL SENSE, and NAOS Esports bring SEA’s firepower, while Velocity Gaming aims to finally secure South Asia’s first-ever VCT partnership slot after years of heartbreak. Riddle Order, Japan’s representative, could be a dark horse with their mechanical prowess and tactical unpredictability. With two slots open, expect fierce rivalries and storylines that could reshape the Pacific hierarchy.

VCT Ascension Americas 2025

• Dates: October 14–26, 2025
• Slots to VCT Americas: 1
• Prize Pool: $100,000 USD
• Location: São Paulo, Brazil

Only one slot awaits in the Americas, making it the most cutthroat of the four Ascension tournaments, thanks to G2 retaining their slot because of their qualification for Champions. Traditional organizations like TSM and ENVY  look to re-establish their dominance, while 9z Team and Six Karma represent Latin America’s unyielding ambition to challenge NA’s hierarchy.’

The play-ins mean that only two of WU, 6K or RED can qualify: this will be decided through a single round-robin format.

Brazil’s RED Canids and Stellae Gaming add local flair, aiming to reclaim the slot that fellow Brazilian team 2G won last year. With NRG’s recent world championship victory at Champions Paris, the Americas region is more inspired than ever and these challengers are desperate to keep that legacy alive.

VCT Ascension EMEA 2025

• Dates: October 18–26, 2025
• Slots to VCT EMEA: 2
• Prize Pool: €100,000 EUR
• Location: Berlin, Germany

Europe’s Ascension event is brimming with prestige, with two partnership slots and a loaded lineup featuring the best of Turkey, MENA, and Western Europe. Mandatory and Enterprise Esports come in as fan favorites after stellar domestic runs, while ULF and BBL PCIFIC headline a Turkish scene known for producing world-class aimers.

A notable late change saw Joblife replace Team Raad due to non-compliance of team ownership policies, a twist that adds intrigue to France’s already competitive showing. With EMEA being home to powerhouse organizations like Fnatic and Team Heretics, every team here will be eager to join their ranks in VCT EMEA.

VCT 2026 on the Horizon

The VCT Ascension 2025 series promises not only thrilling regional storylines but also the crowning of four new international teams that will join the partnered leagues next season. With the inclusion of returning challengers like Dragon Ranger Gaming and rising talents across all continents, the fight for promotion has never been fiercer.

From Shanghai to São Paulo, from Berlin to Bangkok, Ascension 2025 will decide the future of Valorant’s global competitive ecosystem — and the next wave of stars ready to redefine the game.