VCT EMEA Ascension: ULF and BBL PCIFIC win Ascension EMEA to earn promotion for 2026

The 2025 VCT EMEA Ascension has officially concluded, with ULF Esports and BBL PCIFIC earning promotion to the VCT EMEA 2026 league. The two organizations emerged from a fiercely competitive playoff bracket that featured regional standouts like DNSTY, Mandatory, and Twisted Minds, proving they are ready to compete with Europe’s top-tier squads next season.

For ULF, the event marked the culmination of months of dominance in Northern EMEA. For PCIFIC, it was redemption — a second chance seized after heartbreak in the 2024 Ascension Finals.

Two VCT EMEA spots up for grabs

Following Riot’s offseason restructuring, two Ascension slots were available in EMEA this year for the first time. With Apeks and Gentle Mates failing to make both Stage 2 playoffs or top eight in Championship Points, EMEA’s competitive structure opened space for fresh blood. Gentle Mates still joined VCT EMEA thanks to KOI being kicked from the league.

That shift injected new life into the Ascension race—Europe’s top-tier Challengers representatives from Northern, Southern, and Eastern circuits gathered to fight for two coveted league berths.

Group Stage: Establishing the front-runners

The group stage of EMEA Ascension 2025 showcased the depth of talent across Europe and the Middle East, split into two groups of four. The top two teams from each group advanced to the playoff bracket, setting the tone for a tournament defined by upsets and redemption arcs.

Group A featured ULF Esports, DNSTY, Enterprise Esports, and Joblife. ULF immediately asserted dominance with a clean 2–0 sweep over Joblife, followed by a narrow 2–1 victory over DNSTY in the Winner’s Match. DNSTY, meanwhile, bounced back in the Decider by eliminating Joblife 2–1, securing the second playoff seed. ULF and DNSTY’s progression reflected the strength of the Northern European scene, which consistently produced coordinated, high-tempo compositions.

Group B saw BBL PCIFIC, Twisted Minds, Mandatory, and FOKUS battle for the remaining two playoff spots. BBL came in as favorites and lived up to expectations, defeating FOKUS 2–0 and Twisted Minds 2–1 to qualify directly for playoffs. Mandatory, one of the most experienced French rosters in Ascension, dropped their opening match but found their rhythm in the elimination round — sweeping both FOKUS (2–0) and Twisted Minds (2–0) to punch their ticket to the playoff stage.

By the end of groups, four teams remained: ULF Esports, DNSTY, BBL PCIFIC, and Mandatory — each representing a different corner of EMEA and bringing unique playstyles into the final stretch.

ULF Esports: Leading the pack

ULF Esports’ journey through Ascension was defined by consistency, composure, and raw firepower. Coming in as one of the favorites from the Northern EMEA Challengers scene, they cruised through Group A with clean victories over Joblife (2–0) and DNSTY (2–1) before taking down Mandatory 3–0 in the grand final.

Their title-winning performance was as clinical as it was dominant. Each player delivered when it mattered most, combining the team’s trademark fast executes with unrelenting mid-round pressure. In the final against Mandatory, s0pp stole the spotlight with back-to-back 20+ frag maps and a 1.57 K/D ratio. ULF’s tactical flexibility, combined with their relentless dueling confidence, made them nearly unstoppable.

The 3–0 sweep over Mandatory crowned them Ascension EMEA champions and booked their ticket to VCT EMEA 2026 — the first Scandinavian team to do so since Team Liquid’s early regional dominance.

BBL PCIFIC: Redemption and return to the big stage

The second promotion slot belonged to BBL PCIFIC, who completed their redemption arc after narrowly missing out in 2024. Representing Turkey’s powerhouse organization, BBL ran through Group B with wins over FOKUS and Twisted Minds, before defeating DNSTY 3–1 in the lower-bracket final to claim promotion.

This was a story of persistence for the Turkish roster. After years of near-misses, BBL finally broke through thanks to a mix of veteran leadership and explosive young talent.

BBL’s performance against DNSTY was the culmination of their evolution from a chaotic, momentum-driven team into a structured, disciplined unit. Lovers rock’s duelist form and Rosé’s leadership anchored the team’s attacking dominance, closing out the series 3–1 and earning BBL their long-awaited promotion.

DNSTY and Mandatory fall short in EMEA Ascension

Despite strong starts, both DNSTY and Mandatory ultimately fell short of the finish line. DNSTY, who qualified out of Group A, displayed flashes of brilliance but couldn’t maintain consistency under pressure — losing both their upper and lower final appearances. Their aggressive style, though exciting, struggled against the calculated tempo of ULF and BBL.

Mandatory, the French roster powered by one of EMEA’s largest fanbases, reached the grand final after eliminating Twisted Minds. Yet, their defensive setups faltered against ULF’s fast-paced executes. While HyP and TakaS had standout maps (both averaging 220+ ACS in the lower bracket), Mandatory’s inability to convert advantage rounds ultimately ended their campaign.

The full VCT EMEA 2026 line-up

Here’s the official VCT EMEA 2026 roster of teams:

This marks a notable regional shift: both teams have full Turkish rosters and showcase the dominance of the region’s players across VCT and GC alike.

A New Era for EMEA

With ULF and PCIFIC entering the league, the 2026 VCT EMEA season promises one of the most competitive landscapes yet. ULF’s youthful precision and BBL PCIFIC’s battle-tested discipline could shake up a scene long dominated by established titans like FNATIC and Team Liquid. From local challenger circuits to international stages, both teams proved they belong among Europe’s best — and their journeys are only beginning.