VCT EMEA Stage 2

The top tier of VALORANT competition for Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, VCT EMEA Stage 2 will see its 12 teams compete for a regional title the the final time this season.

VCT EMEA Stage 2 Format

Like other leagues in the VALORANT Champions Tour, EMEA Stage 2 will begin with two groups of six teams that will each complete a single round-robin of best-of-three matches. The top four teams from each group will advance to the playoffs, starting at different points in the bracket depending on their group seeding.

First-place sides will skip to the upper bracket’s second round, while second and third seeds will face each other in the third round. Fourth seeds will begin in the lower bracket.

While the grand final and lower bracket final will be best-of-fives, the remainder of playoff matchups will be decided through best-of-threes.

VCT EMEA Teams

Hosting some of the biggest organisations in esports, VCT EMEA is home to the likes of Fnatic, Team Vitality, Team Liquid, and Natus Vincere. Fnatic, in particular, are VALORANT heritage, remaining one of a select few sides to have won multiple global events in its history.

As well as worldwide heavyweights, VCT EMEA also features an array of regionally-supported sides with passionate local fanbases like KOI, Karmine Corp, GIANTX, and Gentle Mates.

Group Alpha

• Team Heretics
• BBL Esports
• FUT Esports
• Team Vitality
• GIANTX
• Gentle Mates

Group Omega

• Team Liquid
• Fnatic
• Natus Vincere
• Karmine Corp
• KOI
• Apeks

EMEA Stage 2 Prize Pool

VCT EMEA Stage 2 will feature a total of $250k of prize money, distributed based on playoff performance. The overall winners will earn $100k, second place $65k, third place $40k, fourth place $25k, and fifth and sixth place $10k each.

Teams are not only competing for prize money, but also for qualification to VALORANT Champions later in the season. The top two teams from Stage 2 playoffs will qualify automatically, while another two will gain qualification through Championship Points that are dished out throughout the year. In Stage 2, seven Championship Points will be granted to the winner, five to the runners-up, four to third-place, and three to fourth-place. Sides fifth and below will earn zero points.

VCT EMEA Teams to Watch

The most decorated team in the region, fan favourites Fnatic are the premier side in VCT EMEA. Their Stage 1 victory means that they’ve won three of the last four regional tournaments, and they’ll be favourites to lift a trophy once again in Stage 2. Their back-to-back global runners-up medals, in Toronto and Riyadh, prove that they’re one of the world’s best.

Their closest competition will be Team Heretics, a side who have shown themselves to be one of the best since last season, and finally ended their grand finals-losing curse with their recent EWC VALORANT win.

Team Liquid had little expectations going into 2025 but have surprised everyone to cement their place in the league’s top three. Superteam and Kickoff winners Team Vitality have seen a huge dip in form for Stage 1, but their raw talent means that an upswing could easily see them amongst the top again in Stage 2.

On the other end of the league, Ascension teams Gentle Mates and Apeks must make the top eight at a minimum to prevent automatic relegation from tier one.

How to watch VCT EMEA Stage 2

Fans can tune in to every VCT EMEA Stage 2 match live through official Riot Games channels on YouTube and Twitch.