Get ready for the start of the VCT Americas League Kickoff!
The VCT 2024 season will start in just a few short weeks with the Americas League Kickoff taking place next weekend onwards. While last year saw the introduction of the VCT LOCK//IN, there will be none of that this season as the Kickoff will be available in each major region. This is to determine the two teams from each league that will go on to the first international event of the year: The VCT Masters in Madrid.
And starting out with North America, the VCT Americas League is also home to the defending world champions, who have since gone through an extensive roster rebuild that saw four of its championship-winning players move on to three different teams in the region. Evil Geniuses have gone through plenty of drama since lifting the coveted trophy at VCT Champions last season and while many speculated that they wouldn't be back this season, EG have since had other ideas and have fielded an entirely new squad.
But besides EG living up to its namesake, this year's VCT Americas League Kickoff will feature 11 teams that also includes G2 Esports, who have made its return to the upper echelons of VALORANT after it languished in the Challengers league. However, this was despite all the drama surrounding the VCT Ascension: Americas that saw The Guard defeat M80. Unfortunately, The Guard failed to agree to the Team Participation Agreement for VCT Americas on time.
G2 have since taken on four-fifths of The Guard's official roster to still give the players a shot at a two-year stint in the VCT Americas League. The European's org's eventual participation in the VCT's franchise league is finally in a better place after they were denied a partnership spot last season. This was down to the community backlash G2 received after its then-CEO was spotted with a famed misogynistic influencer.
VCT Americas League Kickoff - Format & Schedule
There are three stages to the VCT Americas League Kickoff: the group stage, the play-in stage, and lastly, the playoffs. All 11 teams will first start via the group stage where they have already been separated into two groups of four and one group of three. Each group will play a GSL double-elimination format that gives each team up to three chances to qualify for the next round. As groups A and B have four teams whilst group C only has three, the highest-placing team from VCT Champions 2023 will receive a bye in group C.
And with there being only three teams with EG being one of it, they will just have to play up to two matches during the group stage with one win already securing their spot to the next phase. All matches during the group stage will be a best-of-three and teams that finish top of their respective groups will head straight to the playoffs. As for teams that finished second in the group stage, they will advance to the play-in stage first.
The play-in will feature a three-team group where only one team will be able to qualify to the playoffs, which will only be a four-team single-elimination bracket. The playoffs will feature just two best-of-three semifinal matches and a best-of-five grand finals to determine the winner of Masters Madrid.
However, the top-two teams from each league will qualify to the first international LAN of the year. The only key differences is that the winner of the Kickoff League will get preferential seeding during Masters Madrid as well as 3 Championship Points, which could go a long way for a team that is hoping to make it to Champs later in the year.
VCT Americas League Kickoff - Teams
There will be many teams to look forward to when the VCT Kickoff starts as many teams have managed to rebuild with key components being spread across the region. The likes of 100 Thieves, NRG, and Leviatán managed to secure the services of EG's championship-winning squad whilst LOUD is one such team that cannot be ignored, despite losing a star player.
There is also the return of Sentinels, who have not managed to repeat its heights of the 2021 season but have since managed to find consistency with its current roster. Sentinels were also capable of besting the Pacific League and VCT Champs first-runner up, Paper Rex during the AfreecaTV VALORANT League. And this happened not once, but twice during the group stage as well as the grand finals, which Sentinels won with a convincing 3-0 sweep.
And with the teams already sorted, Group B looks to be the most enticing as it features Sentinels alongside LOUD, Leviatán, and 100 Thieves. Group A may not seem as difficult but it could still prove tricky with NRG looking to face the likes of Cloud9, MIBR, and FURIA Esports. As for Group C, there will only be three teams and it will feature reigning world champs EG alongside G2 and KRÜ Esports. EG will need just one series win to move on to the next round while both G2 and KRÜ will have to play two.
Group A
Cloud9
NRG
FURIA Esports
MIBR
Group B
LOUD
100 Thieves
Leviatán
Sentinels
Group C
Evil Geniuses
G2 Esports
KRÜ BlazeThe VCT Americas League Kickoff will start next Friday, February 16th with the start of the group stage until March 3rd, which will be the date for the grand finals. If you're in Los Angeles and want to be part of the experience, head on over to the Riot Games Arena on Olympic Boulevard to catch all the action live. Be sure to get your tickets here. If you're watching from the comfort of your own home, the live stream will be available on the official VCT Twitch channel.
