Esports

South Asia VCT 2027 Kickoff Qualifiers Open With Two APAC Berths

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Riot Games has partnered with JioBLAST to bring the VCT 2027 Kickoff Open Qualifiers – South Asia to the region, putting two qualifying places at Kickoff APAC on the line for VALORANT teams, BLAST announced on November 2, 2026. Registration for the tournament is open.

The qualifier forms part of a reworked competitive season. Riot Games outlined the 2027 VALORANT Champions Tour on October 15, 2026: a tournament-first structure built around Opens, Kickoff, Cups, Masters and Champions, with more than 50 tournaments across the year, open qualification paths throughout the season, and a tour spanning 15 cities. Partner teams will remain part of the ecosystem, but Riot said advancement after Kickoff is determined by performance, and that qualifying open teams will receive guaranteed qualification payments. Kickoff Qualifiers for the 2027 VCT begin in November 2026.

Format and Schedule

The competition begins with the Open Qualifiers, scheduled for November 17–20, 2026, where teams will compete in a Swiss Stage format. The top eight teams advance to the Playoffs.

The Playoffs follow from November 23–29, 2026, using an eight-team double-elimination bracket to decide the two teams that will move on to Kickoff APAC. BLAST said Playoffs matches will be broadcast live on the official VALORANT and JioBLAST YouTube channels and on JioTV.

JioBLAST chief executive Charlie Cowdrey framed the partnership as an extension of BLAST’s existing relationship with Riot Games into India.

“Our partnership with Riot Games for the VCT 2027 Kickoff Open Qualifiers reflects our commitment to strengthening South Asia’s competitive ecosystem and giving teams a clear pathway to pursue their ambitions,” Cowdrey said. “It is a great sign to see BLAST’s global relationship with Riot Games extending to India through JioBLAST.”

Registration Details

Registration is open at jioblast.com/vctsakickoff, where teams sign up through the official registration form. All participating players must meet a minimum current rank requirement of Ascendant 1 and satisfy the tournament’s applicable eligibility criteria, including the age, residency and account requirements set out in the official tournament rulebook.

The registration window closes on November 13, 2026 at 12:00 PM. BLAST advised teams to register early and review the eligibility requirements before submitting their applications.

Anushka Bhatnagar, publishing lead for Riot Games India and South Asia, said the new format is aimed at widening access to VALORANT Esports in the region.

“The VCT 2027 competitive format marks an exciting step forward in making VALORANT Esports more accessible and creating meaningful opportunities for aspiring players across South Asia,” Bhatnagar said. “We’re pleased to partner with JioBLAST to bring this opportunity to the region and continue building the competitive ecosystem for VALORANT in South Asia.”

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