Riot Games has released new details about the slot distribution for the 2025 VCT Ascension Pacific tournament, set to take place this October in Bangkok. The upcoming tournament will once again feature ten teams, but there has been a significant shift in how those slots are allocated, particularly with an increased focus on Southeast Asia.
The changes reflect a new competitive structure that merges several national leagues under a single banner. The new VALORANT Challengers League Southeast Asia now includes teams from Indonesia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. With these regions combined into one powerful ecosystem, they have been granted the highest number of slots at Ascension, totaling four. This is a reflection of the deep talent pool and increasing competitiveness in Southeast Asia, a region that continues to grow in the global VALORANT scene.
In addition to SEA’s four slots, other regions such as South Korea, Japan, South Asia, and Oceania will each receive one direct slot. This mirrors the distribution seen in the 2024 edition and maintains regional representation across the broader Pacific community. However, what makes this year’s format more dynamic is the introduction of two flexible slots. These are tentatively reserved for Nongshim RedForce and BOOM Esports, teams currently competing in the VCT Pacific League. If either team fails to qualify for Stage 2 Playoffs or gets relegated, they would drop into Ascension and take up these spots. However, if both retain their positions, the extra slots would be handed to Southeast Asia, allowing for the possibility of up to six teams from SEA making it into Ascension.
This flexible format ensures that the tournament remains competitive while rewarding performance. Riot Games aims to maintain a balance between competitive integrity and regional opportunity. The flexibility is especially crucial for guest teams that have been part of VCT Pacific through previous qualifications and now face the challenge of holding on to their tier one status. According to Jake Sin, Head of VALORANT Esports for VCT Pacific, this distribution is designed to stay close to the 2024 model while adjusting for the realignment of leagues and the scale of talent emerging from SEA.
The Ascension tournament itself will run from October 13 to 26 in Bangkok and will use a double elimination format, ensuring that each team has multiple opportunities to fight for a spot in the VCT Pacific League. At the conclusion of the tournament, either one or two teams will secure promotion to the next VCT Pacific season. The exact number will depend on whether Nongshim RedForce and BOOM Esports remain in the Pacific League or drop down to Ascension. This element of uncertainty adds further intrigue to the current VCT Pacific Stage 2 standings, making every match in the coming months matter even more.
As excitement builds for October, Riot is expected to announce ticketing information soon for fans who want to attend the event live. For those watching from home, the entire tournament will be streamed on VCT Pacific’s official Twitch and YouTube channels, making it accessible to a global audience eager to witness the next wave of rising VALORANT stars.
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