Nearly one month remains until the VCT EMEA Kickoff season commences. This year's road to Masters has changed drastically with the introduction of triple elimination brackets. Kickoff will run from January 20 to February 15.
Triple Elimination Format
Every new squad will now have a longer chance to settle within the EMEA. Two losses no longer spells elimination for teams, with the bracket consisting of Upper, Middle, and Lower sections.
Each team now has an extra opportunity to reach Masters. (Image: Riot Games)
The four EMEA representatives at 2025's Champions –
FNATIC
FNATIC
Europe
Rank #1
crashies
Austin Roberts
Boaster
Jake Howlett
kaajak
Kajetan Haremski
Veqaj
Sylvain Pattyn
Alfajer
Emir Ali Beder
,
Team Heretics
Team Heretics
Europe
Rank #6
Wo0t
Mert Alkan
RieNs
Enes Ecirli
benjyfishy
Benjamin David Fish
ComeBack
Berkcan Şentürk
Boo
Ričardas Lukaševičius
,
GIANTX
GIANTX
Europe
Rank #5
Cloud
Kirill Nehozhin
grubinho
Grzegorz Ryczko
westside
Miłosz Duda
Flickless
Karel Maeckelbergh
ara
Hanceriuc Eduard-George
, and
Team Liquid
Team Liquid
Europe
Rank #7
nAts
Ayaz Akhmetshin
kamo
Kamil Frąckowiak
– have been granted a BYE straight to Round 2 of the Upper bracket where they will play the winners of Round 1.
Every series will be a Bo3, sans the finals of every segment of the bracket, which will use a Bo5 to determine which teams qualify for Santiago's stage.
Matchups
The initial matchups for Kickoff have been released, as veterans and rookies alike return to the stage.
Last year's top four teams have received a BYE to Round 2. (Image: Riot Games)
Week-by-week breakdown
Kickoff will take place over four weeks with all three finals taking place in the last week of competition.
Week 1: Upper Rounds 1 and 2
The first week of competition will feature the first two rounds of the Upper Bracket, allowing for all teams to play.
Week 2: Middle Bracket and Upper Bracket semifinals
The second week of Kickoff will primarily field Middle Bracket matchups as well as the third round of the Upper Bracket.
Week 3: Lower Bracket elimination and Middle Bracket Round 3
The first elimination matches of the Lower Bracket will commence in the third week, with a day of Middle Bracket matches to allow teams on the verge of elimination to recover.
Week 4: Finals
The final week of competition will play out the remaining Bo3 matches of the Middle and Lower Brackets while diving into all three Bo5 finals.
Image: Riot Games
Champions Points
The top four teams of Kickoff will all receive their share of Championship Points to accompany them into the next stage of competition. The two points leaders will automatically qualify to Champions Shanghai at the end of the season.
- 1st: 4 points
- 2nd: 3 points
- 3rd: 2 points
- 4th: 1 point
Tickets
Fans can secure tickets to the Riot Games Berlin Arena every Thursday and Friday for the first three weeks, and every day of the final week.
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