With Masters Santiago in the rearview mirror, the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2026 is heating up once again. All four primary VALORANT esports regions (EMEA, Americas, Pacific, and China) are primed for the VCT 2026 Stage 1 events, and so are we.
Let’s dive in and discuss the important details of all four VCT 2026 Stage 1 tournaments, including the teams, schedule, format, and who we think could take home the top spots.
Disclaimer: All outright winner odds from the four VCT 2026 Stage 1 events quoted are accurate as of March 26, 2026, and are subject to change without notice.
VCT 2026 Stage 1 Format & Points
Running throughout April and May, each VCT 2026 Stage 1 regional tournament has its own schedule (more on that shortly), is hosted by Riot Games, and takes place on LAN.
Each event features the 12 best teams from their respective region, fighting for three spots at Masters London 2026.
All the regional events start with a Group Stage, featuring two Single-Round Robin groups of six teams each. All matches are best-of-three in the Group Stage, and the top four teams advance to the Playoffs Stage. The VCT 2026 Stage 1 events feature a double-elimination Playoffs Stage, where the Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final matches are best-of-five, and all other matches are best-of-three.
EMEA, Pacific, and Americas will have group winners advance to the Upper Bracket Semifinals, 2nd and 3rd-place teams to Round 1 of the Upper Bracket, and 4th-place teams to Round 1 of the Lower Bracket.
The VCT 2026 China Stage 1 tournament features additional ranking matches after the Group Stage, which determine teams’ placements in the Playoffs Stage.
VCT Points Distribution
Teams also earn VCT points, which will help them qualify for the crowning Champions 2026 tournament at the end of the season.
| Placement | VCT Points |
| 1st place | 6 |
| 2nd place | 4 |
| 3rd place | 3 |
| 4th place | 2 |
For every Group Stage match a team wins, they earn an additional one (1) VCT point.
VCT 2026 Americas Stage 1 Details
The Americas Stage 1 tournament takes place on LAN at Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles. The Group Stage runs from April 10 to May 10, and the Playoffs Stage runs from May 14 to 24.
Teams At VCT 2026 Americas Stage 1
Check out the 12 teams that are competing at VCT 2026 Americas Stage 1, outlined below.
- NRG
- MIBR
- Sentinels
- G2 Esports
- FURIA
- Leviatán
- LOUD
- Cloud9
- ENVY
- Evil Geniuses
- KRÜ Esports
- 100 Thieves
How To Watch VCT 2026 Americas Kickoff
Visit our VCT 2026 Americas Stage 1 page to watch all VCT 2026 Americas Stage 1 matches live. During the tournament, select a match to live stream, and the video will appear along with our betslip so you can place in-play wagers.
Other options include the official VALORANT Americas Twitch and YouTube channels.
VCT 2026 Americas Stage 1 Predictions
Our predictions are based on matchup history, team form, and current VALORANT Power Rankings. We also employed the latest outright tournament winner odds to inform our research, noted in both Decimal and American formats, along with the implied probabilities.
NRG (#1)
The 2025 world champions made only one roster change after lifting the coveted trophy in Paris, adding keiko after the great Sam “s0m” Oh retired from competitive play.
The change slowed NRG down a bit, but they still placed 3rd at the Americas Kickoff. At Masters Santiago, NRG looked strong, placing 3rd after suffering losses only to NS RedForce and Paper Rex.
NRG is ranked #4 globally, and #2 in the region with an 8-5 record. Despite that, they’re our top pick to win VCT 2026 Americas Stage 1. The odds of 3.00 (+200) seem to agree, putting NRG’s chances of winning at 33.33%, the highest of any team competing.
NRG roster:
- Adam “mada” Pampuch
- Brock “brawk” Somerhalder
- Logan “skuba” Jenkins
- Georgio “keiko” Sanassy
- Ethan “Ethan” Arnold (IGL)
- Malkolm “bonkar” Rench (Coach)
G2 Esports (#2)
Coming into VCT 2026 Americas Stage 1, G2 Esports is one of the strong favorites. The squad is ranked #1 in the region and #3 globally, with an 8-4 record.
G2 Esports ended in 2nd place at VCT 2026 Americas Kickoff, only losing to FURIA in a nail-biter of a series that went the distance. At Masters Santiago, G2 Esports put up a strong fight. But they suffered a reverse sweep at the hands of eventual champions NS RedForce, and then were eliminated by Paper Rex in the Lower Bracket.
Odds of 3.25 (+225) put G2 Esports as a close 2nd at VCT 2026 Americas Stage 1, with a 30.77% chance of winning.
G2 Esports roster:
- Alexander “jawgemo” Mor
- Trent “trent” Cairns
- Nathan “leaf” Orf
- Andrej “babybay” Francisty
- Jacob “valyn” Batio (IGL)
- Josh “JoshRT” Lee (Coach)
FURIA (#3)
It was fantastic to witness Brazilian IGL Arthur “artzin” Araujo lead FURIA to victory at the VCT 2026 Americas Kickoff event, claiming the #1 spot in the region. The squad punched above their weight, smashing everyone in their path, including G2 Esports in a 2-1 slugfest.
While FURIA fell early at Masters Santiago, finishing 7th-8th, we think they can bounce back to their Kickoff form in Stage 1. That’s why FURIA is our 3rd pick, above MIBR.
There’s a 10% chance that FURIA will repeat their success at Kickoff, as implied by the odds of 10.00 (+900), so consider this pick as our bold prediction.
FURIA roster:
- Torogul “alym” Baidyldaev
- Daniel “eeiu” Vucenovic
- GianFranco “koalanoob” Potestio
- Michael “nerve” Yerrow
- Arthur “artzin” Araujo (IGL)
- Ian “shaW” Jardim (Coach)
Honorable mentions go to Cloud9 and MIBR.
VCT 2026 China Stage 1 Details
VCT 2026 China Stage 1 is the first regional event to begin, with the first Group Stage matches scheduled for March 31. The Group Stage and Rankings matches take place at the West Lake Gymnasium in Hangzhou, before moving to Beijing for the Playoffs Stage.
Teams At VCT 2026 China Stage 1
Below, we’ve listed the 12 teams competing in the VCT 2026 China Stage 1 tournament.
- EDward Gaming
- FunPlus Phoenix
- Bilibili Gaming
- XLG Esports
- All Gamers
- Nova Esports
- Dragon Ranger Gaming
- JD Gaming
- Titan Esports Club
- Trace Esports
- Wolves Esports
- TYLOO
How To Watch VCT 2026 China Stage 1
Watch all the action live on our VCT 2026 China Stage 1 betting page. Once the tournament begins, select a match to start streaming and place a couple of bets using your preferred cryptocurrency.
You can also stream via the official VALORANT China Twitch and YouTube channels.
VCT 2026 China Stage 1 Predictions
Our VCT 2026 China Stage 1 predictions are based on matchup history, team form, and current odds. The odds mentioned are represented in both American and Decimal format, and we included implied probabilities for good measure.
All Gamers (#1)
All Gamers impressed at the VCT 2026 China Kickoff event, barreling through the competition for the #1 spot, claiming the scalp of favorites XLG Esports in the Grand Final. Leading by example, All Gamers’ K1ra was awarded the MVP, both calling the shots on the server and clicking heads with vigor.
All Gamers is ranked #2 in China and #20 globally, thanks to their solid performance at Masters Santiago. The squad got knocked down to the Lower Bracket by G2 Esports, and got past Gentle Mates before falling to Paper Rex in a dramatic reverse-sweep.
We predict they will repeat their Kickoff success at VCT 2026 China Stage 1. Odds of 6.00 (+500) indicate there’s a 16.67% chance for All Gamers to lift the trophy, so this is definitely our bold prediction.
All Gamers roster:
- Zhu “Au1” Yihao
- Roman “f4ngeer” Smirnov
- Gao “iamgrq” Ruiqi
- Yang “Shr1mp” Yong
- Huang “K1ra” Zhihao (IGL)
- Han “ED101” Tianqi (Coach)
EDward Gaming (#2)
The 2024 world champions, EDward Gaming, are always an incredible force on the server, primed to take down any opponent that stands in their way.
EDward Gaming is currently ranked #3 in China, and #21 globally. The squad narrowly made it to Masters Santiago, fighting tooth and nail for the #3 spot. In Chile, they finished last, in 11th-12th place. The team still looks lost internationally, unable to reclaim those same peaks that got them on people’s radars in previous Champs. New addition “cb” will also be rotating with returning team member “Jieni” in hopes of maintaining regional consistency.
However, there’s a high degree of confidence that EDward Gaming will bounce back in Stage 1. Odds of 4.00 (+300) show an implied probability of 25.00%, as they are a favorite of bookmakers.
EDward Gaming roster:
- Wan “CHICHOO” Shunzhi
- Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang
- Zhang “Smoggy” Zhao
- Wang “cb” Qingchuan
- Zhang “Jieni7” Juntai
- Wang “nobody” Senxu (IGL)
- Yoon “Autumn” Eu-teum (Coach)
XLG Esports (#3)
XLG Esports is a powerhouse in China, sitting pretty at #1 on the regional power rankings and #18 globally. It would be an upset if XLG Esports didn’t make it to Masters London.
At the Kickoff event, XLG Esports finished in 2nd place, only losing to All Gamers. However, they suffered the same fate as EDward Gaming at Masters Santiago, finishing in 11th-12th place.
Odds of 4.50 (+350) indicate a 22.22% chance that XLG Esports lifts the VCT 2026 China Stage 1 trophy.
XLG Esports roster:
- Arthur “Rarga” Churyumov
- Teng “happywei” Min-wei
- James “NoMan” Man
- Liang “Lysoar” Youhao
- Huang “WsLeo” Ping-wei (IGL)
- Aleksandr “hvoya” Eremin (Coach)
Honorable mentions go to Bilibili Gaming and Dragon Ranger Gaming, who narrowly didn’t make our top three picks.
VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 1 Details
Kicking off on LAN at the Sangam Colosseum in Seoul, South Korea, the VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 1’s Group Stage runs from April 3 to May 3. Once the dust settles over the Group Stage and the final six teams are decided, the Playoffs Stage runs from May 7 to 17.
Teams At VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 1
You’ll find a list of all 12 teams competing at the VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 1 below.
- T1
- Paper Rex
- NS RedForce
- Rex Regum Qeon
- DRX
- Gen.G Esports
- Team Secret
- ZETA DIVISION
- FULL SENSE
- Global Esports
- VARREL
- DetonatioN FM
How To Watch VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 1
Watch all the action live via our VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 1 betting page. Once the tournament gets underway, simply select a match, and a live stream will pop up, alongside a betslip so you can place in-play wagers.
Or, check out the official VALORANT Pacific Twitch and YouTube channels.
VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 1 Predictions
The Pacific region is arguably one of the strongest, making this year’s Stage 1 especially difficult to predict. Informing our top three picks are regional Power Rankings, matchup histories, various stats, and outright tournament winner odds.
Nongshim RedForce (#1)
Often shortened to NS RedForce, the South Korean powerhouse team is our favorite to win VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 1. In 2026, they placed 1st in the regional Kickoff event.
The squad outdid themselves in Chile, showcasing incredible form to lift the Masters Santiago trophy, with a historic, undefeated run through the tournament, losing zero matches and dropping only one map.
NS RedForce is currently ranked #1 in Pacific, and globally, with a mind-blowing 8-0 record. With momentum on their side heading into Stage 1, they are our #1 pick. Odds of 3.00 (+200) agree, indicating a 33.33% chance of lifting the trophy—the highest of all teams competing. They’re the team to beat coming into Stage 1, with all eyes on Dambi and crew.
NS RedForce roster:
- Lee “Dambi” Hyuk-kyu
- Kim “Francis” Mu-bin
- Park “Ivy” Sung-hyeon
- Jung “Xross” Hwan
- Goo “Rb” Sang-min (IGL)
- Kim “SilKanoN” Gyeong-min (Coach)
Paper Rex (#2)
At the start of the competitive 2026 season, fan-favorite Paper Rex seemed a bit wobbly on the server, narrowly securing the final Pacific spot at Masters Santiago by placing #3. However, powered by IGL d4v41 and the GOAT of VALORANT esports, f0rsakeN, the squad was reinvigorated at Masters Santiago.
After dropping down to the Lower Bracket, Paper Rex had their big match temperament on full display, reverse-sweeping All Gamers and G2 Esports. They went on to beat world champions NRG 3-1 and earn a spot in the Grand Final.
While Paper Rex lost 0-3 to NS RedForce, confidence in the team was restored. They are ranked #2 globally and in the Pacific, with an 11-4 record. Odds of 3.25 (+225) translate to a 30.77% chance for Paper Rex to win VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 1.
Paper Rex roster:
- Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto
- Ilia “something” Petrov
- Wang “Jinggg” Jing Jie
- Adrian “invy” Reyes
- Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee (IGL)
- Alexandre “alecks” Sallé (Coach)
T1 (#3)
Ranked #3 in Pacific and #5 globally, T1 is our pick to claim the third and final Masters London spot in the region. If superstars like Meteor and Munchkin can hit peak form at VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 1, the sky’s the limit for this South Korean powerhouse.
T1 ended in 2nd place at the regional Kickoff event but failed to reach the Playoffs Stage of Masters Santiago, finishing 9th-10th; however illnesses on site affected on-stie performance.
Odds of 6.00 (+500) reveal there’s a 16.67% chance that T1 will lift the trophy, the 3rd highest of all teams competing.
T1 roster:
- Yu “BuZz” Byung-chul
- Ham “iZu” Woo-Joo
- Kim “Meteor” Tae-oh
- Byeon “Munchkin” Sang-beom
- Kim “stax” Gu-taek (IGL)
- Lee “carpe” Jae-hyeok (Substitute)
- Kim “KDG” Dong-gun (Coach)
Honorable mention goes to DRX, Rex Regum Qeon, and Gen.G Esports.
VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 1 Details
Taking place at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin, Germany, the VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 1 event runs from April 1 to May 17. The Group Stage runs from April 1 to May 1, and after a six-day break, the Playoffs Stage runs from May 7 to 17.
Teams At VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 1
Below, we’ve outlined all 12 teams competing at VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 1.
- Fnatic
- Team Vitality
- Team Heretics
- Karmine Corp
- GIANTX
- Team Liquid
- NAVI
- FUT Esports
- Gentle Mates
- PCIFIC Esports
- BBL Esports
- Eternal Fire
How To Watch VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 1
You can watch all the action live via our dedicated VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 1 betting page. Select a match, and a live stream will pop up, alongside a betslip so you can place in-play wagers.
Alternatively, check out the official VALORANT EMEA Twitch and YouTube channels.
VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 1 Predictions
Taking the regional Power Rankings, matchup histories, and performances in 2026 thus far into consideration, we have our VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 1 betting predictions to share.
Sharpening our predictions are the outright tournament winner odds, presented in both American and Decimal formats, as well as the implied probabilities that show a team’s chance of success.
BBL Esports (#1)
At the VCT 2026 EMEA Kickoff event, the all-Turkish side of BBL Esports stunned fans and their opponents alike. They took down everyone in their path, including favorites Fnatic, to claim the trophy.
BBL Esports is ranked #3 in EMEA, and #10 globally, with a 5-2 record. According to the outright tournament winner odds of 6.00 (+500), there’s a 16.67% chance that BBL Esports will repeat their success from Kickoff and win Stage 1.
While odds imply BBL Esports is the #3 team in this event, we predict they’ll claim the crown. After all, they did finish the highest of any EMEA team at Masters Santiago (5th-6th place).
BBL Esports roster:
- Ali “Crewen” Sargin
- Yusuf “Lar0k” Kanber
- Utku “Loita” Kart
- Umut “lovers rock” Pekdoğan
- Eren “Rosé” Erzan (IGL)
- Mert “KEY” Çelebi (Coach)
Fnatic (#2)
With legendary British IGL Boaster leading the charge, and superstars Alfajer and crashies as the tip of the spear, you can’t count out Fnatic. The squad is currently ranked #1 in EMEA, and #7 globally, despite failing to qualify for Masters Santiago after a rather disappointing 4th place at Kickoff.
Fnatic’s absence from Masters Santiago is a temporary setback, however not out of the norm for early Fnatic trends. We predict that the team will come out swinging at VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 1 and secure a spot at Masters London.
Odds of 4.50 (+350) seem to agree, indicating a 22.22% chance to win Stage 1, tied with our third pick.
Fnatic roster:
- Emir “Alfajer” Beder
- Austin “crashies” Roberts
- Kajetan “kaajak” Haremski
- Sylvain “Veqaj” Pattyn
- Jake “Boaster” Howlett (IGL)
- Milan “Milan” de Meij (Coach)
Team Vitality (#3)
On paper, Team Vitality, with superstars such as Chronicle and Derke, should have a solid chance of reaching Masters London. As noted earlier, they’re tied with Fnatic as favorites at 4.50 (+350), translating to a 22.22% chance of lifting the trophy.
That’s a high degree of confidence, especially after Team Vitality ended 5th at VCT 2026 EMEA Kickoff and failed to qualify for Masters Santiago. If they can bounce back, and Finnish IGL Jamppi makes some great calls, there’s a good chance that Team Vitality will bounce back from a slow start to 2026 and punch their ticket to Masters London.
Team Vitality roster:
- Timofey “Chronicle” Khromov
- Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev
- Dawid “PROFEK” Święć
- Ștefan “Sayonara” Mîtcu
- Elias “Jamppi” Olkkonen (IGL)
- Gregor “PAL” Morton (Coach)
Honorable mentions go to Team Heretics, Team Liquid, and Gentle Mates.
We’re Ready For VCT 2026 Stage 1
With four regions in play, VCT 2026 Stage 1 will bring high-stakes matches and plenty of surprises. Whether favorites like NRG and NS RedForce maintain their dominance or challengers rise to disrupt the field, this stage is shaping up to be one of the most competitive of the year so far.
Enjoy every moment of the VCT 2026 Stage 1 regional tournaments by visiting our VALORANT betting section. You can watch all the matches, and put your esports knowledge to the test by placing wagers on each game using your favorite cryptocurrencies.
Important: Our predictions reflect the perceived strength of teams based on historical trends and the latest available odds. This analysis should not be interpreted as betting advice. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes.
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