The competitive structure for the VCT Challengers APAC 2026 league is set for a significant overhaul with the introduction of the Challengers Path to Champions.
This new initiative represents a major shift from the previous format. Going forward, teams in the Challengers leagues will no longer qualify for promotion via Ascension tournaments.
Instead, they will now compete for direct entry into the Stage 2 Playoffs of the International Leagues, which serve as the qualifying tournament for Champions.
New qualification system for VCT Challengers APAC 2026
Under this new system, each of the International Leagues will allocate four slots to Challengers teams for the Stage 2 Playoffs. The regional breakdown for these four slots in the Asia Pacific (Pacific) League is structured as follows.
Pacific slot breakdown
The VCT Pacific International League’s four Challengers slots for the Stage 2 Playoffs will be distributed as follows:
- Direct Slots: A direct slot will be awarded to the top-finishing team from Challengers Southeast Asia (SEA), Challengers Japan, and Challengers Korea.
- Final Slot: The fourth and final spot will be determined via a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). This LCQ will feature the top team from South Asia, the top team from Oceania, and the second and third seeds from Southeast Asia.
This structure aims to balance recognition for regions with an established competitive history while ensuring an opportunity for emerging regions to qualify. Notably, Southeast Asia is given a chance to secure more than one slot due to its large player base and numerous subregions.
All Challengers teams that successfully reach the Stage 2 Playoffs will receive a US$75,000 stipend. This funding is intended to support teams with travel, visa, and participation expenses at the international level.
Regarding team eligibility:
- Academy teams remain ineligible to qualify for the Stage 2 Playoffs, though they can still compete in the Challengers leagues.
- Beginning in 2026, relegation protection will be removed for Academy teams. Any Academy team finishing at the bottom of its regional Challengers league will be required to fight to retain its slot.
Details regarding the specific regional formats for each Challengers league are expected to be announced locally in the near future.
Changes to Challengers Southeast Asia format
The Challengers structure in Southeast Asia (SEA) is also slated for modification, aiming to boost opportunities for local teams and players.
Beginning next year, the SEA Challengers format will pivot to a tournament model. This new structure will feature a combination of local events that feed into pan-regional matches, all spread across two competitive splits. The full details of this revised tournament model are forthcoming.
Qualification and local focus in Southeast Asia
The revised Challengers Southeast Asia (SEA) structure emphasizes local competition, featuring a multi-stage qualification path:
- Open Qualifiers: Teams will begin at the local level through open qualifiers.
- Local Qualifying Tournaments: Successful teams will advance to local qualifying tournaments, where SEA Academy teams will also begin their run. The top two teams from each local qualifier will then move on to the main Challengers Southeast Asia tournament.
- Main Tournament: The main Challengers SEA event will be a 12-team tournament.
This entire process will repeat for each of the two splits throughout the season.
Five separate local qualifying tournaments are being launched to feed into Challengers SEA, covering Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. A fifth and final qualifier will encompass all other remaining SEA regions.
Premier path and streaming changes
A new path for qualification will also be available through Premier. Regardless of residency, the two best Premier teams from the corresponding Episode will qualify for each Challengers SEA split.
The primary goal of this new structure is to enhance local talent development and ensure greater representation within Challengers Southeast Asia.
Finally, in response to community feedback regarding previous exclusivity, Riot Games announced it will lift streaming exclusivity for Challengers Southeast Asia next year. They plan to work with local partners to provide broadcasts in local languages for the community.
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