Riot opens VCT EMEA Kickoff qualification with four places available

Riot opens VCT EMEA Kickoff qualification with four places available

Riot Games has announced the qualification pathway for VCT EMEA Kickoff 2027, with four non-partner teams joining eight partner organisations.

Europe receives two places, while Türkiye and MENA receive one each.

Regional qualifiers begin in November

Europe’s open qualifiers take place on November 5–8 and November 12–15. Eight qualifying teams will join eight invited teams in playoffs running November 26–December 5.

Türkiye’s qualifiers are scheduled for November 10–13 and November 18–21, followed by an eight-team playoff stage on November 25–December 6.

MENA qualifiers run on November 1–3 and November 9–11, with separate Middle East and North Africa pathways. Their representatives will meet in a December 6 best-of-five final for the region’s Kickoff berth.

Eligibility and financial support

Players must be at least 17 and have reached Ascendant 1 or higher at registration or during the previous three acts.

Starting lineups must include at least three residents of their chosen region.

Each non-partner team reaching Kickoff will receive $100,000 in financial support.