Valorant Challengers EMEA 2023: Format and Schedule

The VCT circuit is getting revamped in 2023, and Riot has introduced more layers to it to cover more players in more regions. Thus, the format of Challengers 2023 has also been changed, and this time, there will be over 20 Challengers Leagues in which anyone can participate via open qualifiers to make their way up to the Ascension Leagues. 

Riot has finally shared more details about the Valorant Challengers EMEA 2023, explaining its format and giving initial information about the schedule of each EMEA Challenger League. Here is everything you need to know.

Valorant Challengers EMEA 2023: Format and Schedule

Riot has explained that they want to give more players in EMEA an opportunity to showcase their skills, and thus, they have added Italy and Portugal as the two new regions to Challengers EMEA 2023. The total number of EMEA Challengers Leagues has now reached 9, and they will be started in January 2023. 

Here are the start dates of each EMEA Challengers League:

• Spain - January 8
• Eastern Europe - January 12
• DACH - January 14
• France - January 14
• Portugal - January 14
• Türkiye - January 14
• Northern Europe - January 16
• Italy - January 21
• MENA - January 28

Riot earlier explained that the schedule of these leagues will not clash with any international tournaments. Thus, the Stage 1 playoffs of each league will be held from late February, with all of them concluding on March 12 to avoid any crossover with the LOCK//IN tournament in São Paulo, Brazil. 

Stage 2 will begin following the first week of the VCT split and will take place from Saturday to Tuesday starting from April 1. After that, the top teams from each regional EMEA Challengers League will move forward to the EMEA Ascension League, happening in July.

The winner will be crowned as the best Challengers team in 2023, and they will also earn a spot in VCT EMEA International League for two years, where they can compete against the partnered teams to grab a spot in VCT Masters and then Champions.