VALORANT is gearing up for the Masters Shanghai, the second international competition of the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) this year. The tournament, hosted in China, features several exciting changes, including new American representatives compared to the Madrid championship and the return of Fnatic in place of Karmine Corp for EMEA.
Participants
The Masters Madrid featured two representatives from all regions of the world: Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China.
Qualification was determined by the Kickoff, the inaugural VCT 2024 tournament, which awarded tickets to the champion and runner-up. For Shanghai, qualification is determined by the top three finishers of the initial VCT season, the first of two leagues.
- 100 Thieves (VCT Americas Champion)
- Dragon Ranger Gaming (Third Place in China)
- EDward Gaming (China Champion)
- Fnatic (VCT EMEA Champion)
- FunPlus Phoenix (China Runner-Up)
- FUT Esports (Third Place in VCT EMEA)
- G2 Esports (VCT Americas Runner-Up)
- Gen.G (VCT Pacific Runner-Up)
- Team Heretics (VCT EMEA Runner-Up)
- Leviatán (Third Place in VCT EMEA)
- Paper Rex (VCT Pacific Champion)
- T1 (Third Place in VCT Pacific)
Format of the Masters Shanghai
The Masters Shanghai will be divided into two stages: the Swiss format and the playoffs. In the first phase, runners-up and third-place finishers from all regions will compete.
The goal is straightforward: secure two wins to qualify for the playoffs. Regional champions are rewarded by directly advancing to the first round of the knockout stage, starting in the upper bracket quarterfinals.
As usual in international VALORANT tournaments, the Masters Shanghai playoffs will feature a double-elimination format: upper and lower brackets.
A loss in the upper bracket allows participants a second chance in the lower bracket, but losing there means elimination. All matches are best of three, except the upper bracket final and lower bracket final, which are best of five.
The two stages of the Masters Shanghai have distinct date ranges: the Swiss format runs from May 23 to May 27, and the playoffs take place from May 30 to June 9. The first phase consists of three rounds, with regional runners-up facing third-place finishers. Only four teams will reach the knockout stage, where they will face the regional champions.
Swiss Format Schedule
First Round:
- G2 Esports vs. T1: May 23 at 10:00
- Team Heretics vs. Dragon Ranger: May 23 at 13:00
- Gen.G vs. Leviatán: May 24 at 10:00
- FunPlus Phoenix vs. FUT Esports: May 24 at 13:00
Second Round:
- High matches: May 25 at 10:00 and 13:00
- Low matches: May 25 at 10:00 and 13:00
Third Round:
- May 27 at 10:00 and 13:00
Playoffs Schedule
Upper Bracket Quarterfinals:
- May 30 at 10:00 and 13:00
- May 31 at 10:00 and 13:00
Lower Bracket First Round:
- June 1 at 10:00 and 13:00
Upper Bracket Semifinals:
- June 2 at 10:00 and 13:00
Lower Bracket Quarterfinals:
- June 3 at 10:00 and 13:00
Upper Bracket Final:
- June 7 at 09:00
Lower Bracket Semifinals:
- June 7 at 12:00
Lower Bracket Final:
- June 8 at 09:00
Grand Final:
- June 9 at 09:00
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Conclusion
The VALORANT Masters Shanghai is set to be a thrilling event with top teams from around the world competing for supremacy. With a mix of seasoned champions and new challengers, the tournament promises exciting matches and intense competition.
Fans can look forward to watching their favorite teams battle it out from May 23 to June 9. For live coverage of all matches, tune in on VALORANT Esports’ official channels.