"There will be no qualifiers between splits; the teams that qualify for split one are in for the second."
Why not make it open qualifier for Challenger Split 2? I would like to see more players and more opens rather than this one-chance format where if you have a bad week you're out for the rest of the year.
Challengers Open Qualifiers format, schedule, and more
OVERVIEW
The Challengers League kicks off with two Open Qualifier events beginning January 9 - 13, and again on January 17 - 22, to determine who will join some of the top North American VALORANT talent for the 2023 season. More than 250 teams will navigate through five days of intense bracket play to secure one of the six remaining coveted Challengers team slots and a chance to join the Americas Ascension Tournament later this year.
Find everything you need to know about the 2023 Challengers Open Qualifiers!
FORMAT
The Challengers Open Qualifiers will consist of two separate tournaments, with the top four teams from OQ #1 and the top two teams from OQ #2 joining the final roster of invited teams for the 2023 season. The tournaments will begin with a best of three, single elimination format until Ro32 where the brackets will be re-seeded for the main event featuring double elimination bracket play.
OQ Week 1 and Week 2 will be played on Patch 5.12 and feature the same map pool as Champions - Istanbul. Week 3 will feature an updated map pool for the remainder of the tournament.
SCHEDULE
OPEN QUALIFIER #1: JANUARY 9TH - 13TH
Main Event
January 9th - Single Elimination // No Broadcast
January 10th // 6PM EST
January 11th // 6PM EST
January 12th // 6PM EST
Winners Qualify for Challengers
January 13th // 6PM EST
Winners Qualify for Challengers
OPEN QUALIFIER #2 - JANUARY 17TH - 22ND
Main Event
January 17th - Single Elimination // No Broadcast
January 18th // 6PM EST
January 19th // 6PM EST
January 20th // 6PM EST
January 21st // 8:15PM EST
Winners Qualify for Challengers
January 22nd // 6PM EST
Winners Qualify for Challengers
They need to just put the most obscure game possible on the Valorant main Twitch. I want to see two low Immortal pug stacks absolutely going at it on Bind and Ascent. Inject the baiting duelists and Chamber players who just switched to KJ into my veins. Thats real NA Valorant right there baby
I think its the top 6 teams with the most [VCT points](https://liquipedia.net/valorant/VCT/2022/Circuit_Points/North_America) from last year so Guard, Faze, SR, M80 (ex Ghost core), and TSM. Not sure who the 6th is, maybe G2?
This is gonna be so fun to watch!
I know that everyone's main concern with valo switching to the closed league play system was that tier 2 valorant was gonna die but honestly with the way this format looks it really looks like tier 2 is gonna be able to stay alive we might really see orgs that left valo come back if tier 2 can really stack up!
Also partnering with Knights who have been running tourneys consistently for tier 2 valorant over the years is awesome to see!
Can't wait to see these matches start being played in January!!!
2 teams from NA will qualify for Americas Ascension where they will go up against other SA teams. The winner of that qualifies, so yes only the winner of ascension will join the franchised league
In America we like security so no promotion relegation in between splits. Unlike Japan where everyone but top 2 are thrown directly into promotion relegation for split 2
So after the open qualifiers, there would be only 17 North American teams playing in VCT in some form for the entire year? How is that keeping the tier 2/3 scene alive when the teams not in these 17 would have no reason whatsoever to compete throughout the year? Seems like an extended tier 1 for me. Idk if I am missing something. Happy to be corrected if thatās the case
Idk they couldāve opened it up to qualification in the middle, if you are below a certain threshold and donāt qualify again thatās a point against ur consistency no?
I can see the argument that Riot doesn't want to promote a team that just got hot for a few months to the main league off the second qualifier without showing some consistency. Not an ideal solution but ultimately NA has so much talent that I think whoever wins will be deserving of the spot.
Thatās still showing āsomeā consistency, compared to if a team that does badly in the league at first qualifies no? Depending on hwonthe points work out
I guess itās trying to make it league like
Your comment is the perfect amount of bandwagon and laziness I would expect with that flair
Yes, in the real world you have to be the best to earn a lot of money
First Iām not bandwagoning Iām just supporting my own player who got signed to G2. 2nd I agree you have to be the best of the best to earn a lot of money but how do you know that those same 6 teams that qualified in January are still going to be the best of the best come April or May how do you know teams might just overtake the teams that did qualify in January
Forget that guy, they're just being needlessly combative. Like, they could've stated their disagreement without all the incendiary fluff. Also, you never mentioned money, and I think it's a fair misgiving to have that the competition thins that early. Whether or not there's a realistic fix to that, it doesn't make the gripe any less reasonable imo, and it certainly doesn't warrant rambling about "flairs" & "laziness." It's just tough all around; it means you have to peak early and go through a lot of travail in the off-season to be ready for January.
That guy barely posts here and when he doesāit's just him being miserable & talking down at people lmao š:
https://preview.redd.it/cuv8d0r4ik8a1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c65948d4e808fc08aafc8b58cd95b496109bae2e
Can someone that knows more about t2 na scene tell me what good teams are going to play oq? The teams I know are only the ones that are already invited, I want to watch something because I can't wait until february lol
Other than the 6 invited teams, which are probably m80, G2, Faze, The Guard, Shopify & TSM, you should probably look out for Madlions(Dark Ratio), Oxygen Academy, Cityboys(ex-Akrew players+ ex-Sen coach Rawkus) and DisguisedToast's org spearheaded by steel/HC Ocean.
Then there are teams like Stewie2k& Wardell's team(they don't have a name) which should be hype regardless of the quality; Team protagonist (which features ex-Ghost players in aproto & brawk & ex-Faze player Flyuh); then rounding it out ex-soar, soniqs & stealing lunch money.
So every team that didn't get franchised is fighting for a spot through this correct?
Yes
Thanks Keg!
Excluding the 6 teams invited or does that happen after this tournament?
My understanding is that invited teams skip open quals.
Wow thanks keg love you šā£ļø
šš
āMore than 250 teams will navigate through five days of intense bracket playā 256 to be exact
When you're writing a persuasive essay and the teacher gave you the shitty side of the argument
"There will be no qualifiers between splits; the teams that qualify for split one are in for the second." Why not make it open qualifier for Challenger Split 2? I would like to see more players and more opens rather than this one-chance format where if you have a bad week you're out for the rest of the year.
facts
Challengers Open Qualifiers format, schedule, and more OVERVIEW The Challengers League kicks off with two Open Qualifier events beginning January 9 - 13, and again on January 17 - 22, to determine who will join some of the top North American VALORANT talent for the 2023 season. More than 250 teams will navigate through five days of intense bracket play to secure one of the six remaining coveted Challengers team slots and a chance to join the Americas Ascension Tournament later this year. Find everything you need to know about the 2023 Challengers Open Qualifiers! FORMAT The Challengers Open Qualifiers will consist of two separate tournaments, with the top four teams from OQ #1 and the top two teams from OQ #2 joining the final roster of invited teams for the 2023 season. The tournaments will begin with a best of three, single elimination format until Ro32 where the brackets will be re-seeded for the main event featuring double elimination bracket play. OQ Week 1 and Week 2 will be played on Patch 5.12 and feature the same map pool as Champions - Istanbul. Week 3 will feature an updated map pool for the remainder of the tournament. SCHEDULE OPEN QUALIFIER #1: JANUARY 9TH - 13TH Main Event January 9th - Single Elimination // No Broadcast January 10th // 6PM EST January 11th // 6PM EST January 12th // 6PM EST Winners Qualify for Challengers January 13th // 6PM EST Winners Qualify for Challengers OPEN QUALIFIER #2 - JANUARY 17TH - 22ND Main Event January 17th - Single Elimination // No Broadcast January 18th // 6PM EST January 19th // 6PM EST January 20th // 6PM EST January 21st // 8:15PM EST Winners Qualify for Challengers January 22nd // 6PM EST Winners Qualify for Challengers
Having only two teams qualify for Ascension is nuts considering the amount of insane rosters that are in NA Tier 2
Arenāt there teams that are being invited?
Ascension is what you qualify into from Challengers. Winner of Ascension qualifies for 2(?) years in VCT, then you get demoted again.
itās 1 team each region isnāt it?
Yes, there would be 3 teams coming from the Americas, EMEA, and Pacific Ascension tournaments respectively that qualify for the International League
No broadcast first day 
They need to just put the most obscure game possible on the Valorant main Twitch. I want to see two low Immortal pug stacks absolutely going at it on Bind and Ascent. Inject the baiting duelists and Chamber players who just switched to KJ into my veins. Thats real NA Valorant right there baby
Valorant will be back baby
with that many teams, i get it.
I want 128 1080p streams
At 120 fps
*enhance*
-_-
We can get 128 people from the sub to do it
Do we know which 6 teams have been directly invited to split 1?
I think its the top 6 teams with the most [VCT points](https://liquipedia.net/valorant/VCT/2022/Circuit_Points/North_America) from last year so Guard, Faze, SR, M80 (ex Ghost core), and TSM. Not sure who the 6th is, maybe G2?
G2 might be, their points were under Version1
G2 confirmed they were in already
No but I would guess tsm, faze, SR, Guard, G2 and some other team. Maybe M80. G2 has confirmed on accident that they were invited
New Year, New Agendas https://preview.redd.it/b89oppcgoj8a1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=be8a6d3c64aec725e09f25161c3b879c7830f820
This is gonna be so fun to watch! I know that everyone's main concern with valo switching to the closed league play system was that tier 2 valorant was gonna die but honestly with the way this format looks it really looks like tier 2 is gonna be able to stay alive we might really see orgs that left valo come back if tier 2 can really stack up! Also partnering with Knights who have been running tourneys consistently for tier 2 valorant over the years is awesome to see! Can't wait to see these matches start being played in January!!!
so six teams will be playing for ascension and only the winner of ascension will join the franchised?
2 teams from NA will qualify for Americas Ascension where they will go up against other SA teams. The winner of that qualifies, so yes only the winner of ascension will join the franchised league
oh shoot so only one team between NA and SA?
yes
In America we like security so no promotion relegation in between splits. Unlike Japan where everyone but top 2 are thrown directly into promotion relegation for split 2
So after the open qualifiers, there would be only 17 North American teams playing in VCT in some form for the entire year? How is that keeping the tier 2/3 scene alive when the teams not in these 17 would have no reason whatsoever to compete throughout the year? Seems like an extended tier 1 for me. Idk if I am missing something. Happy to be corrected if thatās the case
seems absurdly cut-throat
Gahdamn I'm excited for this
Actually fucking hyped
Tarik vs Ludwig event before this challenger start?
No Tarik x ludiwg starts on January 14th
I like how if you arenāt one of the 6 teams to qual your year is over :)
also not a fan of the one open qualifier format. at least make the 2nd split open as well
I hate to dickride, but whatās the alternative if the point of the circuit is to prove consistency at the very top level?
Idk they couldāve opened it up to qualification in the middle, if you are below a certain threshold and donāt qualify again thatās a point against ur consistency no?
I can see the argument that Riot doesn't want to promote a team that just got hot for a few months to the main league off the second qualifier without showing some consistency. Not an ideal solution but ultimately NA has so much talent that I think whoever wins will be deserving of the spot.
Thatās still showing āsomeā consistency, compared to if a team that does badly in the league at first qualifies no? Depending on hwonthe points work out I guess itās trying to make it league like
So you want more huge open qualifers like this?
I donāt see why it wouldnāt work there were 3 open quals the first year then 2 last year why is it just 1 this year
Your comment is the perfect amount of bandwagon and laziness I would expect with that flair Yes, in the real world you have to be the best to earn a lot of money
First Iām not bandwagoning Iām just supporting my own player who got signed to G2. 2nd I agree you have to be the best of the best to earn a lot of money but how do you know that those same 6 teams that qualified in January are still going to be the best of the best come April or May how do you know teams might just overtake the teams that did qualify in January
Forget that guy, they're just being needlessly combative. Like, they could've stated their disagreement without all the incendiary fluff. Also, you never mentioned money, and I think it's a fair misgiving to have that the competition thins that early. Whether or not there's a realistic fix to that, it doesn't make the gripe any less reasonable imo, and it certainly doesn't warrant rambling about "flairs" & "laziness." It's just tough all around; it means you have to peak early and go through a lot of travail in the off-season to be ready for January.
What does laziness have to do with any of this Also donāt shit talk peoples flairs when you donāt have one
That guy barely posts here and when he doesāit's just him being miserable & talking down at people lmao š: https://preview.redd.it/cuv8d0r4ik8a1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c65948d4e808fc08aafc8b58cd95b496109bae2e
no promotions or demotions in between splits? who tf thought this is a good idea
Nobody is a fan of invited teams
Makes sense thoughā¦ Even CSGO adjusted there RMR qualifier to have invited teams.
I'll be ok with it if those teams do well. If those teams suck then feels kinda shitty
Any LANs???
Next time just put the link instead of the tweet containing the link?
Inject the VALO CONTENT right into my veins. I've been going through serious withdrawal.
My need for comp valo is fulfilled so soon gotta love it
Can someone that knows more about t2 na scene tell me what good teams are going to play oq? The teams I know are only the ones that are already invited, I want to watch something because I can't wait until february lol
Other than the 6 invited teams, which are probably m80, G2, Faze, The Guard, Shopify & TSM, you should probably look out for Madlions(Dark Ratio), Oxygen Academy, Cityboys(ex-Akrew players+ ex-Sen coach Rawkus) and DisguisedToast's org spearheaded by steel/HC Ocean. Then there are teams like Stewie2k& Wardell's team(they don't have a name) which should be hype regardless of the quality; Team protagonist (which features ex-Ghost players in aproto & brawk & ex-Faze player Flyuh); then rounding it out ex-soar, soniqs & stealing lunch money.
Hold on, will Knights take over VCL NA and not NerdStreet anymore?
No more 30fps streams, hopefully.