ULF Esports and BBL PCIFIC earn VCT EMEA 2026 promotion

The VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Ascension EMEA reached its thrilling conclusion between Saturday and Sunday, where the final matches determined which teams would ascend to the VCT EMEA League for 2026. After intense back-to-back series, ULF Esports and BBL PCIFIC emerged victorious, securing their promotion and joining the region’s top tier next season.

ULF Esports Dominate

ULF Esports’ journey was defined by consistency and dominance. They blazed through the group stage with a clean 2-0 record, losing only one map along the way. In the playoffs, they met Mandatory in a Bo5.

Despite the second map on Sunset going into overtime, ULF remained steady, executing when it mattered most to claim a 3-0 sweep. Their performance gave fans a glimpse of what they could hope to expect as they step into the 2026 VCT EMEA battlefield.

BBL PCIFIC’s Comeback

On the other side of the bracket, BBL PCIFIC followed a similar storyline but had to grind harder in their playoff match against DNSTY. After a shaky start on DNSTY’s pick of Lotus, BBL PCIFIC switched gears, finding their rhythm and storming through the next three maps to complete a 3-1 comeback victory.

The Affiliate Partnership Adjustment

With their promotion to VCT EMEA 2026, BBL PCIFIC will dissolve its joint structure as per league regulations. Initially formed through a partnership between PCIFIC Esports and BBL Esports, the team competed under a shared banner during the 2025 season.

However, since BBL already holds a partnered spot in the league, the collaboration cannot continue. The roster now has to compete solely under PCIFIC Esports in the upcoming season (unless they get bought out by another org). A similar scenario occurred in 2024 when Apeks, previously affiliated with Team Liquid, had to end their partnership upon Ascension promotion, ensuring no conflict of interests occur.

Unlike other regions where at least one team made consecutive promotions, both new entrants – ULF Esports and BBL PCIFIC – are first-time contenders making their VCT EMEA debut. After Gentle Mates and Apeks ended their 2025 campaigns in very poor fashion, the community hopes these new teams can inject new energy and competitiveness into the league’s 2026 season.

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Featured Image Source: Riot Games