VALORANT Champions 2023: Schedule, format, dates, and more

The biggest VALORANT event of the year, VCT 2023 - Champions, is right around the corner, and this time, the competition will be held in Los Angeles. The time difference is an issue in almost every international tournament. If you reside in a different place other than the United States, Canada, or the surrounding countries, get ready for sleepless nights because VALORANT Champions 2023 is here!

VALORANT Champions 2023 Teams

This year, there are 16 teams from all across the globe to compete at the highest level in Los Angeles. The best of the VCT 2023 Americas League, EMEA League, Pacific League, and China have come together to show each other who the boss is. These teams have been drawn into four different groups, and just like the previous years, losers will have a chance to hold onto their dreams in the lower bracket. Here are all the teams that will represent their regions at VALORANT Champions 2023:

Group A

• Paper Rex
• KRÜ Esports
• EDward Gaming
• GIANTX

Group B

• FunPlus Phoenix
• Evil Geniuses
• FUT Esports
• T1

Group C

• Fnatic
• ZETA DIVISION
• Bilibili Gaming
• NRG Esports

Group D

• Natus Vincere
• Team Liquid
• LOUD
• DRX

VALORANT Champions 2023 Format

VALORANT Champions 2023 will have a similar format compared to recent years. The tournament will start with the group stage, where 16 teams have been drawn into four different groups of four. Teams will battle in a double-elimination GSL format, and all matches will be BO3. Only the top two teams in each group will advance to the playoffs, and the last two will book early tickets to home.

There will be a two-day off after the group stage comes to an end, and the playoff participants will get ready for their opponents. Playoffs will also be played in a double-elimination format, and all matches will be BO3, except the Lower Bracket Final and the Grand Final, which will be BO5.

VALORANT Champions 2023 Prize Pool

Riot Games have set this year’s prize pool to $2,250,000, and the winner of this year’s biggest VALORANT tournament will take home a prize of a million dollars. Here is a full breakdown of the prize pool distribution:

• 1st - $1,000,000
• 2nd - $400,000
• 3rd - $250,000
• 4th - $130,000
• 5-6 - $85,000
• 7-8 - $50,000
• 9-12 - $30,000
• 13-16 - $20,000

VALORANT Champions 2023 Schedule

VALORANT Champions 2023 will start on August 6 with the group stage matches, and the grand final will be played 20 days after the start. Group stage games will come to an end on August 13, and the playoff participants will be set according to the results. Unfortunately, some teams will bid farewell to the sunny L.A. weather while others will continue the grind after a 2-day break. The playoffs will start on August 16 with the upper bracket matches. This year’s biggest VALORANT team will be clear after the grand final game on August 26. Here is the full schedule, including the group stage and playoffs:

Group Stage

August 6

• Team Liquid - Natus Vincere | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST
• DRX - LOUD | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST

August 7

• FUT Esports - T1 | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST
• Evil Geniuses - FunPlus Phoenix | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST
• Natus Vincere - DRX | 6 p.m. PT | 3 a.m. CEST (Group D Winners)

August 8

• Paper Rex - KRÜ Esports | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST
• EDward Gaming - Giants | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST
• Evil Geniuses - FUT Esports | 6 p.m. PT | 3 a.m. CEST (Group B Winners)

August 9

• Bilibili Gaming - NRG | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST
• Fnatic - ZETA DIVISION | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST
• Paper Rex - EDG | 6 p.m. PT | 3 a.m. CEST (Group A Winners)

August 10

• Fnatic - Bilibili Gaming | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST (Group C Winners)
• Team Liquid - LOUD | | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST (Group D Losers)
• FunPlus Phoenix - T1 | 6 p.m. PT | 3 a.m. CEST (Group B Losers)

August 11

• KRÜ Esports - Giants | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST (Group A Losers)
• ZETA DIVISION - NRG | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST (Group C Losers)

August 12

• Natus Vincere - LOUD | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST (Group D Decider)
• FUT Esports - T1 | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST (Group B Decider)

August 13

• EDward Gaming - Giants | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST (Group A Decider)
• Bilibili Gaming - NRG | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST (Group C Decider)

Playoffs

August 16

• Fnatic - LOUD | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST (Upper Round 1)
• Paper Rex - FUT Esports | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST (Upper Round 1)

August 17

• DRX - Bilibili Gaming | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST (Upper Round 1)
• Evil Geniuses - EDward Gaming | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST (Upper Round 1)

August 18

• TBD - TBD | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST (Lower Round 1)
• TBD - TBD | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST (Lower Round 1)

August 19

• TBD - TBD | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST (Upper Round 2)
• TBD - TBD | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST (Upper Round 2)

August 20

• TBD - TBD | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST (Lower Round 2)
• TBD - TBD | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST (Lower Round 2)

August 24

• TBD - TBD | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST (Upper Final)
• TBD - TBD | 3 p.m. PT | 12 a.m. CEST (Lower Round 3)

August 25

• TBD - TBD | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST (Lower Final)

August 26

• TBD - TBD | 12 p.m. PT | 9 p.m. CEST (Grand Final)

VALORANT Champions 2023 Los Angeles Venue

The competition will start in the Shrine Expo Hall and move to the Kia Forum in the later rounds. Shrine Expo Hall can welcome 6,300 fans, but the number goes up to 17,500 in Kia Forum.

How to watch VALORANT Champions 2023

VALORANT Champions 2023 will be broadcast live on the official VALORANT Twitch and YouTube channels. Luckily, that is not it. The tournament is expected to be staged live on regional VALORANT channels too. These live streams will be hosted by local shoutcasters and, of course, in the local language. Besides, the biggest VALORANT streamers will also co-stream the action. Due to time differences, it might be hard for fans worldwide, but considering the excitement and opportunities, most matches will be worth the wait!

VALORANT Champions 2023 Bundle

Riot Games recently revealed the VALORANT Champions 2023 Bundle, which includes a Vandal and a knife skin. It also comes with a Player Card, Gun Buddy, and a special Spray, all designed just for the event.

In the past years, Riot celebrated the event by releasing a skin package that players may buy in-game to demonstrate their support for the competition, with 50% of the net proceeds going equally to the competing teams.

VALORANT Champions 2023 Song

Grabbitz and bbno$ came together to feature in the VALORANT Champions 2023 song, “Ticking Away.” Riot Games called it the “anthem” of this year’s biggest VALORANT event, and it got over 500k views in its initial 8 hours. You can listen to the song below:

How to buy VALORANT Champions 2023 tickets

It is truly a one-in-a-lifetime experience, and if you want to live the spirit live at the venue, you must buy VALORANT Champions 2023 tickets. Luckily, Riot Games have a very brief policy about tickets, and you can buy them with just a couple of clicks. The tournament will be held in two different places, so there are two websites to buy tickets. Here is how to buy VALORANT Champions 2023 tickets:

• Tickets for competition days taking place at the Shrine Expo Hall
• Tickets for competition days taking place at the Kia Forum

When is VALORANT Champions 2023

VALORANT Champions 2023 will start on August 6, and the winner will be set on August 20. During this 20-day time, there will be two different stages, the group stage and the playoffs.