Top Picks Valorant Challenger League Teams to Watch for the 2025 Partnership League

The 2024 Valorant esports season concluded with Edward Gaming’s historic victory at the Valorant Champions 2024. This triumph signifies a crucial moment in Valorant’s competitive landscape as the scene looks ahead to the 2025 season. One of the major changes is the prioritization of Valorant Challenger League teams for entering the Valorant Partnership League in 2025, a development set to reshape the game’s ecosystem.

As the 2025 Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) season approaches, significant adjustments are on the horizon, particularly regarding the number of teams and the qualification process for the Valorant Champions. Notably, 12 teams will be integrated in 2025 following the VCT Ascension 2024 tournament. Qualified teams must secure their place for the Valorant Champions 2025 in France to maintain their position for the 2026 season.

For a deeper dive into Valorant’s evolving esports scene, check out our article on Edward Gaming’s historic triumph at Valorant Champions 2024, or learn how to master Agent Vyse in Valorant.

Priority for Challenger League Teams in 2025

Valorant’s global head of esports, Leo Fraria, has confirmed that teams competing in the Valorant Challenger Leagues will now be given priority for entry into the VCT Partnership Program. In a response to Bo Hoogland, head of esports strategy for Valorant Challengers North: Polaris, Fraria stated:

“Yes, absolutely. Teams must still meet our partnership criteria, but organizations present in the Challenger Leagues will indeed have priority as soon as a spot becomes available.”

This commitment from Riot Games marks a significant shift in selecting teams for the VCT Partnership League, favoring Challenger teams that demonstrate potential and enhancing Valorant’s competitive ecosystem.

This new approach could transform the Challenger Leagues into a hotbed of high-quality talent, with teams striving to stand out and be considered for partnership. It could also contribute to a healthy competitive balance between the VCT and Challenger circuits, ensuring stability across Valorant’s esports scene.

Partnership Selection Criteria

While Challenger teams are given priority, they must still meet Riot Games’ strict criteria to secure a partnership. Each team’s performance and commitment to the competitive scene are re-evaluated each season.

Collaborating with high-performing teams ensures thrilling competitions and keeps both the VCT and Challenger leagues attractive to fans and sponsors, providing teams with the chance to shine and secure a partnership.

Outlook for Valorant Esports

Riot Games previously stated that Challenger Leagues weren’t designed to be profitable independently but served as training grounds for new talent. However, with this new priority for Challenger teams in the partnership program, the dynamics of investment and competition in these leagues could change.

Fraria also confirmed that the new partnership cycle will begin in 2027, giving Challenger teams a window of opportunity to position themselves and prepare for potential inclusion in the VCT Partnership Program.