The VCT 2027 Kickoff Open Qualifiers will begin in South Asia on November 17. Riot Games has partnered with JioBLAST to run the event, and 2 teams will earn a place at Kickoff APAC. The announcement came from Mumbai on November 3. Registrations are open until November 13 at midnight. A Swiss stage opens the tournament, and the Playoffs follow from November 23 to 29. All players need a minimum rank of Ascendant 1.
Below are the schedule, format, eligibility rules, and viewing details.
VCT 2027 Kickoff Open Qualifiers schedule and format
Riot Games and JioBLAST will stage the VCT 2027 Kickoff Open Qualifiers for teams across South Asia. The event is the season-opening pathway for the 2027 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT). Two teams will qualify for Kickoff APAC.
The Open Qualifiers run from November 17 to 20 in a Swiss-stage format. The top 8 teams then move on to the Playoffs.
The Playoffs take place from November 23 to 29 in a double-elimination bracket. The 2 teams that come through will advance to Kickoff APAC.
Teams can register until November 13 at midnight. The sign-up page is jioblast.com/vctsakickoff.
The table below sums up the key dates:
| Stage | Dates | Format | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Qualifiers | November 17 to 20 | Swiss stage | Top 8 teams reach the Playoffs |
| Playoffs | November 23 to 29 | Double-elimination bracket | 2 teams advance to Kickoff APAC |
Registration and eligibility rules
Teams must register on jioblast.com/vctsakickoff before the deadline. Registration closes 10 days after the announcement.
Every player must hold a minimum current rank of Ascendant 1. Players must also meet the age, residency, account, and other requirements in the official tournament rules. Teams should read those rules on the official tournament website before they sign up.
What Kickoff APAC means for the 2 qualifying teams
The press release says 2 teams will qualify for Kickoff APAC. Riot’s VCT Pacific 2027 format explains the next step. The 2 South Asian teams join the Kickoff Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). That LCQ has 4 teams: the 2 from South Asia, the Oceania playoffs winner, and the runner-up of the Southeast Asia playoffs.
The LCQ winner takes the final Open slot at VCT Pacific 2027 Kickoff in Bangkok. Kickoff has 12 teams in total, with 8 partner teams and 4 Open teams. The event uses a triple-elimination bracket. The top 3 teams reach the first Masters event of the year, Masters Seoul.
South Asia is 1 of 8 Pacific regions running Open Qualifiers for VCT 2027. Riot is holding Open Qualifiers across 16 regions worldwide. For the full breakdown, read our guide to the VCT Pacific 2027 format.
Where to watch the Playoffs
The Playoffs will stream live on the official JioBLAST and VALORANT YouTube channels. JioTV will also carry the broadcast.
Fans can follow the official JioBLAST and VALORANT Esports social media channels for updates. Those channels will share tournament news and further information.
What Riot Games and JioBLAST said
Charlie Cowdrey, CEO of JioBLAST, said the future of esports depends on creating “meaningful opportunities for emerging talent” to compete. He said BLAST’s global relationship with Riot Games now extends to India through JioBLAST. He added that the partnership gives teams a clear pathway to pursue their ambitions.
Anushka Bhatnagar, Publishing Lead for Riot Games India and South Asia, said the VCT 2027 format makes VALORANT Esports “more accessible.” She said Riot is pleased to partner with JioBLAST to bring the opportunity to the region. She added that Riot will keep building the VALORANT competitive ecosystem in South Asia.
