Exclusive: VCT EMEA executives discuss the Tier 1 scenario, Challengers, Game Changers, and more

During the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Grand Finals, esports.gg and other media outlets had the opportunity to sit down with the region's executives Daniel Ringland (Head of VALORANT Esports EMEA), Jonathan Tilbury (Head of VCT EMEA), and Tomek Borowka (Esports Product Manager for Challengers and Game Changers EMEA) to discuss the current state and future of the VALORANT EMEA competitive scene.

When asked by esports.gg about potential schedule conflicts between League of Legends (LoL) and VCT EMEA, particularly following the introduction of LoL Game Changers Rising, Daniel Ringland assured fans that the goal is never to force them to choose between competitions.

The EMEA team always works to avoid schedule overlaps, Ringland stated. For example, the Challengers games don't happen at the same time as the VCT EMEA ones. Not only would this overlap cause constraints to the fans, as it would bring problems to the broadcasters who cover both of the competitions. However, sometimes it is impossible not to overlap some tournaments.

In 2025, the VALORANT Challengers Leagues introduced a new competitive system. Borowka says it has already proven to work “really well for fans, teams, and players alike.” After surveying the organizations involved, Riot received positive feedback on the changes. According to Borowka, teams agreed that the format is “more competitive and offers greater visibility across the board.”

He added, “The reduction made it easier for fans to follow the competition. What we’re seeing now is a highly competitive, diverse field across Challengers EMEA 1, 2, and 3, clear proof that the talent pool in the region is really deep.”

Ringland emphasized the importance of aligning Premier with Challengers, allowing fans to follow standout moments when Premier teams make their way into the competitive scene.

Regarding the Ascension expansion from six to eight teams, Borowka sees it as a valuable opportunity for more teams to reach Tier 1 competition while maintaining a sustainable path. However, he acknowledged that the sustainability of Tier 2 teams remains a concern. He assured it will be addressed in the coming year. So far, the strategy can't be revealed, but the team has been actively working on it.

“We built Game Changers for the players,” Borowka explained. “It’s a platform that lets them compete in a safe environment while elevating them and providing an inclusive pathway to the pro scene.” He added that the tournament also offers a chance to see greater personal and character development from players aiming to take the next step. The ultimate goal is to build an ecosystem that creates more opportunities for players at every level.

The Spotlight Series EMEA was a success in 2024. Now, the EMEA team is aiming for a similar outcome with Project Blender in 2025.

In a retrospective of this year's work, each VCT EMEA executive revealed the moments they are most proud of.

Daniel Ringland: "I would say the broadcast experiences. This year, we prepared more funny and cool broadcast moments. For example, moving the broadcast outside, with sand. These sorts of things that we can get positive feedback from the viewers."

Tomek Borowka: "I'm the most excited about what we are trying to do with the Game Changers finals. It was absolutely amazing last year; we had a great time. We want to improve the experience there, both on-site experience and the broadcast. It is definitely something we are looking forward to. On the Challengers/Ascension side, we are trying to do something new with eight teams on a LAN in the Riot Games Arena. It is something new for us and allows a new experience for both the players and fans. The idea is to create a more intimate moment, where everyone is around, pure true esports vibe, talking, hanging out, and playing the game."

Jonathan Tilbury: "First, we are really proud of having a team that worked around the tech issues on Stage 1. They were able to quickly identify what was wrong with the help of the pro-players, because there are some things that only they can notice. The other thing is the amazing broadcast team we have, and their effort to improve the core game experience. We have been thinking about how we can make the experience better for those fans who have been watching the official broadcast, but also for others who want to watch VCT the way they want. What we wanted to do was to try to find a way of actually providing streamers with more tools, more storytelling, etc. We also made a big investment in stats this split. That really makes a difference, making it a lot easier to follow the VCT as a casual fan."

In fact, the VCT EMEA tech pauses were reduced by 80%, as it was revealed by the VCT EMEA executives.

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