The next major Asian VALORANT tournament will be underway soon
The open qualifications for VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Stage 3 Challengers 1 have concluded in Japan, Korea, and the SEA region, with several teams rose to the occasion over the week, while others fell short when it counted the most.
The VCT Asia Stage 3 Challengers 1 main event will sees eight regions divided into three divisions to duke it out as the Challengers 1 champion. This time around, SEA, Korea, and Japan will each send two representatives to Masters 3 in Berlin, which will take place from September 9-19. With that in mind, VALO2ASIA has prepared comprehensive information regarding teams, changes, and more in eight regional Challengers across Asia.
ALSO READ: VCT 2021 Stage 3 Challengers SEA – format, broadcast, schedule, and more
🇹🇭 Thailand
Thailand’s representation at SEA Challengers Playoffs Stage 2, X10 Esports, and FULL SENSE are invited to the first Challengers. They will be joined by familiar faces such Foxy Araikordai, Sharper Esports, and Renatus, a former Beyond CS:GO team.
The victor of VCT Thailand Stage 3 Challengers 1 will earn a guaranteed spot in the SEA Challengers Playoffs as well as the first-place prize of TH18,000 (US$560). The remaining three teams in the final standings will move on to the Challengers 2 main event and avoid playing through the open qualifier a second time.
The competition will take place from July 8 to July 11, with all matches being played in best-of-three (BO3) format, with the exception of the LB Rounds 1, 2, and Grand Final.
Roster changes highlights from Stage 2:
- Patiphan “Patiphan” Chaiwong has been placed on the X10 inactive roster due to a wrist injury
- Nattawat “SuperBusS” Yoosawat moves to the main squad of FULL SENSE as Theethawat “Zelyn” Taechavitidkhul retires from competitive play
- Sarindhorn “JinNy” Wanothayarnchai steps down from Foxy Araikordai, replaced by former MiTH member Thanaphat “THEE” Limpaphan
Thai: VALORANT TH Facebook, ESL TH Twitch, ESL TH YouTube, ESL TH Facebook
| X10 Esports | LYNX TH |
| FULL SENSE | 47 Gaming |
| Renatus | Sharper Esport |
| Foxy Araikordai | Need Sponsor |
🇮🇩 Indonesia
The Indonesia Challengers witnessed surprising results, with Alter Ego losing in Round 2 to Scaroo’s, while RRQ was eliminated in the same round by XcN. Formerly known as WOLFPACK, Mencari Tempat Berlabuh will be a new competitor in this Challengers stage.
The winner of VCT Indonesia Stage 3 Challengers 1 will get a guaranteed spot in the SEA Challengers Playoffs as well as the first-place prize of Rp25,000,000 (US$1,720). The remaining three teams in the final standings will move on to the Challengers 2 main event and avoid playing through the open qualifier a second time.
The competition will take place from July 9 to July 11, with all matches being played in best-of-three (BO3) format, with the exception of the Grand Final.
Roster changes highlights from Stage 2:
- BOOM Esports bring in Saibani “fl1pzjder” Rahmat to replace Adrian “adrnking” Setiawan; Dong “meow” Ji joins in as coach
- Bigetron Astro introduce two new players: Oliver “budimeisteR” Wangge, Rey “Vasvalizz” Pardede; Radya “Rapheleen“ Ramadhanta signed on a permanent basis
- XcN pick up Willy “sayoo” Ivandra on a trial basis
- MORPH Team replace Hafizh “6ftdeep” Havillah with Nico “Nayy” Alvanius
- VVV field Sergio “no1syboy” Rahardja, Samuel “FireZs” Santosa instead of Kevin “xccurate” Susanto and mulyoNO
Bahasa Indonesia: VALORANT ID Facebook, VALORANT Esports ID YouTube
| BOOM Esports | MORPH Team |
| Somnium Esports | ONIC Esports |
| XcN Gaming | Mencari Tempat Berlabuh |
| Bigetron Astro | VVV |
🇵🇭 Philippines
Bren Esports and Zeal Esports (formerly as 6045pirates) hold their spot as the previous representatives of the Philippines at the SEA Challengers Playoffs Stage 2. South Built Esports, a former Bren CS:GO squad, will make its debut appearance on the official stage. Meanwhile, Galaxy Racer, the runner-up in the SteelSeries Prime Tournament Philippines, will aim to make a strong statement in the tournament.
The winner of Philippines Stage 3 Challengers 1 will get a guaranteed spot in the SEA Challengers Playoffs as well as the first-place prize of PH₱100,000 (US$2,025).
The competition will take place from July 9 to July 11, with all matches being played in best-of-three (BO3) format, with the exception of the Grand Final.
Roster changes highlights from Stage 2:
- SV Empire bring in Batghost and Symbol to replace Tr1x and Hotsauz
- SR Kadiliman introduces three new faces to the lineup: Helian, Maxeee, and Myd Mathers
- SE Atlas replace Kidlat with YMONstah
Tagalog: PPGL Facebook
English: PPGL Twitch
| Bren Esports | Zeal Esports |
| Galaxy Racer | SE Atlas |
| DR Esports | SV Empire |
| South Built Esports | SR Kadiliman |
🇭🇰 🇹🇼 Hong Kong & Taiwan
CBT Gaming will reclaim the spot as the previous representative in the SEA Challengers Playoffs.. Griffin E-Sports and Five Ace e-Sports are the familiar names coming in to the competition, with the rest are looking to prove their worth to qualify for SEA Challengers Playoffs this time around.
The winner of VCT Hong Kong & Taiwan Stage 3 Challengers 1 will get a guaranteed spot in the SEA Challengers Playoffs as well as the first-place prize of US$2,000. The remaining three teams in the final standings will move on to the Challengers 2 main event and avoid playing through the open qualifier a second time.
It will take place from July 9 to July 11, with all matches being played in best-of-three (BO3) format, with the exception of the Grand Final.
Roster changes highlights from Stage 2:
- CBT Gaming replace Kao “Kant” Wei-Teng and Yongkang “ZmjjKK” Zheng with Tsai “W1nner” Hong-wei and Zhang “BerLIN” Bolin
Mandarin: Talon Esports Twitch
| CBT Gaming | Team GMM |
| TYPHOONS | Water |
| Five Ace eSports | TGPA |
| Griffin E-Sports | Horse Victory |
🇲🇾 🇸🇬 Malaysia & Singapore
Three new faces will join the Malaysian and Singaporean Challengers: UwU, Underank, and Saints. Meanwhile, Zero Synergy has returned after a brief appearance in Stage 1 Challengers 1. The region’s top four sides have all made modest adjustments. Paper Rex hold their spot as the previous representatives of MY&SG at the SEA Challengers Playoffs Stage 2.
The winner of VCT Malaysia & Singapore Stage 3 Challengers 1 will get a guaranteed spot in the SEA Challengers Playoffs as well as the first-place prize of SG$2,080 (US$1,544). The remaining three teams in the final standings will move on to the Challengers 2 main event and avoid playing through the open qualifier a second time.
The competition will take place from July 9 to July 11, with all matches being played in best-of-three (BO1) format, with the exception of the Upper Final (BO3), Lower Final (BO3), and Grand Final (BO5).
Malaysia will have a 63 percent participation in the VCT SG&MY Stage 3 Challengers 1, followed by Singapore and Indonesia with 30% and 7%, respectively.
Roster changes highlights from Stage 2:
- Teng “shiba” Toh takes the position of Kumaresan “Tommy” Ramani in Paper Rex.
- Wang Jing “Jinggg” Jie and Ingram “Freyr” Tan join Team SMG in lieu of Javier “Egoist” Chua and Lee “LEXY” Xavier
- Kingsmen sign former Todak player Mathanraj “theDoctorr” Munisparan; Ammar “nomfu” Amir stepped down from the roster
- Zero Synergy bring in donut, palapapapaa and SicariuS
English: TGC Twitch
| Paper Rex | Team SMG |
| TODAK | Kingsmen |
| UwU | Underank |
| Saints | Zero Synergy |
🇻🇳 Vietnam
While Vietnam joined the buzz later than the others, the excitement is palpable, particularly given that the prize pool is almost four times that of the other regions. Only Fancy United made squad changes among the seven teams that were requalified for Stage 3 Challengers 1. Kanatic Gaming, one of eight teams, has a unique composition: two French-Vietnamese and one German-Vietnamese, with another two Vietnamese roundings out the roster.
The winner of VCT Vietnam Stage 3 Challengers 1 will get a guaranteed spot in the SEA Challengers Playoffs as well as the first-place prize of VND100,000,000 (US$4,538). The remaining three teams in the final standings will move on to the Challengers 2 main event and avoid playing through the open qualifier a second time.
The competition will take place from July 9 to July 11, with all matches being played in best-of-three (BO3) format, with the exception of the Grand Final.
Roster changes highlights from Stage 2:
- Fancy United Esports replace Raz and Ch1ckenBell with KillerS and Rondo
Youtube: VALORANT Vietnam Youtube
| CERBERUS Esports | FEARUS |
| Steal Your Glory | DivisionX Gaming |
| EGO | EGO Esports |
| Fancy United Esports | Kantic Gaming |
🇯🇵 Japan
This time around, just a few Stage 2 teams returned. Absolute JUPITER, Northeption, and Crazy Raccoon will make their comeback to the stage, while BlackBird Ignis qualified after three unsuccessful tries in the previous three open qualifications for Stages 1 and 2.
The top two standings from each group of VCT Japan Stage 3 Challengers 1 will get guaranteed spots in the Japan Challengers Playoffs. The remaining four teams in the final standings will move on to the Challengers 2 main event and avoid playing through the open qualifier a second time.
The competition will take place from July 10 to July 11, with all matches being played in best-of-two (BO2) format.
Roster changes highlights from Stage 2:
- Northeption replace Nerufi with former FAV Gaming player Tenta “ten” Asai
- Absolute JUPITER bring in Akastuki “makiba” Miyamoto; extend to seven-man roster
- Crazy Raccoon introduce four new players: Bazzi, Fisker, Minty, ade; rion and zephyr stepped down from the lineup
- BlackBird Ignis replace NeokinG with Pepper
Japanese: VALORANT Japan Twitch
| Icicle Conflict | SETOUCHI ENLIFE |
| Storks Phalanx | Gaming Team Selecter |
| Absolute JUPITER | BlackBird Ignis |
| Northeption | Crazy Raccoon |
🇰🇷 Korea
Korea will approach the league differently. Sixteen teams from the open qualification will compete in a best-of-three (BO3) format in a single-elimination round for seeding. Later on, the same sixteen teams will be split into four groups of four teams each in a GSL group stage with all matches being best-of-three (BO3).
The competition will take place, with the top eight teams of VCT Korea Stage 3 Challengers Stage will advance to the Challengers Playoffs.
Roster changes highlights from Stage 2:
- Vision Strikers bring in Yu “BuZz” Byung-chul, Kim “MaKo” Myeong-kwan, and Kim “Lakia” Jong-min; Kim “glow” Min-soo moves to coaching position
- NUTURN sign Jin-Woo “10X” Choi as Lakia leaves
- DAMWON Gaming replace Lee “Kelly” Tae-hyung with Kang “iNTRO” Seung-gyun
- World Game Star release Kim “Sylvan” Jin-won and Jung “Seolhwa” Jae-sung; Ko “Sylvan” Young-sub and Thanadol “newgen” Kitautcharanukul join
- F4Q replace Kim “GodDead” Sung-sin with Jeong “Esperanza” Jin-cheol
Korean: VALORANT Korea Twitch
| NUTURN Gaming | Klaus |
| DAMWON Gaming | Noble Experience |
| Vision Strikers | Unknown |
| World Game Star | GOMA |
| Prince | RYU Gaming |
| TNL Esports | DFR |
| F4Q | Alpha Six Gaming |
| GochuGaru | Mujig 100su |
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