Paper Rex is just about to finish winning the Masters Toronto 2025 and already all eyes on VCT EMEA Stage 2. Everything VALORANT esports fans need to know about it is in this guide.
VCT EMEA Stage 2’s format is similar to that of Stage 1. This time around, teams are looking to qualify for VALORANT Champions, the final event of the first-person shooter season of Riot Games. A dozen teams are divided into Group Alpha and Group Omega, playing best of three to each other. The top four teams from each pool shall advance to Playoffs.
Especially successful groups will view their respective placements as starting points in the Playoffs Group winners move to upper bracket semi-finals directly. The teams that finish second and third enter the first round of the upper bracket. The teams that finish in fourth place will begin their Playoff journey in the first round of the lower bracket.
During the Playoffs, the matches will be in a BO3 format. However, the lower bracket final and the Grand Final will be in a BO5 format to declare the winner of Stage 2.
Road to VCT Champions Paris
The finalists of the Stage 2 Playoffs will automatically qualify for Champions Paris, while other qualifying teams will be determined based on the total championship points earned this season. Fnatic have 14 points and are first in the standings after losing to Paper Rex in the finals at Masters Toronto.
The 2025 VCT EMEA Stage 2 started on July 16, 2025, and took place over five weeks until August 15. There is a little break before the Playoffs which are from August 21st to 24th. The upper bracket final and lower bracket semi-final will happen on the playoff’s last weekend on August 29. The lower bracket final will take place on August 30.
The Grand Final will take place on August 31st, 2025, to conclude the season. You can secure your tickets for the first three weeks of matches at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin right now. For tickets to subsequent weeks, there will be releases every Wednesday at 5 PM BST.
2023-2024 VCT EMEA Stage 2 Map Pool received a fresh lineup
With Stage 2, the map pool undergoes changes. Corrode enters the fray as its own competition while Bind returns. As a result, Pearl and Split are out of rotation leaving the maps below in play.
- Corrode.
- Lotus.
- Icebox.
- Haven.
- Bind.
- Ascent.
- Sunset.
Meet the Teams Competing in VCT EMEA Stage 2 2025
The participant lineup has not changed from Stage 1. There are 10 partner league teams and 2 teams from the 2023 and 2024 Ascension. The competing teams are.
- Fnatic.
- Team Heretics.
- Team Liquid.
- BBL Esports.
- NAVI.
- FUT Esports.
- Karmine corp and Team Vitality
- KOI.
- GIANTX.
- Gentle Mates.
- Apeks.
How to Watch the VCT EMEA Stage 2 2025 Live.
Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok will have official broadcasts for fans to follow the VCT EMEA Stage 2. Various content creators will also co-stream the EMEA VALORANT Masters and provide insights from their perspectives about the top-tier VALORANT esports scene.