In a surprising turn of events, Project Blender has announced the cancellation of its LAN Finals in Paris for Phase 4 due to unforeseen logistical hurdles and visa complications. Despite the setback, the VALORANT tournament will continue with an online conclusion, broadcast live from Paris by its dedicated casting team.
Changes to the Grand Finale
Sources have stated, “We regret to announce a change in the organisation of our final phase.” Initially, the best-of-three Grand Final and the Third Place Match were scheduled to occur offline in Paris. However, due to the challenges faced, these final stages will now proceed online. The tournament’s climax, initially set for an in-person showdown, has been reimagined as an online event due to logistical and visa issues.
The tournament has captivated audiences since October, with Phase 4 now underway. Sixteen teams, including well-known VCT names like Team Vitality, are competing for the €40,000 prize pool. The action commenced with the Round of 16, with the top eight teams advancing to the Quarter Finals on December 12th. The Finals will take place on December 13th and 14th, maintaining a single-elimination format throughout.
What is Project Blender?
First announced in July, Project Blender is an off-season VALORANT tournament open to players from the EMEA region across all competitive tiers. The competition stands out not only for its prize pool distribution but also for its innovative ‘Blender Draft’ rule, which prevents teams from choosing the same agents for consecutive maps. Project Blender is structured into four phases, each with distinct participation requirements and seeding criteria. Phase 2 notably included a co-ed competition, Blender Spotlight, which secured the winning team a direct entry into Phase 3.