Riot Games and JioBLAST will stage the VCT 2027 Kickoff Open Qualifiers for South Asia beginning 17 November 2026, creating a route for two teams to enter Kickoff APAC and continue toward the VCT Pacific season.
The announcement was made in Mumbai on 3 November. Teams can register until midnight on 13 November through the JioBLAST tournament website. The competition will open with a Swiss stage from 17 to 20 November, followed by a double-elimination playoff bracket running from 23 to 29 November.
Two teams will advance from the South Asia event
The opening stage will reduce the field to eight teams for the playoffs. The two teams that survive the double-elimination bracket will earn places in Kickoff APAC, placing them on the next step of the regional VCT pathway. The event is described as the season-opening route into the 2027 VALORANT Champions Tour.
| Stage | Dates | Format or outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Until midnight, 13 November 2026 | Teams submit entries through JioBLAST |
| Open Qualifiers | 17–20 November 2026 | Swiss stage; top eight reach the playoffs |
| Playoffs | 23–29 November 2026 | Double elimination; two teams advance to Kickoff APAC |
For players and teams in the wider Asia-Pacific ecosystem, the qualification structure links several regional competitions. The two South Asian qualifiers will join the Kickoff Last Chance Qualifier, alongside the Oceania playoffs winner and the runner-up from the Southeast Asia playoffs. The winner of that four-team LCQ will receive the final Open slot at VCT Pacific.
Rank and eligibility requirements
Every player entering the South Asia qualifiers must hold a minimum current rank of Ascendant 1. Teams and players must also satisfy the age, residency, account and other requirements listed in the official tournament rules. The registration information directs participants to review those rules before submitting a team.
- Registration closes at midnight on 13 November 2026.
- The Swiss stage runs from 17 to 20 November.
- The playoffs run from 23 to 29 November.
- Two teams advance to Kickoff APAC.
- All players need at least the current rank of Ascendant 1.
The South Asia qualifier is separate from the Southeast Asia playoffs, but its result can affect the final route into VCT Pacific through the LCQ. That makes the November tournament relevant to the broader regional competitive calendar, including teams tracking the path toward the 2027 Pacific season. The announcement provides the schedule, registration process and qualification structure; viewing details are tied to the event information published by JioBLAST.
