VCT Masters Berlin format, explained

Riot needed to severely rethink the format for VCT Masters Berlin and make some last-minute changes to VALORANT’s subsequent worldwide occasion.

The 16-team match, that’s because of happen from Sept. 10 to 19 within the German capital, was originally comprised of a bunch stage adopted by a four-team elimination bracket.

Primarily based on player and fan suggestions for the proposed format, Riot made the choice on Aug. 21, simply hours after the announcement, to pivot to a extra acquainted eight-team single-elimination bracket and take away the ultimate match of the group stage. 

The thought behind the preliminary format was pushed by considerations that an eight-team knockout stage would want to start out on the identical day because the group stage would finish, forcing some groups to compete of their first knockout stage matches with none time to organize.

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“After listening to the neighborhood’s suggestions, we decided that the knockout stage draw may very well be held an earlier level within the match, which would offer groups with a clearer and earlier indication of the potential opponents, permitting them to organize for his or her first knockout stage match,” Riot said in a statement on Aug. 21. “The one extra requirement is that the knockout stage schedule will should be set after the draw.”

The brand new format for the match appears quite a bit like VCT Masters Reykjavík, however with extra groups and, in fact, the added factor of a bunch stage. 

Format

Group stage

• The group stage will embody 4 teams of 4 groups in a double-elimination format
• The highest two groups will advance to the knockout stage
• All matches might be best-of-three

Knockout stage

• The knockout stage (the playoffs) will function eight groups in a single-elimination bracket
• All matches might be best-of-three, besides the grand last on Sept. 19, which might be a best-of-five

Up from 10 groups in Masters Reykjavík, 16 groups from EMEA, North America, Brazil, Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan, and Latina America will face off within the match. Each workforce will earn circuit factors for collaborating, however the winner may also safe a spot at VALORANT’s end-of-year world championship.

The total listing of groups attending Masters Berlin may be discovered here.