2022 Valorant Champions
{{Short description|Gaming tournament}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:2022 Valorant Champions}}
{{Infobox tournament
| name = 2022 Valorant Champions
| game = Valorant
| image = 2022 Valorant Champions logo.svg
| image_size = 250px
| caption =
| location = Istanbul, Turkey
| date = August 31 – September 18
| established =
| administrator = Riot Games
| tournament_format = GSL Format (group stage)
Double Elimination (playoffs)
| host =
| venues = Volkswagen Arena Istanbul
| teams = 16
| champions = LOUD
|runner-up1 = OpTic Gaming
| mvp = Bryan "pAncada" Luna (LOUD){{cite news |last1=Lozano |first1=Kurt |title=LOUD win VALORANT Champions 2022 with 3-1 rout over OpTic |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/loud-win-valorant-champions-2022-optic-025514761.html |access-date=August 16, 2023 |work=Yahoo News |date=September 19, 2022}}
| previous = 2021
| next = 2023
}}
The 2022 Valorant Champions was an esports tournament for the video game Valorant. This was the second edition of the Valorant Champions, the crowning event of the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) for the 2022 Valorant competitive season. The tournament was held from August 31 to September 18, 2022, in Istanbul, Turkey.{{cite news |last1=Zucker |first1=Coby |title=Riot Games announces VALORANT Champions 2022 will be in Istanbul |url=https://upcomer.com/riot-games-announces-valorant-champions-2022-will-be-in-istanbul |access-date=June 22, 2022 |work=Upcomer |date=May 13, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Šimić |first1=Ivan |title=VCT is coming to Copenhagen and Istanbul in 2022 |url=https://esportsinsider.com/2022/05/valorant-istanbul-copenhagen/ |access-date=June 22, 2022 |work=Esports Insider |date=May 13, 2022}}{{cite news |date=17 August 2022 |title=Valorant Champions 2022: Everything you need to know |work=valorantesports.com |url=https://valorantesports.com/news/valorant-champions-2022-everything-you-need-to-know/en-ph |access-date=24 August 2022}}
"Fire Again" was the tournament's theme song, put together by Ashnikko.{{cite news |title=Riot releases VALORANT Champions 2022 anthem 'Fire Again'|url=https://dotesports.com/valorant/news/riot-releases-valorant-champions-2022-anthem-fire-again|work=Dot Esports|date=22 August 2022|access-date=22 August 2022}}
{{not a typo|Acend}} were the defending champions, but failed to qualify for the event after losing to G2 Esports in the VCT 2022: EMEA Last Chance Qualifier.{{cite news |last1=Manske |first1=Nadine |title= A new VCT champion will be crowned in 2022 after G2 send Acend home from EMEA LCQ |url=https://dotesports.com/valorant/news/a-new-vct-champion-will-be-crowned-in-2022-after-g2-sends-acend-home-from-the-emea-last-chance-qualifier |access-date=August 10, 2022 |work=Dot Esports |date=August 9, 2022}}
LOUD won the Valorant world championship after defeating OpTic Gaming in the finals by a score of 3–1.{{cite news |last1=Klimentov |first1=Mikhail |title=LOUD wins ‘Valorant’ world championship, defeating OpTic in Istanbul |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/esports/2022/09/18/valorant-champions-optic-loud-final/|access-date=September 19, 2022 |work=The Washington Post |date=September 18, 2022}}
Venues
Istanbul was the city chosen to host the competition. The tournament was held at the Volkswagen Arena Istanbul, with spectators from knockout stage.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" |{{Flagdeco|TUR}} Istanbul, Turkey |
| colspan="2" |Volkswagen Arena Istanbul |
| File:Valorant Champions İstanbul 2022.jpg on the first day of the knockout stage with spectators|center|196x196px]]
|{{Location map+|Istanbul|float=center|width=400|places={{Location map~ |Istanbul|lat=41.015137 |long=28.979530 |label=Istanbul |position=right}}|caption=}} |
Format
= Tournament's spots =
Sixteen teams qualified for the global crowning event of the circuit, with ten teams qualifying through points earned throughout the season, while the remaining six teams qualified via the Last Chance Qualifiers.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="3" |Qualification path ! colspan="8" |Regions |
| rowspan="2" |{{abbr|EMEA|Europe, the Middle East and Africa}}
! rowspan="2" |North America ! colspan="2" |South America ! colspan="3" |East Asia ! rowspan="2" |Asia-Pacific{{Efn|Including teams from sub-regions Indonesia, Malaysia+Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan+Hong Kong, Oceania, and South Asia|name=APAC}} |
|---|
| Brazil
!Latin America{{Efn|Latin America has 2 sub-regions LATAM North and LATAM South|name=LATAM}} !China{{Efn|Regional Circuit Points was not available for teams from China due to no have Challangers competitions in this season. Teams from China could only compete in East Asia Last Chance Qualifier with teams from Japan and South Korea.|name=China}} !Japan !S.Korea |
| style="text-align:center" |Regional Circuit Points (10 spots)
|2 |2 |1 |1 |0 |1 |1 |2 |
| style="text-align:center" |Last Chance Qualifier (6 spots)
|1 |1 | colspan="2" |2 | colspan="3" |1 |1 |
| style="text-align:center" |Total (16 spots)
!3 !3 ! colspan="2" |4 ! colspan="3" |3 !3 |
= Qualified teams =
The following teams qualified for the event:
| class="wikitable"
|+ Qualified teams for 2022 Valorant Champions | ||
| colspan="2" | Region | Team | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| colspan="2" rowspan="3" |{{abbr|EMEA|Europe, the Middle East and Africa}}
|EMEA Regional Circuit Points #1 | ||
| Fnatic
|EMEA Regional Circuit Points #2 | ||
| Team Liquid
|EMEA Last Chance Qualifier winner | ||
| colspan="2" rowspan="3" |North America
|NA Regional Circuit Points #1 | ||
| XSET
|NA Regional Circuit Points #2 | ||
| 100 Thieves
|NA Last Chance Qualifier winner | ||
| rowspan="3" | Asia-Pacific
|{{Abbr|MYSG|Malaysia + Singapore}} | Paper Rex | APAC Regional Circuit Points #1 |
| Thailand
|XERXIA Esports |APAC Regional Circuit Points #2 | ||
| Indonesia
|BOOM Esports |APAC Last Chance Qualifier winner | ||
| rowspan="3" |East Asia
|South Korea |DRX |KR Regional Circuit Points #1 | ||
| Japan
|ZETA DIVISION |JP Regional Circuit Points #1 | ||
| China
|EA Last Chance Qualifier winner | ||
| rowspan="4" | South America
| rowspan="2" |Brazil | LOUD | BR Regional Circuit Points #1 |
| Furia Esports | SA Last Chance Qualifier runner-up | |
| rowspan="2" |Latin America
|Leviatán |LATAM Regional Circuit Points #1 | ||
| KRÜ Esports
|SA Last Chance Qualifier winner |
Group stage
The group stage took place August 31 – September 8, 2022. All 16 teams were divided into 4 groups of four teams each playing in a GSL-style double-elimination format. Games were held in a best-of-three series. Only the top 2 teams in each group will qualified for the playoffs.
{{columns-start}}
{{column}}
;Group A
{{4TeamBracket-2Elim-B
| boldwinner=yes
| RD1=Round 1
| RD2=Winner's Match
| RD1b=Elimination Match
| RD2b=Decider Match
| RD3 = Qualified
| RD3-legs = 0
| RD1-text1=August 31
| RD1-seed1=
| RD1-team1=Paper Rex
| RD1-score1=2
| RD1-seed2=
| RD1-team2=Edward Gaming
| RD1-score2=1
| RD1-text2=August 31
| RD1-seed3=
| RD1-team3=Leviatán
| RD1-score3=2
| RD1-seed4=
| RD1-team4=Team Liquid
| RD1-score4=0
| RD2-text1=September 1
| RD2-seed1=
| RD2-team1=Paper Rex
| RD2-score1=0
| RD2-seed2=
| RD2-team2=Leviatán
| RD2-score2=2
| RD1b-text1=September 4
| RD1b-seed1=
| RD1b-team1=Edward Gaming
| RD1b-score1=0
| RD1b-seed2=
| RD1b-team2=Team Liquid
| RD1b-score2=2
| RD2b-text1=September 7
| RD2b-seed1=
| RD2b-team1=Paper Rex
| RD2b-score1=1
| RD2b-seed2=
| RD2b-team2=Team Liquid
| RD2b-score2=2
| RD3-seed1 = A1
| RD3-team1 = Leviatán
| RD3-seed2 = A2
| RD3-team2 = Team Liquid
}}
{{column}}
;Group B
{{4TeamBracket-2Elim-B
| boldwinner=yes
| RD1=Round 1
| RD2=Winner's Match
| RD1b=Elimination Match
| RD2b=Decider Match
| RD3 = Qualified
| RD3-legs = 0
| RD1-text1=September 1
| RD1-seed1=
| RD1-team1=OpTic Gaming
| RD1-score1=2
| RD1-seed2=
| RD1-team2=BOOM Esports
| RD1-score2=1
| RD1-text2=September 1
| RD1-seed3=
| RD1-team3=ZETA DIVISION
| RD1-score3=0
| RD1-seed4=
| RD1-team4=LOUD
| RD1-score4=2
| RD2-text1=September 2
| RD2-seed1=
| RD2-team1=OpTic Gaming
| RD2-score1=2
| RD2-seed2=
| RD2-team2=LOUD
| RD2-score2=1
| RD1b-text1=September 4
| RD1b-seed1=
| RD1b-team1=BOOM Esports
| RD1b-score1=1
| RD1b-seed2=
| RD1b-team2= ZETA DIVISION
| RD1b-score2=2
| RD2b-text1=September 7
| RD2b-seed1=
| RD2b-team1=LOUD
| RD2b-score1=2
| RD2b-seed2=
| RD2b-team2=ZETA DIVISION
| RD2b-score2=0
| RD3-seed1 = B1
| RD3-team1 = OpTic Gaming
| RD3-seed2 = B2
| RD3-team2 = LOUD
}}
{{column}}
;Group C
{{4TeamBracket-2Elim-B
| boldwinner=yes
| RD1=Round 1
| RD2=Winner's Match
| RD1b=Elimination Match
| RD2b=Decider Match
| RD3 = Qualified
| RD3-legs = 0
| RD1-text1=September 3
| RD1-seed1=
| RD1-team1=FunPlus Phoenix
| RD1-score1=2
| RD1-seed2=
| RD1-team2=KRÜ Esports
| RD1-score2=0
| RD1-text2=September 3
| RD1-seed3=
| RD1-team3=XSET
| RD1-score3=2
| RD1-seed4=
| RD1-team4=XERXIA Esports
| RD1-score4=0
| RD2-text1=September 5
| RD2-seed1=
| RD2-team1=FunPlus Phoenix
| RD2-score1=1
| RD2-seed2=
| RD2-team2=XSET
| RD2-score2=2
| RD1b-text1= September 5
| RD1b-seed1=
| RD1b-team1=KRÜ Esports
| RD1b-score1=2
| RD1b-seed2=
| RD1b-team2=XERXIA Esports
| RD1b-score2=1
| RD2b-text1=September 8
| RD2b-seed1=
| RD2b-team1=FunPlus Phoenix
| RD2b-score1=2
| RD2b-seed2=
| RD2b-team2=KRÜ Esports
| RD2b-score2=0
| RD3-seed1 = C1
| RD3-team1 = XSET
| RD3-seed2 = C2
| RD3-team2 = FunPlus Phoenix
}}
{{column}}
;Group D
{{4TeamBracket-2Elim-B
| boldwinner=yes
| RD1=Round 1
| RD2=Winner's Match
| RD1b=Elimination Match
| RD2b=Decider Match
| RD3 = Qualified
| RD3-legs = 0
| RD1-text1=September 2
| RD1-seed1=
| RD1-team1=DRX
| RD1-score1=2
| RD1-seed2=
| RD1-team2=FURIA Esports
| RD1-score2=0
| RD1-text2=September 2
| RD1-seed3=
| RD1-team3=Fnatic
| RD1-score3=1
| RD1-seed4=
| RD1-team4=100 Thieves
| RD1-score4=2
| RD2-text1=September 3
| RD2-seed1=
| RD2-team1=DRX
| RD2-score1=2
| RD2-seed2=
| RD2-team2=100 Thieves
| RD2-score2=0
| RD1b-text1=September 5
| RD1b-seed1=
| RD1b-team1=FURIA Esports
| RD1b-score1=1
| RD1b-seed2=
| RD1b-team2=Fnatic
| RD1b-score2=2
| RD2b-text1=September 8
| RD2b-seed1=
| RD2b-team1=100 Thieves
| RD2b-score1=0
| RD2b-seed2=
| RD2b-team2=Fnatic
| RD2b-score2=2
| RD3-seed1 = D1
| RD3-team1 = DRX
| RD3-seed2 = D2
| RD3-team2 = Fnatic
}}
{{columns-end}}
Knockout stage
The knockouts were a double-elimination tournament that took place September 9–18, 2022, at Volkswagen Arena, Istanbul. All matches were a best-of-three series, except for the Lower Bracket Final and the Grand Final, which were a best-of-five series.
{{8TeamBracket-2Elim-A
| boldwinner = y
| RD1 =Upper Bracket Quarterfinals
| RD2 =Upper Bracket Semifinals
| RD3 =Upper Bracket Final
| RD5 = Grand Final
| RD1b =Lower Bracket Round 1
| RD2b =Lower Bracket Quarterfinals
| RD3b =Lower Bracket Semifinals
| RD4b =Lower Bracket Final
| RD1-text1 = Match 1 – September 9
| RD1-seed1 =D1
| RD1-team1 = DRX
| RD1-score1 =2
| RD1-seed2 =C2
| RD1-team2 = FunPlus Phoenix
| RD1-score2 =0
| RD1-text2 = Match 2 – September 9
| RD1-seed3 =A1
| RD1-team3 = Leviatán
| RD1-score3 =0
| RD1-seed4 =B2
| RD1-team4 = LOUD
| RD1-score4 =2
| RD1-text3 = Match 3 – September 10
| RD1-seed5 =B1
| RD1-team5 = OpTic Gaming
| RD1-score5 = 2
| RD1-seed6 =A2
| RD1-team6 = Team Liquid
| RD1-score6 = 1
| RD1-text4 = Match 4 – September 10
| RD1-seed7 =C1
| RD1-team7 = XSET
| RD1-score7 =2
| RD1-seed8 =D2
| RD1-team8 = Fnatic
| RD1-score8 =
0
| RD2-text1 = Match 7 – September 12
| RD2-seed1 ={{abbr|W1|Winner in Match 1}}
| RD2-team1 =DRX
| RD2-score1 =0
| RD2-seed2 ={{abbr|W2|Winner in Match 2}}
| RD2-team2 =LOUD
| RD2-score2 =2
| RD2-text2 = Match 8 – September 12
| RD2-seed3 = {{abbr|W3|Winner in Match 3}}
| RD2-team3 = OpTic Gaming
| RD2-score3 =2
| RD2-seed4 ={{abbr|W4|Winner in Match 4}}
| RD2-team4 =XSET
| RD2-score4 =1
| RD3-text1 = Match 11 – September 16
| RD3-seed1 ={{abbr|W7|Winner in Match 7}}
| RD3-team1 =LOUD
| RD3-score1 = 2
| RD3-seed2 ={{abbr|W8|Winner in Match 8}}
| RD3-team2 =OpTic Gaming
| RD3-score2 = 0
| RD1b-text1 = Match 5 – September 11
| RD1b-seed1 = {{abbr|L1| Loser in Match 1}}
| RD1b-team1 = FunPlus Phoenix
| RD1b-score1 = 2
| RD1b-seed2 = {{abbr|L2| Loser in Match 2}}
| RD1b-team2 = Leviatán
| RD1b-score2 = 0
| RD1b-text2 = Match 6 – September 11
| RD1b-seed3 = {{abbr|L3| Loser in Match 3}}
| RD1b-team3 = Team Liquid
| RD1b-score3 = 0
| RD1b-seed4 ={{abbr|L4| Loser in Match 4}}
| RD1b-team4 =Fnatic
| RD1b-score4 = 2
| RD2b-text1 = Match 9 – September 13
| RD2b-seed1 ={{abbr|L8|Loser in Match 8}}
| RD2b-team1 = XSET
| RD2b-score1 = 1
| RD2b-seed2 = {{abbr|W5|Winner in Match 5 }}
| RD2b-team2 = FunPlus Phoenix
| RD2b-score2 = 2
| RD2b-text2 = Match 10 – September 13
| RD2b-seed3 ={{abbr|L7|Loser in Match 7}}
| RD2b-team3 =DRX
| RD2b-score3 = 2
| RD2b-seed4 = {{abbr|W6|Winner in Match 6}}
| RD2b-team4 = Fnatic
| RD2b-score4 = 1
| RD3b-text1 = Match 12 – September 16
| RD3b-seed1 ={{abbr|W9|Winner in Match 9}}
| RD3b-team1 = FunPlus Phoenix
| RD3b-score1 = 0
| RD3b-seed2 ={{abbr|W10|Winner in Match 10}}
| RD3b-team2 =DRX
| RD3b-score2 = 2
| RD4b-text1 = Match 13 – September 17
| RD4b-seed1 ={{abbr|L11|Loser in Match 11}}
| RD4b-team1 = OpTic Gaming
| RD4b-score1 = 3
| RD4b-seed2 ={{abbr|W12|Winner in Match 12}}
| RD4b-team2 = DRX
| RD4b-score2 = 2
| RD5-text1 = Match 14 – September 18
| RD5-seed1 ={{abbr|W11|Winner in Match 11}}
| RD5-team1 = LOUD
| RD5-score1 = 3
| RD5-seed2 ={{abbr|W13|Winner in Match 13}}
| RD5-team2 = OpTic Gaming
| RD5-score2 = 1
}}
Prize pool
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Pos
! Team ! Prize | ||
|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center" | 1st | LOUD | $300,000 |
| style="text-align:center" | 2nd | OpTic Gaming | $150,000 |
| style="text-align:center" | 3rd | DRX | $110,000 |
| style="text-align:center" | 4th | FunPlus Phoenix | $80,000 |
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center" | 5th–6th | XSET | rowspan=2 | $60,000 |
| Fnatic | ||
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center" | 7th–8th | Team Liquid | rowspan=2 | $40,000 |
| Leviatán | ||
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center" | 9th–12th | 100 Thieves | rowspan=4 | $25,000 |
| KRÜ Esports | ||
| ZETA Division | ||
| Paper Rex | ||
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center" | 13th–16th | Furia Esports | rowspan="4" | $15,000 |
| XERXIA Esports | ||
| BOOM Esports | ||
| Edward Gaming |
Notes
{{Notelist}}