# 2022 Valorant Champions

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.
"Fire Again" was the tournament's theme song, put together by Ashnikko.
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.
LOUD won the Valorant world championship after defeating OpTic Gaming in the finals by a score of 3–1.

## Venues

Istanbul was the city chosen to host the competition. The tournament was held at the Volkswagen Arena Istanbul, with spectators from knockout stage.
Istanbul, Turkey :
| Volkswagen Arena Istanbul ||
| Volkswagen Arena Istanbul on the first day of the knockout stage with spectators | Istanbul |

## 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.
| Qualification path | Regions | Regions | Regions | Regions | Regions | Regions | Regions | Regions |
| Qualification path | EMEA | North America | South America | South America | East Asia | East Asia | East Asia | Asia-Pacific |
| Qualification path | EMEA | North America | Brazil | Latin America | China | Japan | S.Korea | Asia-Pacific |
| Regional Circuit Points (10 spots) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Last Chance Qualifier (6 spots) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total (16 spots) | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |

### Qualified teams

The following teams qualified for the event:
Qualified teams for 2022 Valorant Champions :
| Region | Region | Team | Qualification |
| EMEA | EMEA | FunPlus Phoenix | EMEA Regional Circuit Points #1 |
| EMEA | EMEA | Fnatic | EMEA Regional Circuit Points #2 |
| EMEA | EMEA | Team Liquid | EMEA Last Chance Qualifier winner |
| North America | North America | OpTic Gaming | NA Regional Circuit Points #1 |
| North America | North America | XSET | NA Regional Circuit Points #2 |
| North America | North America | 100 Thieves | NA Last Chance Qualifier winner |
| Asia-Pacific | MYSG | Paper Rex | APAC Regional Circuit Points #1 |
| Asia-Pacific | Thailand | XERXIA Esports | APAC Regional Circuit Points #2 |
| Asia-Pacific | Indonesia | BOOM Esports | APAC Last Chance Qualifier winner |
| East Asia | South Korea | DRX | KR Regional Circuit Points #1 |
| East Asia | Japan | ZETA DIVISION | JP Regional Circuit Points #1 |
| East Asia | China | Edward Gaming | EA Last Chance Qualifier winner |
| South America | Brazil | LOUD | BR Regional Circuit Points #1 |
| South America | Brazil | Furia Esports | SA Last Chance Qualifier runner-up |
| South America | Latin America | Leviatán | LATAM Regional Circuit Points #1 |
| South America | Latin America | 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.

### Group A

| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Winner's Match | Winner's Match | Winner's Match | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| August 31 | August 31 | August 31 | | | | | | |
| Paper Rex | Paper Rex | 2 | | | | | | |
| Paper Rex | Paper Rex | 2 | September 1 | September 1 | September 1 | | | |
| Edward Gaming | Edward Gaming | 1 | September 1 | September 1 | September 1 | | | |
| Edward Gaming | Edward Gaming | 1 | Paper Rex | Paper Rex | 0 | | | |
| August 31 | August 31 | August 31 | Paper Rex | Paper Rex | 0 | | | |
| August 31 | August 31 | August 31 | Leviatán | Leviatán | 2 | | | |
| Leviatán | Leviatán | 2 | Leviatán | Leviatán | 2 | | | |
| Team Liquid | Team Liquid | 0 | | | | | | |
| Team Liquid | Team Liquid | 0 | | | | A1 | Leviatán | Leviatán |
| | | | | | | A2 | Team Liquid | Team Liquid |
| Elimination Match | Elimination Match | Elimination Match | Decider Match | Decider Match | Decider Match | A2 | Team Liquid | Team Liquid |
| | | | September 7 | September 7 | September 7 | | | |
| September 4 | September 4 | September 4 | Paper Rex | Paper Rex | 1 | | | |
| Edward Gaming | Edward Gaming | 0 | Team Liquid | Team Liquid | 2 | | | |
| Team Liquid | Team Liquid | 2 | | | | | | |

### Group B

| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Winner's Match | Winner's Match | Winner's Match | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| September 1 | September 1 | September 1 | | | | | | |
| OpTic Gaming | OpTic Gaming | 2 | | | | | | |
| OpTic Gaming | OpTic Gaming | 2 | September 2 | September 2 | September 2 | | | |
| BOOM Esports | BOOM Esports | 1 | September 2 | September 2 | September 2 | | | |
| BOOM Esports | BOOM Esports | 1 | OpTic Gaming | OpTic Gaming | 2 | | | |
| September 1 | September 1 | September 1 | OpTic Gaming | OpTic Gaming | 2 | | | |
| September 1 | September 1 | September 1 | LOUD | LOUD | 1 | | | |
| ZETA DIVISION | ZETA DIVISION | 0 | LOUD | LOUD | 1 | | | |
| LOUD | LOUD | 2 | | | | | | |
| LOUD | LOUD | 2 | | | | B1 | OpTic Gaming | OpTic Gaming |
| | | | | | | B2 | LOUD | LOUD |
| Elimination Match | Elimination Match | Elimination Match | Decider Match | Decider Match | Decider Match | B2 | LOUD | LOUD |
| | | | September 7 | September 7 | September 7 | | | |
| September 4 | September 4 | September 4 | LOUD | LOUD | 2 | | | |
| BOOM Esports | BOOM Esports | 1 | ZETA DIVISION | ZETA DIVISION | 0 | | | |
| ZETA DIVISION | ZETA DIVISION | 2 | | | | | | |

### Group C

| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Winner's Match | Winner's Match | Winner's Match | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| September 3 | September 3 | September 3 | | | | | | |
| FunPlus Phoenix | FunPlus Phoenix | 2 | | | | | | |
| FunPlus Phoenix | FunPlus Phoenix | 2 | September 5 | September 5 | September 5 | | | |
| KRÜ Esports | KRÜ Esports | 0 | September 5 | September 5 | September 5 | | | |
| KRÜ Esports | KRÜ Esports | 0 | FunPlus Phoenix | FunPlus Phoenix | 1 | | | |
| September 3 | September 3 | September 3 | FunPlus Phoenix | FunPlus Phoenix | 1 | | | |
| September 3 | September 3 | September 3 | XSET | XSET | 2 | | | |
| XSET | XSET | 2 | XSET | XSET | 2 | | | |
| XERXIA Esports | XERXIA Esports | 0 | | | | | | |
| XERXIA Esports | XERXIA Esports | 0 | | | | C1 | XSET | XSET |
| | | | | | | C2 | FunPlus Phoenix | FunPlus Phoenix |
| Elimination Match | Elimination Match | Elimination Match | Decider Match | Decider Match | Decider Match | C2 | FunPlus Phoenix | FunPlus Phoenix |
| | | | September 8 | September 8 | September 8 | | | |
| September 5 | September 5 | September 5 | FunPlus Phoenix | FunPlus Phoenix | 2 | | | |
| KRÜ Esports | KRÜ Esports | 2 | KRÜ Esports | KRÜ Esports | 0 | | | |
| XERXIA Esports | XERXIA Esports | 1 | | | | | | |

### Group D

| Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Winner's Match | Winner's Match | Winner's Match | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| September 2 | September 2 | September 2 | | | | | | |
| DRX | DRX | 2 | | | | | | |
| DRX | DRX | 2 | September 3 | September 3 | September 3 | | | |
| FURIA Esports | FURIA Esports | 0 | September 3 | September 3 | September 3 | | | |
| FURIA Esports | FURIA Esports | 0 | DRX | DRX | 2 | | | |
| September 2 | September 2 | September 2 | DRX | DRX | 2 | | | |
| September 2 | September 2 | September 2 | 100 Thieves | 100 Thieves | 0 | | | |
| Fnatic | Fnatic | 1 | 100 Thieves | 100 Thieves | 0 | | | |
| 100 Thieves | 100 Thieves | 2 | | | | | | |
| 100 Thieves | 100 Thieves | 2 | | | | D1 | DRX | DRX |
| | | | | | | D2 | Fnatic | Fnatic |
| Elimination Match | Elimination Match | Elimination Match | Decider Match | Decider Match | Decider Match | D2 | Fnatic | Fnatic |
| | | | September 8 | September 8 | September 8 | | | |
| September 5 | September 5 | September 5 | 100 Thieves | 100 Thieves | 0 | | | |
| FURIA Esports | FURIA Esports | 1 | Fnatic | Fnatic | 2 | | | |
| Fnatic | Fnatic | 2 | | | | | | |

## 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.
| Upper Bracket Quarterfinals | Upper Bracket Quarterfinals | Upper Bracket Quarterfinals | Upper Bracket Semifinals | Upper Bracket Semifinals | Upper Bracket Semifinals | Upper Bracket Final | Upper Bracket Final | Upper Bracket Final | | | | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final |
| Match 1 – September 9 | Match 1 – September 9 | Match 1 – September 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| D1 | DRX | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| D1 | DRX | 2 | Match 7 – September 12 | Match 7 – September 12 | Match 7 – September 12 | | | | | | | | | |
| C2 | FunPlus Phoenix | 0 | Match 7 – September 12 | Match 7 – September 12 | Match 7 – September 12 | | | | | | | | | |
| C2 | FunPlus Phoenix | 0 | W1 | DRX | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Match 2 – September 9 | Match 2 – September 9 | Match 2 – September 9 | W1 | DRX | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Match 2 – September 9 | Match 2 – September 9 | Match 2 – September 9 | W2 | LOUD | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| A1 | Leviatán | 0 | W2 | LOUD | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| A1 | Leviatán | 0 | | | | Match 11 – September 16 | Match 11 – September 16 | Match 11 – September 16 | | | | | | |
| B2 | LOUD | 2 | | | | Match 11 – September 16 | Match 11 – September 16 | Match 11 – September 16 | | | | | | |
| B2 | LOUD | 2 | | | | W7 | LOUD | 2 | | | | | | |
| Match 3 – September 10 | Match 3 – September 10 | Match 3 – September 10 | | | | W7 | LOUD | 2 | | | | | | |
| Match 3 – September 10 | Match 3 – September 10 | Match 3 – September 10 | | | | W8 | OpTic Gaming | 0 | | | | | | |
| B1 | OpTic Gaming | 2 | | | | W8 | OpTic Gaming | 0 | | | | | | |
| B1 | OpTic Gaming | 2 | Match 8 – September 12 | Match 8 – September 12 | Match 8 – September 12 | | | | | | | | | |
| A2 | Team Liquid | 1 | Match 8 – September 12 | Match 8 – September 12 | Match 8 – September 12 | | | | | | | | | |
| A2 | Team Liquid | 1 | W3 | OpTic Gaming | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Match 4 – September 10 | Match 4 – September 10 | Match 4 – September 10 | W3 | OpTic Gaming | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Match 4 – September 10 | Match 4 – September 10 | Match 4 – September 10 | W4 | XSET | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| C1 | XSET | 2 | W4 | XSET | 1 | | | | | | | Match 14 – September 18 | Match 14 – September 18 | Match 14 – September 18 |
| D2 | Fnatic | 0 | | | | | | | | | | W11 | LOUD | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | W13 | OpTic Gaming | 1 |
| Lower Bracket Round 1 | Lower Bracket Round 1 | Lower Bracket Round 1 | Lower Bracket Quarterfinals | Lower Bracket Quarterfinals | Lower Bracket Quarterfinals | Lower Bracket Semifinals | Lower Bracket Semifinals | Lower Bracket Semifinals | Lower Bracket Final | Lower Bracket Final | Lower Bracket Final | |
| | | | Match 9 – September 13 | Match 9 – September 13 | Match 9 – September 13 | | | | | | | | | |
| Match 5 – September 11 | Match 5 – September 11 | Match 5 – September 11 | L8 | XSET | 1 | | | | Match 13 – September 17 | Match 13 – September 17 | Match 13 – September 17 | | | |
| L1 | FunPlus Phoenix | 2 | W5 | FunPlus Phoenix | 2 | Match 12 – September 16 | Match 12 – September 16 | Match 12 – September 16 | L11 | OpTic Gaming | 3 | |
| L2 | Leviatán | 0 | | | | W9 | FunPlus Phoenix | 0 | W12 | DRX | 2 | |
| | | | Match 10 – September 13 | Match 10 – September 13 | Match 10 – September 13 | W10 | DRX | 2 | | | | | | |
| Match 6 – September 11 | Match 6 – September 11 | Match 6 – September 11 | L7 | DRX | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| L3 | Team Liquid | 0 | W6 | Fnatic | 1 | | | | | | | |
| L4 | Fnatic | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Prize pool

| Pos | Team | Prize |
| 1st | LOUD | $300,000 |
| 2nd | OpTic Gaming | $150,000 |
| 3rd | DRX | $110,000 |
| 4th | FunPlus Phoenix | $80,000 |
| 5th–6th | XSET | $60,000 |
| 5th–6th | Fnatic | $60,000 |
| 7th–8th | Team Liquid | $40,000 |
| 7th–8th | Leviatán | $40,000 |
| 9th–12th | 100 Thieves | $25,000 |
| 9th–12th | KRÜ Esports | $25,000 |
| 9th–12th | ZETA Division | $25,000 |
| 9th–12th | Paper Rex | $25,000 |
| 13th–16th | Furia Esports | $15,000 |
| 13th–16th | XERXIA Esports | $15,000 |
| 13th–16th | BOOM Esports | $15,000 |
| 13th–16th | Edward Gaming | $15,000 |