VALORANT First Strike: North America Qualifiers Kick Off Oct. 26

Riot Games Partners with Nerd Street Gamers and Engine Media to Broaden Competition & Offer $100K Total Prize Pool

A few weeks ago we announced the first official Riot Games-produced VALORANT tournament, First Strike. Now, here’s how we’ll go from two NA qualifiers to the top 8 teams battling for their share of the $100K prize pool, and the title as first First Strike champion.

The competition will begin on October 26 with our first open, 128-team tournament, produced by partner Nerd Street Gamers. The tournament will whittle down the pool to 16 teams, who will compete in our first qualifier. From there, the top four teams will advance straight to the main event, and the next four teams will advance into the second open tournament for another chance to fight for their spot in First Strike.

For any teams who don’t make the first cut, you’re in luck -- we’re holding a second open qualifier where teams can re-enter and get another shot.

The second open tournament, produced by partner Engine Media (UMG), will start November 11. The top twelve teams will move into the second qualifier, joining the four teams from the first qualifier. From there, four more teams will make it into the First Strike event -- making a total of eight teams competing for a slice of the $100K pie.

Players and teams interested in competing in the qualifiers can register at nerdstgamers.com/valorant (for the NSG open qualifier) and umggaming.com (for the UMG open qualifier).

The full schedule includes:

• Oct. 26 - 30 -- NSG Open Qualifier
  • 16 teams advance to the first qualifying tournament
  • Watch on Twitch (nerdstgamers or VALORANT_Esports_NA) or YouTube (VALORANT_NA)
• Nov. 4 - 8 -- NSG Tournament
  • Top 4 teams advance to VALORANT First Strike Event
  • Next 4 teams advance to UMG Tournament 2 (below)
  • Watch on Twitch (nerdstgamers or VALORANT_Esports_NA) or YouTube (VALORANT_NA)
• Nov. 11 - 15 -- UMG Open Qualifier
  • 12 teams from UMG advance to the second qualifying tournament
  • Watch on Twitch (UMGGaming or VALORANT_Esports_NA) or YouTube (VALORANT_NA)
• Nov. 18 - 22 -- UMG Tournament
  • Note: Pool includes 4 teams from NSG Tournament
  • Top 4 teams advance to VALORANT First Strike Event
  • Watch on Twitch (UMGGaming or VALORANT_Esports_NA) or YouTube (VALORANT_NA)
• Dec. 3 - 6 -- VALORANT First Strike Event
  • 8 teams compete for $100K prize pool
  • Watch on Twitch (VALORANT_Esports_NA) or YouTube (VALORANT_NA)

First Strike is the first major chapter in VALORANT esports, and we’re proud to have the support of two stellar partners to bring it to life -- Nerd Street Gamers, which has already partnered with FaZe Clan and T1 to power their Ignition Series tournaments, and Engine Media/UMG, one of the most storied names in both elite and amateur competitive organizing.

Keep an eye on this space (PlayVALORANT.com) for more details on First Strike, and don’t forget to tune in to all three events starting with the NSG Open Qualifier on October 26!