Protecting Competitive Integrity in VCT 2027

In 2027, the VALORANT Champions Tour is entering a new era of competition. With more teams, more opportunities to qualify, and the return of online competition, we're opening the path to professional VALORANT like never before. From stronger anti-cheat protections and additional player verification to clear rules, tournament oversight, and enforcement, we're evolving how we protect competitive integrity at every level. As Open Qualifiers approach, we want to share exactly what we're doing to keep competition fair, what players and teams should expect.

1. Anti-Cheat & Player Verification

As the VCT opens its doors to more competitors, we're strengthening our approach to anti-cheat to protect the integrity of every match. Riot Games has a zero tolerance policy for cheating. Enabling or assisting others to cheat is also prohibited. Our focus isn't just on identifying and punishing cheaters after the fact, but making it harder for bad actors to enter competition in the first place. That means implementing stricter hardware and software security requirements, establishing clear account eligibility standards, and introducing additional monitoring and verification measures as teams advance through the tournament. Together, these safeguards are designed to prevent cheating before it happens, detect suspicious activity when it occurs, and ensure that every team has a fair opportunity to compete.

Q: What is Riot doing to prevent cheating in Open Qualifiers?

All competitors will be required to be Vanguard Check compliant. For more information on Vanguard compliance - please reference our post on Vanguard & Vanguard Pre-Check. We're actively working with our anti-cheat team to ensure and enforce additional security at the online layer. These safeguards are designed to identify potential risks before matches begin, detect suspicious activity during competition, and support investigations when concerns arise.

Q: Will players need to meet rank requirements to compete?

Players will need to be Ascendant+ to compete in Open Qualifiers. 

Q: Can players with previously banned accounts participate?

Players with accounts in good standing will be eligible to compete. Accounts may be subject to additional reviews, and players must meet all applicable account standing requirements. An account in good standing is one that is not currently banned, has not received a Game Ban, Vanguard Intervention, Ranked Restriction, or Comms Restriction within the last 30 days, and is not subject to a Ranked queue restriction during the enrollment or competition period.

Q: How will Riot investigate suspected cheating?

We use a combination of Vanguard detection, account reviews, match evidence, and tournament investigations. Where additional monitoring is available, officials may also review gameplay recordings, communications, and other relevant evidence. Reports of suspected cheating will be evaluated through official channels rather than community speculation. We have a compliance and comp ops team dedicated to investigations.

Q: What happens if a player is caught cheating after a match has concluded?

Confirmed competitive integrity violations will result in sanctions, including disqualification and competitive suspensions. Tournament officials will determine the appropriate competitive consequences based on the violation, available evidence, and applicable rules.

2. Scalable Competitive Integrity

As more teams enter the VCT through Open Qualifiers, we're building a competitive integrity framework that scales with the stakes. Every match will have a baseline of protections, with additional safeguards and oversight introduced as teams advance. Early rounds will rely more heavily on automated anti-cheat systems, standardized rules, and post-match reporting, while later stages will introduce more extensive monitoring, verification, and direct referee oversight. This approach allows us to support hundreds of teams competing simultaneously while maintaining rigorous standards of fair play and dedicating additional resources to the matches where the stakes are highest.

Q: Can tournament officials request additional checks during a match?

Yes. Tournament officials are authorized to conduct additional verification or integrity checks, including reviewing player setups, requesting recordings, requiring teams to live stream their match area, or checking communications where the applicable rules permit.

3. Streaming, Spectators & Outside Communication

As online competition returns to the VCT, we're balancing the opportunity for players and creators to share their competitive journeys with the need to protect the integrity of every match. Livestreaming introduces risks, including stream sniping and the potential for teams to gain access to information outside the game.

We want to encourage community-driven coverage of Open Qualifiers while establishing clear standards that protect competitive fairness. That means setting expectations around player livestreams, broadcast delays, third-party observers, and coach communications from the earliest stages of competition.

Q: Can players livestream their Open Qualifier matches?

Yes! We want players to share their competitive journeys and encourage community-driven coverage of Open Qualifiers. However, livestreaming can introduce competitive risks, including stream sniping and the potential for teams to gain access to information they wouldn't otherwise have during a match.

To help protect competitive integrity, starting with OQ’s, player POV livestreams will be required to have a broadcast delay of at least two minutes. Teams are also welcome to organize their own broadcasts using multiple player POV streams, provided each stream meets the same delay requirement.

We'll continue evaluating our policies and enforcement practices as the season progresses to ensure we're supporting an accessible competitive ecosystem without compromising the integrity of competition.

Q: Can third-party creators observe Open Qualifier matches?

Yes! Creators that want to watch party can co-stream player POV streams, but need to obtain approval from the TO prior to co-streaming.

Q: Can teams publish match VODs and voice communications?

Yes. We will support teams and players sharing their experiences.

Q: Can coaches communicate with players during online matches?

Online play creates different challenges for monitoring coach communications than competition on a controlled stage. In the early stages of competition coaches may communicate with players. In later stages of Cup qualification tournaments, communication with coaches will be monitored and follow the same rules we have for VCT today.

4. Online Match Conditions & Technical Disputes

The return of online competition introduces technical challenges that don't exist in controlled LAN environments, from differences in player latency and equipment to internet disruptions and connection instability. While we can't eliminate every variable, we can establish clear expectations, consistent rules, and fair procedures for resolving disputes. Players will be responsible for maintaining their own competitive setups, while tournament officials will follow defined guidelines for server selection, technical pauses, match replays, and competitive rulings. With hundreds of teams competing across interconnected brackets, we'll also need to balance individual disputes against the impact on the broader tournament. Our goal is to empower regional tournament operators to make decisions that are fair, timely, and transparent, while ensuring competition can continue without unnecessary disruption.

Q: What happens if my internet disconnects during a match?

Players are responsible for maintaining a stable connection and suitable competitive setup. Events will have defined technical-pause allowances and procedures for handling disconnections in the Online Play Rulebook. Depending on the circumstances and applicable rules, matches may be paused, resumed, or required to continue.

Q: What happens if my computer crashes or my equipment stops working?

Players are responsible for ensuring their computers, peripherals, and other equipment are ready for competition. Technical problems should be reported immediately through official tournament channels. Officials will follow established procedures for pauses and match continuation.

Q: How will the differences in ping between teams be accounted for?

Online competition cannot guarantee identical latency for every competitor. Tournament operators will follow established server-selection procedures designed to provide reasonable competitive conditions, taking into account the locations of participating players and available servers.

Q: Why can't officials pause the entire tournament until a dispute is resolved?

Open Qualifiers involve many simultaneous matches and interconnected brackets. Extended delays can affect teams beyond those directly involved in a dispute. We're establishing procedures that allow officials to resolve issues promptly and consistently while preserving the integrity of the broader competition.

5. Competitive Conduct, Enforcement & Reporting

As the VCT opens up to more teams and players, we're reinforcing that the same standards of professionalism, fairness, and competitive conduct apply to everyone, whether they're an established pro or competing in their first Open Qualifier. Maintaining competitive integrity goes beyond preventing cheating. It also means protecting against match manipulation, betting-related misconduct, conflicts of interest, and other behaviors that undermine fair competition. We're establishing clear reporting procedures, consistent enforcement standards, and appropriate penalties for violations, while ensuring that allegations are investigated through official channels rather than public speculation. Our goal is to create an environment where every competitor understands their responsibilities, violations carry meaningful consequences, and players and fans can trust that results are earned fairly.

Q: How is Riot protecting competition against betting and match manipulation?

Match-fixing, betting-related misconduct, and deliberate manipulation of competitive results are strictly prohibited. Riot will continue to investigate suspected violations and apply sanctions where warranted. 

Esports Professionals may not match-fix or otherwise manipulate the outcome of any match or competition or request, encourage, or instruct others to manipulate it. Manipulation is defined as the unlawful or undue influence or alteration (including failing to give best efforts), directly or indirectly, by an act or an omission, of the course, result, or any other aspect of a match (i.e. spot-fixing) or a competition, irrespective of whether the behavior is committed for financial gain, sporting advantage, or any other purpose. Teams may be sanctioned for the actions of their team owners, players, coaches, and any other employees or members of their organization. Any attempt to manipulate any match or competition, even if done unsuccessfully, will be deemed a violation of this rule. Failure to cooperate with Riot in an investigation related to match-fixing or manipulation may be sanctioned similarly to the actual act of match-fixing or manipulation. Esports Professionals may be held liable for the behavior of their relatives (such as, but not limited to, their spouse, friends, family members, colleagues, partners) or other affiliates (such as, but not limited to, agents or representatives) that may have taken part or contributed to a breach of this provision.

Q: Will Riot publicly announce every competitive integrity violation?

We aim to communicate meaningful competitive rulings transparently while protecting the integrity of ongoing investigations and the privacy of those involved. Not every investigation will result in a public statement, and not every allegation will be substantiated.

Q: How can players or teams report suspected competitive integrity violations?

Players, coaches, teams and tournament officials are encouraged to report suspected cheating, match manipulation, betting-related misconduct or other integrity concerns through the designated tournament reporting channels. Reports will be assessed in accordance with the applicable investigation and escalation procedures, with serious matters referred to Riot Esports Compliance where appropriate.

6. Eligibility & Getting Ready to Compete

As we open the path to professional VALORANT, we want to make sure every aspiring competitor has the information and opportunity to prepare before entering their first tournament. A more accessible VCT doesn't mean competition comes without requirements, and no team should discover an important rule only after it affects their ability to compete. From rank, age, and residency eligibility to roster continuity, account standing, and technical readiness, we're establishing clear expectations for everyone entering Open Qualifiers. Our goal is to make these requirements easy to understand, provide players with the resources to prepare ahead of time, and ensure that eligibility and administrative issues don't become unnecessary barriers for teams ready to prove themselves.

Q: Who is eligible to compete in VCT 2027 Open Qualifiers?

Eligibility will be determined by the applicable regional competition rules, including age, rank, residency, roster composition, and account standing. Teams should review their region's requirements before registering.

Q: What rank do I need to compete?

All members of the competing team will need to have hit a peak of Ascendant+ in the last 6 months in order to compete in an Open Qualifiers. 

Q: Can players from different regions form a team?

Teams will need to comply with regional residency requirements which will be posted in the official rules. The framework will require at least three of five starting players to belong to the team's designated home region, subject to applicable exceptions.

Q: What happens if a team changes players during the season?

Roster continuity requirements help ensure that competitive progress remains attached to a recognizable team. Teams will generally need to retain at least three of their five players to preserve eligible progress, subject to the final competition rules. If a team wants to maintain their progress and Championship points from stage to stage, they will need to maintain 3/5 of the roster between OQs.

Q: What should players do before their first Open Qualifier?

Review your regional rulebook, confirm account and roster eligibility, complete any required device security checks, test your internet connection and peripherals, understand the rules for streaming and coach communication, and familiarize yourself with the procedures for contacting tournament officials.

Q: Where can players find the official rules and ask questions?

Rules can be found on the Competitive Operations website.

7. Championship Points and Qualification

Q: How will Championship Points work in 2027?

In 2027, we're expanding Championship Points across nearly every level of the VCT, giving teams more opportunities to earn points throughout the season. From Open Qualifiers to Kickoff, Cups, and Masters, results will carry value beyond an individual tournament. Additional information will be available in the coming weeks. 

The goal is to recognize consistent performance, help inform seeding for future competitions, and reward rosters that stay together and continue improving over time. Rather than starting from scratch with each new tournament, teams will have opportunities to build a competitive record throughout the year.

Q: Will all Championship Points count equally?

No. The proposed system is designed to recognize accomplishments at every level while placing significantly greater weight on success at the highest levels of competition.

At the qualifier level, points will primarily help inform tournament seeding, recognizing teams that have already demonstrated strong results. At the highest levels of the VCT, Championship Points will help determine qualification for Champions.

Performing well in an Open Qualifier should matter, but it shouldn't carry the same weight as winning a Cup or Masters. This structure is intended to balance recognition for emerging teams with the importance of performing against the world's best.

Q: What happens if a team doesn't qualify on its first attempt?

Teams will have multiple opportunities to compete throughout the season. Regions may host multiple Open Qualifiers, giving rosters additional chances to qualify and build their competitive record.

The objective is to create a system where consistent progress matters, where teams have reasons to continue competing together, and where an unsuccessful tournament run doesn't necessarily end their path forward.