VCT 2025: Americas Stage 2 is the last regional event of the year for the Americas region. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the upcoming tournament.

General Information About the Tournament

VCT 2025: Americas Stage 2 serves as a qualifying stage for VALORANT Champions 2025. In this tournament, two teams advance directly by securing the 1st and 2nd places in the playoffs, while two more earn slots based on VCT points. This year, right after the performance at VALORANT Masters Toronto, it was announced that G2 Esports has already received a direct invite to Champions 2025 by qualifying through points. Thus, this event will determine only three participants for the Americas region.

Dates and Format

VCT 2025: Americas Stage 2 will take place from July 18 to August 31 in a LAN format at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles, USA. During the event, 12 partner teams will compete in the group stage and playoffs.

Group Stage

The group stage will occur from July 18 to August 17. Twelve teams are divided into two groups of six teams each. All matches are in a Best-of-3 format. The top four teams from each group will advance to the playoffs based on their standings:

• Upper Bracket Semifinals — teams in 1st place
• Upper Bracket Quarterfinals — teams in 2nd and 3rd places
• Lower Bracket First Round — teams in 4th place

Playoffs

The playoffs will be held in a double-elimination format. All matches will be played in a bo3 format, except for the lower bracket final and the grand final, which will be bo5. The top 1 and top 2 teams from the playoffs will secure their spots at VALORANT Champions Paris.

Group Distribution

The 12 partner teams were divided into Alpha and Omega groups based on the results of VCT 2025: Americas Stage 1. This balancing principle allowed for the formation of equally strong groups. Group distribution:

Group Alpha

• G2 Esports
• Sentinels
• Cloud9
• Evil Geniuses
• 2GAME Esports
• FURIA

Group Omega

• KRÜ Esports
• MIBR
• 100 Thieves
• NRG
• Leviatán
• LOUD

Match Schedule

July 19

• Cloud9 vs FURIA — 23:00 CEST
• Leviatán vs LOUD — 02:00 CEST (already July 20)

July 20

• Evil Geniuses vs 2GAME Esports — 23:00 CEST
• MIBR vs KRÜ Esports — 02:00 CEST (already July 21)

July 21

• 100 Thieves vs NRG — 23:00 CEST
• Sentinels vs G2 Esports — 02:00 CEST (already July 22)

Underdogs and Favorites

After major international tournaments such as VALORANT Masters Bangkok, Masters Toronto, and Esports World Cup 2025, along with regional events like VCT 2025: Americas Kickoff and VCT 2025: Americas Stage 1, a clear picture of the power dynamics among teams has emerged.

Underdogs

The weakest teams based on past tournaments are FURIA and 2GAME Esports—they started the year with 9-12th place at VCT 2025: Americas Kickoff and finished VCT 2025: Americas Stage 1 in the same positions. Meanwhile, Leviatán and LOUD, who took 5-6th places at Kickoff but ended Stage 1 in the last four spots, have clearly lost momentum. Can they compete and improve their results after roster changes?

Favorites

While other teams are on a similar level and any team can beat another, there are three teams that have stood out this season, indicating that the main battle for leadership is among them: G2 Esports, Sentinels, MIBR.

• G2 Esports: The team has been dominating the regional scene since early 2024 and continues to strengthen. This season, they have twice become regional champions, secured 2nd place at Masters Bangkok, and 4th at Masters Toronto. Despite a poor performance at the Esports World Cup 2025 due to a temporary player replacement by a coach (due to leaf's injury), the team remains the strongest in the region and has already secured a slot at Champions 2025.
• Sentinels: Despite unexpected roster changes in 2024, including the departure of Sacy and TenZ, Sentinels have maintained excellent form and remain G2 Esports' main competitor in the region. However, they have yet to defeat G2. With two second-place finishes at Kickoff and Stage 1, and 7-8th place at Masters Bangkok and 5-6th at Masters Toronto, the team continues to progress and grow stronger.
• MIBR: The revamped MIBR roster has made it clear that the Americas region is not a significant obstacle for them. The team consistently placed 3rd at Kickoff and Stage 1, but their 11-12th place at Masters Toronto showed that individual skill alone won't take them far. Perhaps the setback at the international event will lead the team to rethink their strategy, and MIBR will return in truly formidable form against G2 and Sentinels.

Prize Pool

The main distinction of VCT 2025: Americas Stage 2 from previous regional tournaments is the announced prize pool of $250,000. Along with the cash prize, teams will compete for two slots at VALORANT Champions 2025 and VCT points necessary to determine another participant from the region.

• 1st place — $100,000 + slot at Champions + 7 Americas points
• 2nd place — $65,000 + slot at Champions + 5 Americas points
• 3rd place — $40,000 + 4 Americas points
• 4th place — $25,000 + 3 Americas points
• 5-6th places — $10,000
• 7-8th places — no prize
• 9-10th places — no prize
• 11-12th places — no prize