VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 - Tournament Preview & Guide

By Tit Krajnik

21 Mar 2025

Tit Krajnik 21 Mar 2025

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VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 will begin on March 26, 2025
12 VALORANT Esports teams
The top three teams advance to VALORANT Masters Toronto 2025

VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1

The second split of the EMEA VALORANT esports season is set to begin on Wednesday, March 26, with the opening week of the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT): EMEA Stage 1.

Featuring Europe’s top teams, the VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 will succeed the Kickoff tournament and serve as a qualifying event for the second Masters event of the season – VALORANT Masters Toronto 2025.

VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 Start?
VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 Format
Group Stage (March 26 – April 25)
Playoffs (May 8-18)
VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 Teams
Group Alpha
Group Omega
VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 Prize Pool
VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 Betting Odds
Where To Bet on VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1?

VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 is an esports event no fans and punters should miss, offering two months of fast-paced action and plenty of betting opportunities to explore on the best crypto betting sites. That includes Stake, one of the best platforms for betting on VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1, offering competitive betting odds, good market coverage and a generous selection of promotions.

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VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 Start?

VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 will begin on March 26, 2025, with a clash between Team Vitality and GIANTX in the first round of the group stage.

The stage will run until May 18, when the two squads will face off in the grand finals.

VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 Format

Unlike the Kickoff tournament, the VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 will be divided into two stages – the group stage and the playoffs.

The group stage will run between March 26 and April 25, dividing the 12 participating teams into two single round-robin groups of six. All group stage matches will be played as best-of-three (BO3), with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs.

Group stage winners will secure a direct bye into the upper-bracket semifinals. Runners-up and third-placed teams will advance to upper-bracket round 1, while the fourth-placed teams will proceed to lower-bracket round 1.

VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 playoffs are scheduled to run between May 8-18, giving the teams just over a week after the conclusion of the group stage to prepare for the knockout stage.

The playoffs will be double-elimination, with all matches, except for the lower bracket finals and the grand finals, played as best-of-three (BO3). Lower bracket finals and grand finals are best-of-five.

Group Stage (March 26 – April 25)

12 VALORANT teams
Two single round-robin format groups
Six teams per group
All matches are best-of-three (BO3)
Winners advance to the upper bracket semifinals
Second- and third-placed teams advance to upper bracket round 1
Fourth-placed teams advance to lower bracket round 1

Playoffs (May 8-18)

Eight VALORANT teams
Double-elimination bracket
The lower bracket final and grand final are best-of-five (BO5)
All other games are best-of-three (BO3)

VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 Teams

VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 will feature 12 European VALORANT esports teams, including all 12 who participated in the season-opening event. The teams have already been seeded into two groups based on their placement in the VCT 2025: EMEA Kickoff to create balanced groups.

Group Alpha

Team Vitality
Apeks
Natus Vincere
GIANTX
Fnatic
Team Heretics

Group Omega

Team Liquid
KOI
Karmine Corp
Gentle Mates
BBL Esports
FUT Esports

VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 Prize Pool

The tournament organisers have not confirmed a prize pool for VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1. Instead, the stage, like the Kickoff tournament, will serve as an event to determine the top three EMEA VALORANT teams to represent their region at VALORANT Masters Toronto 2025.

The teams will also compete for VCT EMEA Points to determine direct invites to the season-culminating VALORANT Championship 2025.

Champions – Masters Toronto invite + 5 VCT Points
Runners-up – Masters Toronto invite + 3 VCT Points
3rd-place – Masters Toronto invite + 2 VCT Points
4th-place – 1 VCT Point
5th-12th-place – /

VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 Betting Odds

VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 betting odds can be found on all of the top crypto betting sites, ensuring esports punters do not have to look far to place their VALORANT bets.

Team	Odds
Team Vitality	2.62
Team Heretics	3.50
Team Liquid	6.00
FUT Esports	7.00
Fnatic	7.50
Karmine Corp	13.00
BBL Esports	26.00
Natus Vincere	34.00
GIANTX	34.00
Gentle Mates	41.00
KOI	67.00
Apeks	101.00

According to the current markets, the defending champions, Team Vitality, are expected to dominate Stage 1, priced at 2.62 to win the event. Team Heretics (3.50) are close behind, ahead of Team Liquid (6.00), FUT Esports (7.00), and Fnatic (7.50), who are live underdogs to make a splash.

Karmine Corp (13.00), BBL Esports (26.00), Natus Vincere (34.00) and GIANTX (34.00) are not expected to compete for top spots, nor are the three outsiders, Gentle Mates (41.00), KOI (67.00), and Apeks (101.0).

With no notable roster changes across the 12 teams, the balance of power is expected to remain relatively the same as what we saw during VCT 2025: EMEA Kickoff, as the top-performing teams from the first stage are expected to be just as dominant during VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1.

Liquid have dropped behind Team Heretics in the power rankings after struggling to perform at Masters Bangkok. In contrast, Karmine Corp are expected to do better this time out after exiting the Kickoff event in last place.

While there are many questions about how VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 will play out, it is hard to ignore Vitality as the leading candidate to claim the trophy and retain their tag as the region’s best VALORANT team.

Where To Bet on VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1?

VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 is one of the most popular regional VALORANT esports competitions among viewers and punters alike. So it comes as no surprise that it is well-covered by all online bookmakers, including all of the top crypto betting sites.

Esports punters can find VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 on Stake, which is one of the top choices for betting on VALORANT, with its generous selection of betting markets, competitive odds, and a wide range of bonuses and promotions. That includes a welcome deposit bonus for all new sign-ups with the Stake promo code NEWBONUS.