Valorant’s “badly designed” esports calendar slammed by coaches

After Valorant VCT Kickoff 2024’s first eliminations, pro players and coaches soon realized the negative impact the “badly designed” schedule could have on the teams. 

The premiere Valorant pro tournament is finally back, with the Valorant Champions Tour Kickoff tournament currently seeing action across four regional leagues. This is after a long five-month off-season period since the culmination of VCT 2023 last August. 

However, the competition did not last long for some teams. Given the format of this year’s Valorant pro scene, some teams bid an early goodbye to the pro tournament stage only after two games. 

Since the announcement of this year’s format, many players and fans have already voiced out their concern over the limited playtime lowest-ranked teams would experience. And it seems like the truth of the consequences has finally sunk in with coaches and players after the first elimination rounds of the VCT Kickoff.

100T waited 6 months from last year to play two matches to be put on another month+ break, the esports calendar is so badly designed

On a social media post on X by VCT Americas NRG Head Coach Chet, he details that the recently eliminated 100 Thieves would have to face a couple of months of yet another dormancy. This is after the organization waited six months since VCT Americas Last Chance Qualifiers to see the pro play stage once again.

The replies have also stated that the long rest periods between tournaments have also affected second-tier Valorant teams in Challengers. NRG Chet details that M80 last played on VCT Challengers in July 2023 and would still have to wait until March to play their first game of the season.

Many 100 Thieves fans are also sad to see their favorite team bow out early in the competition. Their fans would also have to wait until VCT Americas League Play in April to see their beloved Valorant pros compete again.