Valorant 2024 Season Recap: Everything that Happened in the Tier 1 Pro Scene

The 2024 Valorant season was an amazing year for the esports, solidifying its position as one of the most-watched first-person shooters globally. With record-breaking viewership, interesting storylines and surprising outcomes, the year was filled with unforgettable moments that shaped the Valorant pro scene.

Underdog teams rising to prominence? Check.
Established powerhouses facing unexpected challenges? Double Check.
Excitement reaching new heights during major events?  HUGE Check!

Thrilling matches unfolded in front of millions of viewers across all year and as the competitive landscape evolved, so did the stories of individual players and teams, making 2024 a year to remember in Valorant esports history - let's remember everything that happened together.

Valorant 2024 Season Recap - Tournaments

VCT Regional Kickoffs (February-March 2024)

Our 2024 Valorant season recap starts with the regional kickoff tournaments across all major regions, giving the fans an early glimpse of all that would happen across all year.

In Americas, Sentinels defeated LOUD 3-2 in a monstrous match that spanned five maps: Sunset, Split, Icebox, Bind, and Lotus - with TenZ and zekken leading the run with 84 and 83 kills. Despite LOUD's best efforts, including notable performances from qck1 and tuyz, Sentinels proved too hot to handle.

In EMEA, Karmine Corp defeated Team Heretics 3-1 in a thrilling Grand Final, despite Team Heretics dominating the group stage with a +23 round differential. Marteen's exceptional performance, recording 57 kills, was crucial to KC's success.

In the Pacific Grand Final, Gen.G Esports defeated Paper Rex with a score of 3-1, with GenG's victory led by strong performances from Karon and t3xture, who had 64 and 65 kills respectively. Mindfreak and something tried their best to stop the Tiger Nation, with both securing 58 kills.

In the China Kickoff Grand Final, EDward Gaming (EDG) secured a decisive victory over FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) with a score of 3-1 in a best-of-five series. EDG's triumph was led by outstanding performances from ZmjjKK and CHICHOO.

VCT Masters Madrid (April 2024)

The VCT Masters Madrid 2024 was the first Master-tier event in the 2024 Valorant Season, with Sentinels beating Gen.G Esports in the Grand Final. Eight elite teams from all Major regions fought for the trophy and a prize pool of $500,000.

This victory consolidated Sentinels' return to the top tier of competitive Valorant after a lengthy absence from international titles. The event also set a new record of 3.1 million peak concurrent viewers.

Regional Leagues (May-July 2024)

The 2024 VCT regional leagues showcased intense competition and shifting power dynamics across the Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China regions.

In the Americas, fans witnessed a change in fortunes as Leviatán emerged victorious against G2 Esports. Leviatán's win was particularly impressive, as they dominated the group stage with a 9-1 record and secured a 3-2 victory in the grand final. Their performance was bolstered by standout players like aspas, who achieved a remarkable 1.33 rating across 23 maps.

In the EMEA region, Fnatic showed their strong form by dominating the whole event and ending it with a victory over Team Vitality. The Stage 2 event garnered significant viewer interest, peaking at 199,788 concurrent viewers and accumulating over 8.7 million hours watched.

The Pacific region saw Gen.G Esports made a comeback in Stage 2, overcoming DRX to claim the top spot. Gen.G's resurgence was evident in their team performance, boasting the third-highest Average Combat Score (ACS) of 204.05 across 22 maps.

In the Chinese region EDward Gaming (EDG) dominated it all, who secured victories against FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) in both stages of the tournament. EDG won 3-2 in a thrilling best-of-five series with ZmjjKK continuing his standout performances to secure the trophy.

VCT Masters Shanghai (July 2024)

The VCT Masters Shanghai 2024 culminated in Gen.G Esports' victory over Team Heretics in the Grand Final. The event featured twelve top teams competing for a $1,000,000 prize pool. Gen.G's journey to the championship included impressive wins against many strong opponents like Fnatic and G2 Esports.

In the Grand Final, Gen.G triumphed 3-2 after a very back-and-forth series that showcased their resilience and physical endurance. Despite Team Heretics taking an early lead, Gen.G rallied back with victories on Lotus and Split, clinching the title on the final map. t3xture's exceptional performance earned him the Finals MVP award, solidifying the team's reputation as favorites for the Champions event that would happen shortly after.

Valorant Champions Seoul 2024 (August 1-25, 2024)

The 2024 Valorant Champions Seoul marked an outstanding milestone in the game's rather short competitive history. This world championship brought together the sixteen best teams from around the globe to compete for the title and the $2,250,000 prize pool.

The tournament Grand Final's between EDward Gaming (EDG) and Team Heretics was a closely contested series, with EDG emerging victorious with a 3-2 scoreline, securing their first Valorant championship and the first international title for the Chinese region.

A standout performer in the tournament was EDG's star duelist, ZmjjKK, who was awarded the MVP title for his exceptional play, shattering the previous VCT best-of-five kill record, accumulating an impressive 111 kills across the series and an average of 22.2 eliminations per map.

6. Game Changers Championship 2024 (November-December 2024)

The 2024 VALORANT Game Changers Championship, held from November 8-17 in Berlin, Germany, was the pinnacle of competitive Valorant scene for women and marginalized genders. This prestigious event brought together ten top-tier teams from various regions to compete for the title of Game Changers World Champions.

Shopify Rebellion emerged victorious, defeating MIBR Female in the grand finals. The event garnered unprecedented attention from the Valorant community, setting a new record with 466,000 peak concurrent viewers. This viewership not only highlighted the growing popularity of Valorant competitions but also demonstrated the increasing support and recognition for diverse representation in esports.

Valorant 2024 Season Recap - Skin bundles

2024 undoubtedly saw an impressive array of skin bundles released in Valorant, each bringing unique themes and designs to the game. Riot Games also continued to innovate, offering players a diverse selection of cosmetic options to personalize their gameplay experience.

Notable releases include Champions 2024, Kuronami, XERØFANG and Evori Dreamwings. In total, Riot Games released at least 18 skin bundles throughout the year, maintaining a steady stream of new content for players to enjoy and collect. Moreover, Arcane Season 2 dropped, granting access to the second ever Arcane skin bundle.

What is your Valorant 2024 Season highlight?

As the 2024 Valorant season concludes, the esports scene stands stronger than ever, poised for an even more thrilling 2025. The year's events have reshaped global power dynamics, with EDward Gaming's historic Champions victory shattering preconceptions and China emerging as a formidable force.

This shift, coupled with the continued success of the Game Changers program and record-breaking viewership numbers, has set the stage for a more diverse and globally competitive landscape.

Check out Strafe Esports for all the latest VALORANT news and also our X account for the latest content and coverages. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

For more VALORANT rostermania news, check out our VCT EMEA and VCT Americas rostermania for all the latest shuffles.

Feature image credits: Riot Games

Read also:

VCT Game Changers Returns for 2025: New Format and More

Esports Betting Laws Around the World: What You Need to Know

Riot Games opens doors to betting sponsorships for VALORANT and League of Legends teams