VALORANT introduces Invite Division: A path to VCT Challengers from Premier

VALORANT introduces Invite Division: A path to VCT Challengers from Premier

Ganesh Jadhav

23 Mar, 2024, 17:19

|

Last updated: 10 Apr, 2025, 05:45

Today, VALORANT announced the final step of the In-Game Path to Pro. The new ‘Invite Division’ in Premier will be the highest level of competition in-game.

The teams that win in the Invite division stand a chance to qualify for one of the VCT Challenger Leagues around the world.

New Premier Division launching with VALORANT Episode 9 Act I
New Premier Division launching with VALORANT Episode 9 Act I (credits: Riot Games)

Within each Premier Zone, the highest performing teams will be eligible to ascend to the respective Challengers league. With the launch of the new Invite division, Riot Games and VALORANT officially complete their vision for Path to Pro.

Now upcoming players make a team, play tournaments, rise up in the ranking and ascend to Challengers directly via in-game Premier mode.

The Invite Division will launch with the start of Episode 9, Act 1 on June 25, 2024.

Promotion in VALORANT Premier

The Episode 8 Act III Premier season will introduce promotion. If a team wins the playoffs in their division, they recieve a promotion.

The same applies for ‘Invite Division’ the highest level of competitive play in Premier. Top teams in Episode 8 Act III Premier Contender Division will receive a promotion to the ‘Invite Division’ of Episode 9 Act 1 Premier.

Premier will also introduce standardized rules in all division; they are as follows:

  • The team gets the promotion. The team owner or captain can add or remove players without losing the promotion, but a player does not get a promotion after he’s removed/left.
  • Even if maximum players are changed, the team does not lose the promotion.
  • Like rank-up, teams can move up multiple divisions
  • Promotions are only applicable for the following stages. If you miss the following premier, the team will be seeded again.
  • The Playoffs qualification threshold is set at 600.

Additionally, VALORANT has introduced changes to the Contenders and the Invite divisions. The focus of these changes is to create a hyper-competitive environment where “the players who are best at winning as a team will rise to the top to take their shot in the pros”.

These changes are as follows(only applicable for Invite and Contender Divisions);

  • Teams must play two scheduled games per week
  • Losses will now be 0 points
  • Teams with similar records play against each other.
  • Teams with the lowest Premier score receives a bye in case of uneven teams.
  • Teams qualify for Playoffs based on standings instead of Premier score

If a team is eligible for a promotion to the invite division, the Riot team will contact the team owners and provide details regarding the same.

VALORANT will also introduce a ‘Contender Eligible’ tag for the players. VALORANT will award the tag to the players who have previously played in Contender or Invite divisions and are ranked Immortal 3 or higher.

These players can directly join contender and invite division teams and are directly seeded into contender division after creating a new team.

With the final steps of Path to Pro in place, VALORANT has successfully completed it's plans of Path to Pro. The vertically integrated esports structure will allow top talent to advance from In-Game Premier into higher level of plays in Challengers, the International League and potentially global events such as Masters and Champions.

VALORANT's vertically integrated esports structure
VALORANT's vertically integrated esports structure (credits: Riot Games)

Riot Games and VALORANT will share the additional details closer to the launch of Episode 9 Act I. You can follow VALORANT X/Twitter or VCT X/Twitter for all the updates.

You can also follow Strafe for more. 

Featured Image Credits: VALORANT / Riot Games

Latest news

Trainwreckstv's 31-Day VALORANT Ban Just Started a Full-Blown Riot Controversy

Trainwreckstv's 31-Day VALORANT Ban Just Started a Full-Blown Riot Controversy

Streamer Trainwreckstv was hit with a 31-day ban in VALORANT for playing ranked matches with a group of friends, and the situation quickly turned into one of the messiest public controversies involving Riot Games in recent memory.
1h
Thales Costa

KeSPA Returns to the Table: Partnership Resumes with Esports Nations Cup for 2026 Edition

KeSPA and the Esports Foundation have to an agreement, bringing the South Korean association back into the fold as National Team Partner, and by extension returns South Korea to the list of nations for the ENC.
9h
Foo Zen-Wen

V1c Steps Down from Cloud9, Notexxd Steps In

Cloud9 dropped some unexpected news on May 8th. Victor "v1c" Truong is stepping down from the active Cloud9 VALORANT roster to take a break from competing, and Notexxd will be sliding in to fill his spot. It's a tough pill to swallow mid-season, but Cloud9 isn't slowing down.
21h
Thales Costa

Global Esports Upset Paper Rex to Book First-Ever VCT International Spot

For the first time in their VCT history, Global Esports are heading to an international event. The Indian organization clinched their spot at Masters London after defeating Paper Rex 2-1 in a thrilling upper bracket semifinal, capping off an incredible journey.
8 May
Kaustavmani Choudhury

Back to Content Creation: Eggsterr Confirms Plans to Retire from Professional Play

ENVY player Evan “Eggsterr” Grady has unofficially announced his retirement from professional play. The 23-year-old content creator turned professional player confirmed on-stream that he would play the upcoming MIBR series while also implying that will be his final series with the team.
8 May
Foo Zen-Wen

VALORANT Shares First Look at Neon and Shotgun Nerfs Coming in Patch 12.09

VALORANT shares the first look and more details on the upcoming Neon and Shotgun nerfs, set to arrive with Patch 12.09 on May 12.
7 May
Adarsh J. Kumar

Riot Games Confirms Incoming Neon Nerf in Patch 12.09

Neon, the Filipino duelist agent in VALORANT, is finally slated for a long-awaited nerf. The nerf is scheduled to come with Patch 12.09 and she will be disabled for the period until the patch arrives.
7 May
Foo Zen-Wen

Comments (0)

Log in to comment on this match