Riot Games Announces First Valorant Event

After xQc teased such news on a stream earlier in the week, Riot Games has announced the introduction of a new Valorant event, which will be known as First Strike. First Strike will help to determine to first ever regional Valorant champions, with qualifiers set to get underway in October, before the Grand Finals take place in December.

Announcing the news on their official Twitter page, Riot posted that: “Valorant is a deeply competitive title, one for which esports is a critical extension of the experience we want to provide to players. First Strike will be the first tournament produced by Riot Games and an important foundational step to establishing regional legacy.”

Riot will release additional information regarding the format and rules of the event in due course, however they have advised players and rosters to get practicing. Those looking to compete must hold an immortal rank of 1 and be aged 16 or older, while further prerequisites will follow. We do know that regional finals will be held in North America, Brazil, Europe, CIS, Turkey, Asia, Oceania and the Middle East. It remains unclear as to whether there will be a First Strike World Championship tournament, however this would not be a surprise.

Riot have also made it clear that they are working hard in the battle against cheats within Valorant, in the hope that both the regional qualifiers and Grand Finals will be played completely fairly. The event is set to culminate in “multiple Riot-produced” finals, which will be staged between December 3-6. The fact that both amateur and professional players can take part is hugely exciting for potential competitors.

Whalen Rozelle, Senior Director of Esports at Riot Games, had the following to say on the announcement:

“VALORANT is a deeply competitive title with global appeal and the necessary elements to become the next premier esport. First Strike will provide our thriving competitive ecosystem with the platform to showcase their greatness, build regional legacy, and a foundation that will support the esport for years to come.”

The Ignition Series back in June attracted some 20 partners, with more than $1 million having been paid out in prize money globally. Riot are clearly aiming to take full advantage of the popularity of Valorant, with Executive Producer Anna Donlon stating that: “Esports remains one of the best investments we can make to support our community for the long term. As we’ve already seen from the Ignition Series, there’s a huge demand and hunger for VALORANT to be played at a professional level, and we’re so excited to be starting that journey with fans, players, and organizations. As a development team, supporting the competitive world of VALORANT is one of our top priorities, and we are committed to this journey.”