Four Regions, One Legacy: The Complete Recap of VALORANT’s Partnership Era (2023–2026)
From Fnatic’s historic double in 2023 to LOUD becoming the first two-time world champions at Champions Shanghai 2026, the VALORANT partnership era reshaped competitive VALORANT across four regions and three seasons. Established giants rose, new contenders emerged, and regional identities developed into some of the most compelling storylines in esports.
As the VCT transitions to a more open tournament structure in 2027, this is the complete story of the teams, titles, and defining moments that made the VALORANT partnership era one of the most significant chapters in the sport’s short history.
What Was the VALORANT Partnership Era?
The partnership system was designed to establish a more sustainable competitive ecosystem through regional leagues, international tournaments, and long-term investment. The Americas, EMEA, and Pacific leagues launched in 2023, with China joining in 2024. Together, they became the foundation of professional VALORANT for three seasons.
The model provided stability and helped build regional fanbases across the world. Access to the highest level remained limited for non-partnered organisations, with most having to progress through Challengers and Ascension to earn a place in the international leagues. Riot Games’ planned 2027 transition will introduce open qualification opportunities while retaining support for partner organisations — but before that next chapter begins, the VALORANT partnership era deserves its full review.
Americas: Championship Pedigree and Constant Reinvention
The Americas entered the VALORANT partnership era with established talent from Brazil and North America and produced more Champions titles than any other region across the three seasons.
LOUD set the early standard by winning the inaugural VCT Americas League in 2023, while Evil Geniuses defeated Paper Rex in the Champions 2023 Grand Final after finishing runner-up at Masters Tokyo. Sentinels claimed Masters Madrid in 2024, before 100 Thieves and Leviatán won the region’s two stages that year. G2 Esports then dominated the 2025 season, sweeping Kickoff and both stages to establish themselves as the region’s most consistent domestic force.
In 2026, Leviatán won Masters London before LOUD closed the entire era with a 3-1 victory over Team Vitality at Champions Shanghai on October 18. Having already won Champions in 2022 — before the partnership era began — LOUD became the first organisation to claim the world title twice, giving the Americas a fitting and historic conclusion.
Americas Major Achievements
Champions: Evil Geniuses (2023), NRG (2025), LOUD (2026)
Masters: Sentinels (Madrid 2024), Leviatán (London 2026)
Regional milestones: LOUD won the inaugural Americas League in 2023; G2 swept all three major regional competitions in 2025
Legacy: Three Champions titles during the partnership era and LOUD’s historic second world championship — the most decorated region of the era.
EMEA: The Fnatic Standard and a Deep Competitive Field
EMEA entered the VALORANT partnership era with a deep talent pool and a reputation for tactical preparation. Fnatic set the early benchmark in 2023, winning LOCK//IN in São Paulo before claiming Masters Tokyo — becoming the first team in VCT history to win two international titles in the same calendar year, led by Boaster.
The region’s strength extended far beyond Fnatic. Team Liquid won the inaugural EMEA League in 2023, while Karmine Corp claimed Kickoff in 2024. Fnatic then won both regional stages that year, and Team Heretics reached the Champions 2024 Grand Final before losing 3-2 to EDward Gaming. Regional titles continued to rotate across 2025, with Vitality, Fnatic, and Liquid each claiming domestic honours, before BBL Esports, Team Heretics, and Karmine Corp shared the titles in 2026.
Team Vitality delivered EMEA’s final Champions Grand Final appearance of the VALORANT partnership era, defeating 100 Thieves 3-1 in the lower-bracket final before losing to LOUD by the same scoreline in Shanghai.
EMEA Major Achievements
LOCK//IN: Fnatic (2023)
Masters: Fnatic (Tokyo 2023)
Champions: Team Heretics runner-up (2024), Team Vitality runner-up (2026)
Regional milestones: Fnatic won both stages in 2024; three organisations shared regional titles in 2026
Legacy: Fnatic set the early international standard, while Liquid, Heretics, Vitality, Karmine Corp, and BBL demonstrated the depth and consistency that defined EMEA throughout the partnership era.
Pacific: From Regional Challengers to International Champions
Pacific underwent the most dramatic transformation of any region during the VALORANT partnership era, bringing together teams from South Korea and Southeast Asia under one league and producing four Masters titles through four different organisations across three seasons.
Paper Rex quickly became the league’s defining team, winning the inaugural Pacific League in 2023 before reaching the Champions Grand Final, where they lost to Evil Geniuses. The region broke through internationally in 2024 when Gen.G defeated Team Heretics to win Masters Shanghai, becoming the first Pacific team to claim an international VCT title.
T1 followed with victory at Masters Bangkok in 2025, before Paper Rex won Masters Toronto. Nongshim RedForce added the fourth title at Masters Santiago in 2026. Four Masters titles, four different organisations, three seasons — Pacific’s defining achievement of the VALORANT partnership era.
Regional competition remained equally varied. DRX won Kickoff in 2025, followed by Rex Regum Qeon at Stage 1 and Paper Rex at Stage 2. In 2026, Nongshim RedForce won Kickoff, Paper Rex claimed Stage 1, and Global Esports secured its first-ever regional title at Stage 2.
Pacific Major Achievements
Masters: Gen.G (Shanghai 2024), T1 (Bangkok 2025), Paper Rex (Toronto 2025), Nongshim RedForce (Santiago 2026)
Champions: Paper Rex runner-up (2023)
Regional milestones: Paper Rex won the inaugural Pacific League; Global Esports claimed its first regional title in 2026
Legacy: Four Masters titles through four organisations in three seasons — the most distributed international success of any region in the VALORANT partnership era.
China: From Newcomer to World Champion
China joined the international league structure in 2024 — a year after the other three regions — and wasted no time making its mark. EDward Gaming defeated Team Heretics 3-2 in the Champions 2024 Grand Final to become world champions. In-game leader Zhang “nobody” Siyang guided the team while Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang — better known as KangKang — supplied the explosive firepower that defined their campaign. EDG also swept Kickoff, Stage 1, and Stage 2 in 2024, completing total domestic dominance in their debut international season.
Their grip on the region gradually loosened. Xi Lai Gaming won Stage 1 in 2025, followed by Bilibili Gaming at Stage 2. In 2026, All Gamers claimed Kickoff, EDG won Stage 1, and TYLOO took Stage 2 — showing a widening competitive base even as China’s representatives struggled at Champions Shanghai, with none reaching the tournament’s later stages.
China Major Achievements
Champions: EDward Gaming (Seoul 2024)
Regional milestones: EDG swept all three regional competitions in 2024; Xi Lai Gaming, Bilibili Gaming, All Gamers, and TYLOO all claimed subsequent titles
Legacy: China’s first Champions title arrived in its debut year in the international league structure — one of the most impressive debut-season achievements of the entire VALORANT partnership era.
Records and Milestones of the VALORANT Partnership Era
The VALORANT partnership era produced landmark achievements across international tournaments, regional leagues, and individual performances.
Team Records
Fnatic became the first team to win two international VCT titles in a single year (LOCK//IN and Masters Tokyo, 2023)
LOUD became the first organisation to win Champions twice, claiming the world title in 2022 and 2026
LOUD completed an unbeaten playoff run at Champions Shanghai 2026, winning every series en route to the trophy
EDG swept Kickoff, Stage 1, and Stage 2 in 2024 — the only team to achieve a complete domestic sweep in the partnership era
G2 Esports matched the feat in Americas in 2025
Pacific produced four Masters titles through four different organisations between 2024 and 2026
Individual Records
erde (LOUD) was named Champions 2026 MVP at 18 years and eight months old, becoming the youngest player to receive the award — surpassing former LOUD player aspas, who won it at 19 during Champions 2022
Ethan became the first player to win Champions with two different organisations, lifting the trophy with Evil Geniuses in 2023 and NRG in 2025
ZmjjKK (EDward Gaming) recorded 111 kills in the five-map Champions 2024 Grand Final against Team Heretics, one of the standout individual performances of the entire era
The Final Chapter: Champions Shanghai and What Comes Next
Champions Shanghai marked the end of the VALORANT partnership era with LOUD defeating Team Vitality 3-1 in the Grand Final. Vitality finished second, 100 Thieves third, and G2 Esports fourth. The Americas claimed the final title, EMEA came closest through Vitality, and Pacific and China ended without the trophy — but their contributions across three seasons remained essential to the era’s overall story.
In 2027, VALORANT esports moves toward a more open tournament structure. Open Qualifiers and additional Cups will create new routes to international competition, while partner organisations continue to receive support. The shift aims to expand opportunities beyond the previous Challengers and Ascension pathway, giving more teams a genuine route to the top.
The VALORANT partnership era established a global framework and produced champions from all four regions. It built rivalries, developed fanbases, and gave the sport three seasons of genuinely world-class competition. The next chapter will test how that foundation evolves — and whether the teams and players it produced can carry that legacy into a more open and competitive era.
