Oceania's way into VCT Pacific in 2027 runs through the open qualifiers

Riot's eight Pacific partner spots have been handed out. The route for ANZ teams is the new Last Chance Qualifier.

Riot started telling organisations on Monday 19 October whether they'd be VALORANT Champions Tour partners for the 2027–28 cycle, with eight spots per region instead of ten. The Pacific list compiled by THESPIKE from team announcements is RRQ, FULL SENSE, T1, Paper Rex, Crazy Raccoon, ZETA DIVISION, Gen.G and GAM Esports. None of them is an Oceanic organisation.

That puts Australian and New Zealand teams on the open path Riot laid out in June. Each 2027 Kickoff in Americas, Pacific and EMEA has 12 teams: the eight partners plus four from open qualifiers. Riot also said VCT Pacific will run a Last Chance Qualifier where the top teams from South Asia and Oceania can fight for places in Kickoff and the Cups.

Open teams get fixed payments when they qualify: US$100,000 for Kickoff or a Cup, US$200,000 for Masters and US$400,000 for Champions. Riot says a team keeps its points and progress as long as it keeps at least three of its five players.

Riot hasn't published dates for the Oceania stages of the 2027 open qualifiers yet.