The competition in Asia is heating up with the start of the VCT Korea Stage 1 Challengers Playoffs on March 16.

The top six teams from the Korean region have made their way into the playoffs, where they will battle for a single spot at Stage 1 Masters in Iceland.

However, it’s no longer immediately clear who will come out on top this year. The kings of Korean Valorant, DRX Vision Strikers, have stiff competition this year with On Sla2ers and DAMWON Gaming nipping at their heels in the group stage. 

The region also features up-and-coming squads World Game Star, Maru Gaming, and Holy Molly, all of which are looking to make their international debut by upsetting the top teams in Korea.


What is the VCT Korea Stage 1 Challengers Playoffs?

Credit: Riot Games

The Playoffs is the final leg of VCT Korea Stage 1 Challengers. The winner will advance to VCT Stage 1 Masters Reykjavik and walk away with a prize pot of ₩30,000,000 (US$24,000).

The team that qualifies to the first Valorant international tournament of 2022 will also earn VCT circuit points that will go toward qualifying for Valorant Champions at the end of the year.


VCT Korea Stage 1 Challengers Playoffs schedule and results

VCT Korea Stage 1 Challengers Playoffs Schedule
Credit: Riot Games

The playoffs will take place from March 17 to 27, with each day’s matches starting at 3:00 p.m. GMT+8.

March 17

Upper Bracket Quarterfinals

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
World Game Star2 — 0Maru Gaming
DAMWON Gaming2 — 0Holy Molly

March 18

Upper Bracket Semifinals

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
DRX2 — 1World Game Star
On Sla2ers2 — 1DAMWON Gaming

March 19

Lower Bracket Quarterfinals

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
Maru Gaming0 — 2DAMWON Gaming
Holy Molly2 — 0World Game Star

March 20

Upper Bracket Final

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
DRX Vision Strikers2 — 0On Sla2ers

Lower Bracket Semifinal

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
DAMWON Gaming0 — 2Holy Molly

March 26

Lower Bracket Final

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
On Sla2ers3 — 0Holy Molly

March 27

Grand Final

TEAMRESULTSTEAM
DRX Vision Strikers3 — 0On Sla2ers


Teams that are competing in the tournament

VCT Korea Stage 1 Challengers Group Stage Standings
Credit: Riot Games
TEAMS
DRX Vision Strikers
On Sla2ers (ESports Connected)
DAMWON Gaming
World Game Star
Maru Gaming
Holy Molly

Format of the tournament

Credit: Riot Games

The six teams in the tournament will compete in a double-elimination best-of-three format, except for the lower bracket final and grand final, which will be best-of-five series. The winner will advance to VCT Stage 1 Masters Reykjavik 2022.

Top seeds DRX and On Sla2ers have been seeded deeper in the tournament bracket, where they will eventually face off against the winners of the first two games.


Where to watch the tournament matches live?

Credit: Riot Games

Valorant fans can watch the matches live on Riot Games’ official Twitch, YouTube, and Afreeca TV channels:

CHANNELPLATFORM
Valorant KRAfreeca TV
Valorant KRTwitch
Valorant KRYouTube

READ MORE: VCT APAC Stage 1 Challengers Group Stage: Schedule, results, teams, where to watch