VCT Stage 3 Masters: Format, Schedule, Launch Date and more

The VCT Stage 3 Masters is all set to commence on Sept 10 in Berlin, with teams around the world competing for the Masters Berlin trophy

Riot Games will be launching the VCT Stage 3 Masters Berlin soon. All the action begins on September 10, and will continue till September 19. Masters Berlin will be the largest international tournament to-date for Valorant.

VCT Stage 3 Masters: Tournament details

A total of over 2,200 teams from around the globe battled for the 16 spots. From September 10 onwards, all qualified teams will compete for the Masters Berlin trophy. Valorant Champions will receive a direct invitation.

Berlin is the third Masters event of the 2021 Valorant Champions Tour. Interestingly, it represents the last opportunity for teams to earn VCT Points. These will count towards qualification for Champions, the end-of-year Valorant World Final.

In addition to earning VCT Points, the winning team at Masters Berlin will secure a direct invitation to Champion. They will earn their region an additional slot at the tournament.

Stage 3 Masters: Format

Each of the seven participating regions could qualify a set number of the 16 teams in all. The tournament will consist of GSL style group play, followed by an eight team single elimination bracket.

Teams were first sorted into four draw pools based on a combination of their respective final placements at Challenger events and the strength of their region.

Following this, each team in each pool was randomly drawn into one of the four groups (Groups A-D). If at any point a team was drawn into a group which already had a team from their region, they were placed into the next alphabetically sequential group.

The only exception to this were teams from EMEA, who could have two teams drawn into a single group. This is a result of having the most representatives at the tournament.

Tournament Schedule

During the Group Stage, teams will compete through a four team, double elimination bracket to identify two winners from each group. In the first round of each group, teams from Pool 1 will face teams from Pool 4. Simultaneously, teams from Pool 2 will face teams from Pool 3.

After the conclusion of the fourth day of matches, a random draw will seed the Knockout Stage. The four teams advancing out of their group in 1st place will be randomly assigned a yet-to-be-determined 2nd place team from a different group.

The teams then will play through an eight team elimination bracket. The first round will have teams who placed 1st, play against teams who came 2nd.