Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).
Norway-based tournament operator MistGames has announced that the Northern and Eastern Europe Valorant Challengers leagues are joining to form one new league.
Challengers North Polaris and Challengers East Surge will now become a single Challengers North//East in 2025, a brand new circuit that will be the new home for tier 2 talent in the regions, including those from the UK and Ireland.
MistGames said in an article on X a few days ago: “As Challengers North//East will include over 30 countries, we will be expanding the size of the circuit to 24 teams, this ensures both North and East are well represented at every stage.
“This change will include a completely new format called ‘The Mountain’, which creates a more open and competitive environment, where all talent from our regions can prove their worth.
“At the end of every stage, the top four teams will qualify for Challengers EMEA representing both North and East.”
Polaris and Surge branding will be used for the separate qualifiers, while new branding will be used for North//East.
MistGames also detailed qualification for stage one, with an open qualifier for Eastern Europe and a Last Chance qualifier for Northern Europe to run in January 2025.
The Last Chance Qualifier will consist of six teams from the Eclipse playoffs who did not qualify earlier this year, with the UK represented on several teams. The six teams are Exo Clan, Ruddy, Yari x CTRL, BitFix Gaming, Netsservices and Team Oasis.
The article above also detailed The Mountain format.
MistGames added that Eclipse will not be continuing, as it will instead be replaced by The North Qualifier, but will still include qualification from the Beacon National Leagues and Premier. Valorant East: United will not be continuing either.
Reaction to the changes was mixed, with MistGames being criticised by some for reverting its legal entity rule, which was introduced in August and required teams to be signed under a legal entity.
“A slot in Challengers North: Polaris and [its promotion/relegation tournament] Eclipse can only be acquired by teams who are signed under a legal entity, the company or organisation will need to submit documentation to MistGames which proves their legitimacy,” the TO previously said.
Earlier this year, Valorant Challengers North Polaris underwent a rebrand, then a reset, with the now-reverted legal entity rule being introduced, and MistGames calling on other TOs to run side tournaments in 2025.
Back in the summer, Riot Games also announced Valorant Challengers esports changes for 2025, including Italy and Portugal joining the Challengers Spain league.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
