Amateur and semi-pro female players from the UK and Nordics can take advantage of the BEACON Game Changers Contenders Qualifiers this month, providing a new route into professional VALORANT.
Grassroots teams have a shot at glory, with BEACON serving as a launchpad into the professional scene. The tournament is a gateway to the VCT Game Changers EMEA Contenders Series 2.
Building Grassroots VALORANT – strengthening women’s routes to professional play
Backed by VALORANT publisher Riot Games, BEACON widens the path to professional VALORANT for aspiring pros.
The tournament serves as an official qualifier for Game Changers EMEA Contenders Series 2, progressing towards the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Game Changers.
Competitors can win a share of the £1,000 prize pool alongside their direct qualification slot for Game Changers EMEA Contenders.
Signups for the qualifier end on July 3rd at 2 pm BST. There is also a “Looking for a Team Form†for those who are not already in a five-player team. Here, individual players can be matched with other compatible players to compete.
Following this, the competition itself begins on July 5th and runs until July 13th. The tournament finals will be broadcast by UK FNATIC streamer megsoundslikeegg.
BEACON and VALORANT Game Changers – changing the landscape of women’s esports
Game Changers provides women and marginalised genders the opportunity to compete competitively alongside the main VALORANT Champions Tour series. It was created to address challenges in delivering a safe and competitive environment.
Since its birth in 2021, Game Changers has provided women and gender minorities a new pathway to professional play and in-person LAN tournaments. Its success in VALORANT has led to the introduction of League of Legends Game Changers.
Alongside boosting region-specific tournaments, BEACON Game Changers helps create more pathways for women and gender minorities to access the main Game Changers ecosystem.Â
Where do BEACON and Game Changers fit into the wider competitive VALORANT calendar?
BEACON takes place in July 2025, and overlaps with the next major VALORANT tournament professional series at the Esports World Cup, running from Tuesday, July 8th, to Sunday, July 13th.
Game Changers finished its regional Stage 2 series in June this year. In the EMEA region, Karmine Corp stormed to Stage 2 victory over Giant X in the Grand Final.
Stage 3 is due to begin in September for the EMEA region, with other regions beginning Stage 3 at a similar time.
Riot Games will host the VALORANT Game Changers Championship 2025 in Seoul in November.Â
However, The Game Changers Championship does not link directly with the main VCT Champions tournament, VCT’s biggest tournament of the year.Â
Riot Games will hold the tournament across September and October in Paris, France. Predictions and odds for the tournament can be found on Valorant Betting Sites.   Â
Although Game Changers and the main VCT ecosystem do not feed into one another, Game Changers is providing a platform where female and gender minority professionals can display their talent on a global stage.
Players are able to significantly advance their careers through Game Changers competition. BEACON competitors will earn their right to do the same by securing Game Changers Contenders qualification.Â
Hannah is a writer specialising in the esports, gaming, and technology sectors. Working for outlets such as Dot Esports, Esports Insider, and of course ENUK, she has developed a love for wider esports and Apex Legends, although it may never surpass her drive to passionately beat her friends in every game of Mariokart. You may have seen her at various esports and gaming events, including ESI London, EGX, Discover: Esports and many League of Legends watch parties.
