VCT announce 1v1 ‘Skirmishes’ for map & side selection

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 14/01/2026

Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) has announced that 1v1 ‘Skirmishes’ will be used to decide priority for map and side selection in equally seeded matchups in Valorant’s Tier 1 competitions in 2026.

The change takes effect for VCT Kickoff 2026, but will persist beyond the regional events into all Tier 1 competition.

How Skirmishes will work in VCT 2026

Valorant Esports outlined the following process for skirmishes:

• Each team submits a starting player to represent the team.
• Skirmishes are played at a designated time and location set by League Officials.
• First to five rounds wins.
• Abilities are disabled. Raw gunplay mechanics only.

The statement continues, “The Skirmish winner earns the edge heading into map selection.

“In select cases, League Officials may also deploy Skirmishes to determine seeding in other official matches.”

Skirmish Side Selection begins at Kickoff across all VCT leagues.

VCT Pacific was the first region to announce the change, however, it has now been announced across all VCT regions.

The Global Head of Valorant Esports, Leo Faria, clarified that the decision was on a trial basis and that coaches may also be involved in the future.

Quite why a team would nominate their coach is unclear.

It seems that vetoes have become a particular point of interest in Riot’s offices.

This is evident as the decision comes soon after Riot’s similar announcement that side and first pick selection would be decoupled in League of Legends.

In terms of Skirmishes, it seems that Valorant want to remove any sense of luck or arbitrary advantage which may exist within the veto process in VCT.

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Darragh Harbinson is an esports writer specialising in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports News UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.

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