Highlights
- JioBLAST secures a major VALORANT esports partnership with Riot Games.
- The appointment comes amid changes to the VCT's competitive structure for 2027.
- The deal adds to JioBLAST's growing portfolio of South Asian esports partnerships.
Riot Games has selected JioBLAST to organize the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2027 Kickoff Open Qualifiers in South Asia, replacing NODWIN Gaming for this stage of the competition. The tournament will run from Nov 17 to 29, 2026, with two teams earning places at Kickoff APAC.
Registrations close on Nov 13 at midnight.
VCT 2027 Open Qualifiers: Format, Eligibility, and Broadcast
The competition will begin with a Swiss-stage qualifier from Nov 17 to 20. Its eight leading teams will advance to a double-elimination playoff bracket scheduled for Nov 23 to 29.
Players must hold at least an Ascendant 1 rank and meet the tournament's age, residency, account, and other eligibility conditions. Registration is available through JioBLAST's official website. Playoff matches will be broadcast on JioBLAST and VALORANT's YouTube channels and JioTV.
The move aligns with Riot's shift from fixed regional leagues to open, performance-based VCT competitions.
NODWIN's Future Role in VALORANT South Asia is Unconfirmed
NODWIN previously operated VALORANT Challengers South Asia (VCSA), Game Changers South Asia, open qualifiers, and LAN finals. Its responsibilities included production, broadcasting, registration, and event management, with earlier competition pathways leading towards Ascension and the Pacific circuit.
Riot has not explained the change or confirmed who will manage the 2027 Challengers and Game Changers competitions. Therefore, JioBLAST's appointment should not be treated as a complete departure from NODWIN's regional operations.
JioBLAST is a joint venture between BLAST and RISE Worldwide.
Its earlier Riot collaboration included the nationwide VALORANT Campus Cup for higher education institutions. JioBLAST CEO, Charlie Cowdrey, stated that the latest agreement would extend BLAST's relationship with Riot into India, while Riot's Anushka Bhatnagar highlighted improved access to international competition.
The organizer has also partnered with the Esports Foundation for India-focused Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 coverage and Supercell for the Brawl Stars Challengers 2026 circuit across South and Southeast Asia.
