Riot Games has appointed JioBLAST to run the VALORANT Champions Tour 2027 Kickoff Open Qualifiers for South Asia, replacing NODWIN Gaming as the organizer for the region’s opening stage of the new season.
The qualifiers began Nov. 2 and are scheduled to continue through Nov. 13. Teams from South Asia are competing for a place on the pathway to Kickoff APAC, which will be the first event of the 2027 VCT season for the wider Asia-Pacific region.
A new organizer for the South Asia pathway
JioBLAST is a joint venture between tournament organizer BLAST and RISE Worldwide Limited. The organization has previously worked with Riot Games on the VALORANT Campus Cup, a nationwide collegiate esports program for higher education institutions in India.
The change places JioBLAST in charge of the open qualifying stage that gives South Asian teams an opportunity to progress toward the regional Kickoff event. Riot is also shifting the VCT away from fixed regional leagues and toward a structure built around open access and tournament performance.
- Event: VCT 2027 Kickoff Open Qualifiers — South Asia
- Dates: Nov. 2-13, 2026
- Next regional stage: Kickoff APAC
- Organizer: JioBLAST, a BLAST and RISE Worldwide Limited joint venture
Organizers describe the route into VCT 2027
Charlie Cowdrey, CEO of JioBLAST, said the partnership is intended to expand the region’s competitive structure and give teams a defined route toward higher-level VCT competition.
“Our partnership with Riot Games for the VCT 2027 Kickoff Open Qualifiers reflects our commitment to strengthening South Asia's competitive ecosystem and giving teams a clear pathway to pursue their ambitions.”
Anushka Bhatnagar, Publishing Lead for Riot Games India and South Asia, described the revised format as a step toward broader access to VALORANT esports. She said Riot expects teams from throughout the region to compete for the opportunity to reach Kickoff APAC.
“An exciting step forward in making VALORANT Esports more accessible.”
Riot’s announcement about its 2027 competitive partners also said the new season would involve changes to how teams enter the VCT ecosystem. The South Asia qualifiers are the first part of that process for teams in the region, with the competition continuing until Nov. 13.
