- Riot confirms Reykjavik as host city to both the 2021 Mid-Seasonal Invitational and VCT Masters Stage 2
- That is the first time Iceland has hosted an esports event and the first time VALORANT has gone international
- Riot Games feels comfortable with VALORANT's growth pace, enough to take it to a global scene
The VCT Masters Stage 2 event has been confirmed for Reykjavik, Iceland, with the tournament being the first time VALORANT has gone international.
Valorant Esports Scope to Reach New Audiences in Reykjavik
Riot Games has Reykjavik locked in as the venue of its next 2021 Mid-Seasonal Invitational and VALORANT VCT Masters Stage Two. The Iceland capital will play a warm welcome to Riot's competitive games in May, the company revealed earlier today. That will essentially be the first time Iceland has hosted an esports event.
Furthermore, it will be the first time VALORANT has taken to the international stage in an attempt to follow in the footsteps of League of Legends, Riot's flagship title. The event will kick off on May 24, following the MSI showdown, and the final is already scheduled for May 30.
Riot's Senior Director of Esports Whalen Rozelle explained that the company feels strongly about the future of competitive VALORANT and the Reykjavik stop was the next chapter in securing a global presence for the innovative first-person shooter.
The event will reward VCT Points that will qualify for the VCT Champions, which is the crowning event of the competitive season. Riot has decided to step up its game for VALORANT, exploring new competitive opportunities for women and addressing some of the more serious issues in the community.
When VALORANT was released, Riot Games vowed to only steer the game and not interfere or artificially inflate its natural growth pace. Adding an international competition, a first for the game, could mean that Riot finally feels confident enough in its shooter's success.
A total of 10 teams will be allowed at VCT Masters Stage Two, with the format still subject to discussion. The company has picked Laugardalshöll Arena as the hosting venue. Numerous teams are potentially heading to the chilly North with Envy, Vision Strikes, Sentinels, and others all pushing through the Stage One qualifiers.
More details are available at PlayValorant.com, including specific information about regional qualifiers.
