VALORANT completes path-to-pro route with new Premier Invite Division

While most esports have a Ranked system in-game to champion competitive play and encourage players to get tournament-ready, VALORANT has recently launched its own Premier ladder which is designed specifically to promote players through the ranks and become professionals.

The one-of-a-kind structure allows players to compete in weekly tournaments where they can advance through the ranks to test themselves against the best of the rest.

Now though, Riot Games has officially announced the final block on the road for VALORANT's path-to-pro mode, as it unveils Invite Division.

VALORANT announces Invite Division for Premier

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Having launched Premier back in 2023, following VCT Champions, the highest rank players could achieve was Contender, and this was then barred as the ceiling. 

Now, Riot Games is ready to champion those Contenders to push them into Invite Division, which is ready to roll out as of VALORANT Episode 9 Act 1 on June 25.

The top teams in each region's Contenders division at the end of Episode 8 Act 3 will then move into an elite group for E9, with the goal of becoming pros. Here, teams will continue to spar against equal-calibre rosters, and those that win in Premier Invite can qualify for VCT Challenger Leagues around the world.

It's not yet crystal clear just how those at the top of the Invite division then become pro, but Riot Games revealed in a press release that "Riot’s Esports Team will contact team owners promoting out of the Invite Division to provide details on where they will play now that they have earned their shot at Challengers."

VALORANT finishes off its esports ecosystem with a complete Premier ladder

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This change will now round off the VALORANT esports ecosystem, which goes from Premier to Challengers (level with Game Changers, the female and gender-minority-only competition) to the partnered VCT leagues and onwards to Masters and Champions.

Few developers have ever been able to successfully promote players directly out of their game to become pros, often relying on the likes of GameBattles or FaceIt leagues, but Riot Games believes its pyramid will be a winner.

Episode 9 Act 1 comes in just two months, leaving those Contender Teams just a handful of weeks to nail down their strategies and push through the rankings.