Editors note: This story was updated to include that EMEA can have more than one team in a group as well as the changes Riot Games implemented to the format. This story has been updated to include changes to the attendees at the event and its schedule.
The VALORANT Champions Tour Stage 3 Masters Berlin format has been revealed, including how fans can watch VALORANT’s next international LAN. The top tier tournament will host 15 teams who have qualified through their own regional VCT Stage 3 Challengers events. All games will be live on the official VALORANT Twitch account.
#VALORANTMasters IS BACK!
Still have questions about the tournament? Here’s everything you need to know about Masters Berlin! pic.twitter.com/8wTFsBrG3d
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) August 20, 2021
VCT Masters 3: Berlin group stage format
Each team will be seeded into four different groups. The group stage is in the Global StarCraft II League – or GSL – format, meaning teams will play out a four-team double elimination bracket for each group. No teams will start in a lower bracket; all four teams start in the upper bracket and fill out the lower section after the first day’s matches. Group D is the only exception, which will feature a double round-robin because Bren Esports could not make the event.
Each group will be seeded so that regional teams will not meet in the stage, except for European teams who can have more than one team from their region a group. Each match in the group stage will also be best-of-three competitions in the same format as most VCT competitions, with a map veto and pick phase. The above photos include a finals match in each group. This match was cut from the format as Riot Games changed the format to allow two teams from each group through to the playoff phase.
Starting on Sept. 10, matches start at 9 a.m. ET each day with three matches across three separate groups for seven days straight. The final matches of the day are tentatively scheduled at 3 p.m. ET. The first two days of matches are set and the rest will get filled in as the brackets fill out, except for G2 Esports, Sentinels and F4Q — who will play out their round-robins on Day 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Are you ready for 10 Days of high stake VALORANT action? 🔥 Here's the official schedule for #VALORANTMasters Berlin: September 10-19. pic.twitter.com/JRoCgpCUnr
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) September 3, 2021
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the playoffs stage, kicking off on Sept.17.
Playoffs stage
The VCT Masters 3: Berlin playoffs stage is a straight forward single elimination bracket, starting with the first matches on Sept. 17 at 9 a.m. ET. The top two teams from each group will play a best-of-three match in the quarter and semifinals with the winners from those games facing off in a best-of-five series in the grand finals on Sept. 19. The semifinals and finals will start a little later, at 8 a.m. PDT. The winner of that match will earn an automatic slot at the year-end tournament: Champions.
