Riot Games announces VALORANT Champions 2023 in Los Angeles, the first-ever international tournament in North America
Riot Games, the publisher of the popular online tactical shooter game VALORANT, has announced the location of its flagship esports event, VALORANT Champions 2023. The tournament will take place in Los Angeles, California, marking the first-ever international VALORANT event in North America. The event will be hosted across two locations, with the opening rounds at the Shrine Auditorium and the finale at the Kia Forum. VALORANT Champions will officially close out the 2023 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) and will feature 16 teams competing for the top prize.
Last year’s VCT Champions event recorded a peak viewership of 1.5 million and an average viewership of 525,817, making it the most popular tournament in VALORANT’s short history. This year’s VCT season officially began last month, with the VCT LOCK//IN tournament concluding last weekend. The LOCK//IN tournament was won by European esports organization Fnatic, beating local team LOUD 3-2, thus earning an additional qualifying spot for VCT Masters Tokyo in June for the EMEA International League.
The announcement of VALORANT Champions’ location coincides with the release of the game’s newest agent, Gekko, who is based in Los Angeles, the host city of the tournament. Riot Games has promised to reveal further details on tickets and other aspects of the international event in the coming months.
Esports enthusiasts and VALORANT fans alike can expect a thrilling and action-packed event, with the best players and teams from around the world vying for the championship title. With the growth and popularity of esports on the rise, the announcement of VALORANT Champions in Los Angeles represents another milestone in the industry’s continued expansion and mainstream recognition.
Overall, the VALORANT Champions 2023 tournament promises to be an exciting and groundbreaking event, showcasing the best that esports has to offer. Fans can look forward to the latest gameplay, strategy, and tactics on display, as well as the camaraderie and spirit of competition that make esports such a captivating and dynamic experience.
