Leviatán won Masters but missed Champions: Is VCT point system unfair?

There is a paradox unfolding in the world of Valorant: Leviatán, the champions of Masters London in May, failed to qualify for Champions Shanghai – the most prestigious tournament of the year. A team that just defeated all top global opponents now has to watch from home. Whose fault is it? Is the VCT point system killing competitive spirit, or did Leviatán dig their own grave? Look at the data. Leviatán won Masters London with a 3-1 victory over G2 Esports, a very strong opponent from the same Americas region. Statistics say they were the best team in the world at that time. But just three weeks later, they discovered they did not have enough VCT points to finish in the top 4 of their region – the condition to attend Champions. Why? Because VCT does not grant a wildcard slot for Masters champions. Every team must accumulate points through the stages: Kickoff, Stage 1, Stage 2, and Masters itself. Leviatán failed right at the starting line. Kickoff was a nightmare. Their young star Bruno “Neon” Rodríguez – who later won MVP at Masters – was not yet 18 years old at the time, making him ineligible under VCT rules. Leviatán had to enter Kickoff without their main duelist. Result: they earned only 1 VCT point from the opening tournament. Meanwhile, regional rivals like NRG and G2 already had 6-7 points from the start. That gap, in a region described by pro player Sliggy as “absolutely stacked,” was almost impossible to close. At Masters London, Leviatán played like a machine. They earned 15 VCT points – the highest of the tournament. But cumulatively over the season, their total was only 16, while NRG and G2 were far ahead thanks to consistent points from earlier stages. Stage 2 saw a somewhat complacent Leviatán. They self-banned their best map Split (11-0 record) and experimented with compositions without Neon-Phoenix. As a result, they lost a few more matches, dropping precious points. “They made it hard for themselves,” Sliggy commented. “When you win Masters, you might think you’ll easily get into Champions. But reality is different.” But let’s ask the reverse: Should a team that wins an international tournament deserve an automatic spot? VCT currently rewards season-long consistency. That ensures Champions features the strongest teams in terms of long-term form, not just the one that peaked at the right moment. Leviatán failed to maintain consistency, partly due to age restrictions (which Riot may want to revisit) and partly due to tactical mistakes. If you give the Masters champion an automatic berth, would it be fair to teams like NRG who performed well all season? The risk is that the system would encourage teams to focus only on one tournament and then coast. So what is the lesson? For Vietnamese teams gradually entering the world esports scene, Leviatán’s story is a wake-up call. You cannot rely on just one big tournament. You need to accumulate points stage by stage, build roster depth, and especially account for age-related regulations. In Vietnam, many young talents emerge before turning 18 – if they are barred early in the season, the entire plan could collapse. I have seen many esports teams die from overconfidence. Three times I mispronounced Modrić, and I learned that the game does not need to be read correctly, only deeply. Leviatán misread the point system, or they read it correctly but acted wrongly. Either way, they are paying the price. And Riot Games – as the publisher – will face pressure to adjust the rules. After this incident, will VCT add a wildcard slot for Masters winners? I think it is highly likely, because the absurdity is too obvious. But if no change happens, future teams will have to calculate more carefully. Look at the numbers: Leviatán had 15 points from Masters, but fell short by 3-4 points to reach top 4. A narrow failure. This shows that the advantage of a wildcard slot is not huge – just a few more points from Kickoff would have changed everything. So the problem lies in the age rule: if Neon had played from the start, Leviatán would have had at least 5-6 points, and they would have been safe. Riot should consider allowing under-18 players with certain conditions, or create a reserve point fund for teams disadvantaged by such rules. I see a Leviatán trapped in the points net, while their true strength deserves to be at Champions. But esports, like traditional sports, has rules. If you don’t comply, you face the consequences. This story will be retold as a classic case of the conflict between peak performance and consistency. And for me, it is a reminder: never underestimate any tournament, no matter how small. Vietnamese teams, take note. Do not let a glorious victory cloud your vision. Build a season-long plan, invest in bench depth for young players, and always be ready for every scenario. Leviatán has become a mirror for the whole esports world. They were champions, yet they missed Champions. And that can happen to anyone.