The Masters Bracket Controversy

The Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Masters format has once again come under scrutiny, with growing voices suggesting a return to an 8-team format may be the most logical move. The current 12-team setup, introduced in recent years, is facing criticism for its structure and perceived competitive imbalance. 

Masters Format Controversy

One of the core arguments being raised is the limited interaction between teams across stages. Only four out of twelve teams actually get to experience both the swiss stage and playoffs.

The rest are confined to their own isolated phase of the event.

This has led some to question whether the current system is really offering a full competition experience to all participating teams.

Critics also point out that, for 1st seeds, the event is essentially already an 8-team tournament. These teams skip the swiss stage entirely and go straight into playoffs, prompting calls to simply revert the structure altogether and remove what many see as unnecessary complexity.

Momentum is another major talking point. The advantage of gaining stage experience and racking up wins during the swiss stage has proven valuable.

In fact, several players and coaches who’ve been on both sides of the experience say they’d rather play from the beginning of the tournament and ride the momentum, than come in cold for playoffs.

Riot's Response

According to Riot, the 1st seed position still holds meaningful weight, offering:

• A guaranteed top 8 placement

• Immunity from swiss stage elimination

• Strategic intel gathering without revealing their own playbook

• Extra time to prepare and adjust to the venue

• The ability to choose their first playoff opponent

However, the company also recognizes the value of momentum. Lower bracket runs have often delivered thrilling stories and are sometimes boosted by a team’s rising morale and comfort on stage.