Winning Masters London but Missing Champions: Leviatán and the Debate Over VCT Qualification Rules

Winning the Masters London 2026 should have been a glorious milestone for Leviatán. Instead, it became the focal point of a heated debate in the Valorant community: a team that just won the mid-season world championship did not qualify for Champions Shanghai, the most prestigious tournament of the year. This incident raises the question of whether the current VCT points system is truly fair, and whether Riot Games should change the qualification rules to protect the value of peak victories. Leviatán, a team from the Americas region, made history by defeating a series of strong opponents to win Masters London, a tournament that gathers the best teams from all regions. However, when the season ended, they had only accumulated 15 VCT points, not enough to rank among the top teams in the Americas region to earn a spot at Champions. Meanwhile, teams like NRG and G2 Esports, despite lacking a Masters title, stood above them thanks to consistency throughout the Kickoff, Stage 1, and Stage 2 stages. The first reason was the absence of young star Bruno 'Neon' Rodríguez, who won MVP at Masters London. Due to VCT age restrictions (minimum 18 years old), Neon could not play in Kickoff, causing Leviatán to miss opportunities to accumulate points early in the season. When Neon returned, the team played brilliantly and won Masters, but the points gap from the early stage was too large to close in a region described as 'absolutely stacked' – as analyst Sliggy noted. Furthermore, Leviatán themselves made controversial tactical decisions. In Stage 2, when they still needed points, they self-banned their strongest maps like Split (undefeated 11-0) and used unusual compositions, not the Neon-Phoenix duo that made their name. Coaches and players may have been testing strategies for Champions if they advanced, but the consequence was losing precious points. Sliggy stated bluntly: 'They are to blame themselves. They self-banned their best maps, self-played weird comps.' This event sparked a debate: should the system reward consistency across the whole season or honor peak performance? Currently, the VCT points system rewards consistency. A team can win a major tournament but still be eliminated if they perform poorly in other stages. This has happened before in LCK (League of Legends), but in Valorant, it provokes more mixed reactions because the Masters winner is often expected to be a strong contender for Champions. Looking at the data, Leviatán has the ability to compete for the Champions title. They proved it in London. Their absence not only reduces the tournament's quality but also affects broadcast revenue, sponsorships, and viewer interest. But should the rules be changed just for one case? Riot Games has not officially responded, but pressure from the community and experts is growing. Some proposals suggest granting a special berth to the Masters winner, similar to how League of Legends grants a spot to the MSI winner if certain conditions are met. However, this could break the fairness of the season-long points system, as a surprise victory does not guarantee that the team deserves the world championship title. Broadly, the Americas region is witnessing fiercer competition than ever. With the presence of NRG, G2, 100 Thieves, Leviatán, and many other strong teams, only 3 or 4 spots are available for Champions (official numbers not confirmed). This means even a Masters-winning team could rank 5th or 6th in the region. If Leviatán belonged to a weaker region like China or Pacific, their 15 points might have been enough. The story of Leviatán is not just a sports tragedy. It exposes a flaw in tournament design: when a major mid-season international event (Masters) carries huge prestige, but not enough points weight. The Masters winner receives only a small points bonus over lower-ranked teams, not enough to compensate for a slow start. For Leviatán themselves, they have learned their lesson. The team is preparing for the 2027 season with higher determination, but missing out on Champions this year could affect their morale and sponsorship deals. Fans still support them, but public opinion is divided: one side says rules are rules, the other calls for reform. In this context, Riot Games will likely have to consider changes. Esports history shows that similar controversies often lead to adjustments. For instance, League of Legends modified its Worlds qualification format after several strong teams were eliminated early. If Leviatán creates enough waves, we may see a special slot for the Masters winner in the near future. But until that happens, Leviatán will have to watch Champions from home, a reminder that in esports, nothing is certain.