2023 Valorant Champions Tour: Tokyo Masters Explained

2023 VCT: Tokyo Masters
Sport:Esports
Game:Valorant
Year:2023
Location:Chiba, Japan
Date:June 11–25, 2023
Administrator:Riot Games
Tournament Format:Double Elimination
Venues:Tipstar Dome Chiba
(Group stage and Playoffs)
Makuhari Messe
(Lower Final and Grand Final)
Teams:12
Purse:US$1,000,000
Champion:Fnatic
Runner-Up1:Evil Geniuses
Previous:2022: Stage 2
Next:2024: Madrid

The 2023 Valorant Champions Tour: Tokyo Masters, also known as Valorant Masters Tokyo 2023, was an international esports tournament organized by Riot Games for the first-person shooter game Valorant, as part of the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) 2023 competitive season. Although officially named Masters Tokyo, the tournament ran from June 11–25, 2023 in Chiba, Japan, instead of Tokyo.

For the 2023 season, this is the only Masters tournament to be played in the international leagues.[1]

Fnatic have defeated Evil Geniuses via 3–0, in the best-of-5 Grand Final, to become the champions of the tournament.[2] [3]

Participating teams

With the introduction of the international leagues, the season is divided into three leagues: Americas, Pacific, and the EMEA. The winning region of the VCT//LOCK IN 2023 earned an extra berth for their respective region to qualify for the tournament, with Fnatic winning the said tournament, hence they are given 4 slots for their region for this tournament. While the champions of the Americas and Pacific are given one direct slot each to start in the Upper Quarterfinals.[4] China, although Valorant not officially released yet, is given 2 special spots to participate via third-party's competition.

RegionPathTeamID
Starting in the upper bracket quarterfinals
VCT EMEA ChampionTeam LiquidTL
VCT EMEA runner-upFnaticFNC
AmericasVCT Americas ChampionLOUDLOUD
PacificVCT Pacific ChampionPaper RexPRX
Starting in the group stage
VCT EMEA League 3rd placeFÜT EsportsFÜT
VCT EMEA League 4th placeNatus VincereNAVI
AmericasVCT Americas League runner-upNRGNRG
VCT Americas League 3rd placeEvil GeniusesEG
PacificVCT Pacific League runner-upDRXDRX
VCT Pacific League 3rd placeT1T1
ChinaFGC Valorant Invitational ChampionAttacking Soul EsportsASE
FGC Valorant Invitational runner-upEdward GamingEDG

Group stage

The group stages consisted of the remaining eight teams who were the runners-up or third placers of their respective regional international leagues around the world.

Group B

Playoffs

The finalists of the EMEA League, the champions of the Pacific and Americas League all qualified for the tournament directly to the playoffs.

Majority of the playoff matches were a best-of-three series, except for the Lower Bracket Final and the Grand Final which were played in a best-of-five series. Italicized team had the two-map ban advantage as they were the upper-bracket team.

Final rankings

Place Team Winnings (USD)
$350,000
$200,000
$125,000
$75,000
$50,000
$35,000
LOUD
$25,000
FÜT Esports
11th–12th $15,000
Attacking Soul Esports

Marketing

In-Game Drops

The tournament gave opportunity to all active players to earn in-game drops for free while watching the tournament. Fans must connect their account with their YouTube or Twitch channels, and they must watch the official livestream of the tournament on any Riot Games-approved channels. Each in-game drop had a specific time frame in which it can be earned. The VCT Masters Tokyo Player card were awarded during the Grand Final of the tournament, and the "Unpredictable" title was given out during the duration of the tournament.[5]

Team Deathmatch Showmatch

Selected content creators and influencers around the world featured up in a showmatch featuring the game's newest game mode, Team Deathmatch, in which featured Team Japan vs. Team International in a three-game series. The showmatch took place before the Grand Final of the tournament.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: Masters 2023 is coming to Japan! . 25 February 2024 . Valorant Esports . 25 December 2022.
  2. News: Stubbs . Mike . Fnatic win $1 Million Valorant Masters Tokyo tournament . 25 February 2024 . Forbes . 25 June 2023.
  3. News: Rawat . Aditya . Fnatic dominates EG to become VCT 2023 Masters Tokyo Champions . 25 February 2024 . AFK Gaming . 25 June 2023.
  4. News: Datuin . Sage . VALORANT: All VCT Masters Tokyo Teams Preview . 2 March 2024 . Esports Illustrated . 3 June 2023.
  5. News: Zalamea . Nigel . How to get free VCT Masters Tokyo drops: Exclusive Player card and title . 7 March 2024 . One Esports . 25 June 2023.
  6. News: Collette . Daniel . Team Deathmatch Showmatch at Valorant Masters Tokyo Grand Finals . 25 February 2024 . Valorant Esports . 17 June 2023.