VCT 2026: Pacific Kickoff

Playoffs Format

Bracket Structure & Match Length

• Tournament Format: The playoffs feature a Triple-Elimination bracket.

• Standard Matches: All matches are Best-of-Three (Bo3), with the exception of the bracket finals.

• Bracket Finals: The Upper Bracket Final, Middle Bracket Final, and Lower Bracket Final are contested as Best-of-Five (Bo5) series.

• Championship Seeding: Teams that successfully qualified for Champions Paris receive an automatic bye into Round 2 of the Upper Bracket.

Pre-Match Skirmish (Side Selection)

Prior to the start of each match, a 1v1 Skirmish determines the map veto advantages based on the following regulations:

• Player Selection: Each team must nominate a single starting player to represent them in the 1v1 face-off.

• Game Mode Rules: The matchup takes place in the in-game Skirmish mode.

  • Abilities: Strictly disabled.

  • Combat: Gunplay only.

  • Victory Condition: The first player to win five rounds secures the Skirmish victory.

• Veto Advantage: The winning player grants their team the priority choice to act as either the starting team or the second team during the Map Veto process.

• Seeding: This 1v1 Skirmish method may also be utilized by tournament officials to determine overall bracket seeding.