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VALORANT fans will have another way to test their predictions as Riot Games has confirmed the return of Pick ‘Ems for the upcoming VALORANT Champions 2025 in Paris.

The fan-favourite prediction game kicks off on September 4th, ahead of the tournament running from September 12th to October 5th. Players can lock in their choices for the Group Stage matches directly through the game client or the official website, earning points for correct predictions and bonus points for guessing a team’s exact placement. Exclusive in-game rewards will also be up for grabs, making it one of the most engaging ways for the community to follow the action.

A proven hit with fans

Pick ‘Ems has already shown its popularity across the VALORANT esports scene. During Masters Toronto in June, Riot reported more than 1.1 million predictions were submitted, with eventual winners Paper Rex ending their so-called “silver curse” after years of second-place finishes. With Fnatic and Paper Rex both expected to be frontrunners in Paris, fans will no doubt be eager to test their forecasting skills again.

Factions join the mix

This year, Riot is expanding engagement with the introduction of Factions. Players can align themselves with a content creator-led faction, and every point earned through Pick ‘Ems in the Groups and Playoffs will contribute to the overall Faction score. It’s a new layer of community competition designed to reward fans beyond their own predictions.

VALORANT 11.05 update sets the stage

The return of Pick ‘Ems comes as part of the 11.05 update, the build that will be used for Champions Paris. Riot has kept changes to a minimum to maintain competitive balance but made some notable tweaks:

  • Increased penalties for repeat AFK and queue dodging
  • Adjusted visual effects for Harbor for better clarity
  • Reduced visual noise when using Reckoning, making it easier to spot opponents
  • Multiple agent-related bug fixes to optimise gameplay ahead of the tournament

With Champions being the biggest event of the year, the update aims to provide a stable and fair environment for the world’s top teams.

Tournament format and prize pool

Champions Paris will feature 16 teams battling for a share of the $2.25 million USD prize pool. The Group Stage runs from September 12th to 22nd with a GSL double-elimination format, and all matches played as best-of-threes. The Playoffs follow from September 25th to October 5th, with the Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final upping the stakes in best-of-five series.

Looking ahead

With Pick ‘Ems back, new Faction battles, and the world’s best teams ready to compete, VALORANT Champions Paris 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting events the title has seen.

And with Riot also preparing major updates for the game itself, including the long-awaited VALORANT Replay System launching in September with Patch 11.06, fans have plenty to look forward to both on and off the server.