The biggest VALORANT tournament of the year is bringing in a brand-new prize that’s got players buzzing. Riot Games has revealed that the winners of VALORANT Champions 2025 won’t just be lifting the trophy and pocketing their share of $2.25 million, they’ll also be walking away with the new Champions Necklace, a piece of jewellery that blends esports prestige with luxury style.

The Champions MVP bracelet and Champions Pendant 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ONY37yXFuT

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) September 27, 2025

From Cube to Chain

For years, members of the winning team received a Radiant Cube as their personal keepsake from Champions. That tradition is now retired. Instead, each player on the victorious roster will be given a sterling silver necklace featuring the Champions Pendant, complete with a 22-carat gold cube set into the chain.

The pendant itself carries a lot of detail. It includes the iconic Champions trophy, a bead marking the year, and an engraving on the bottom that lists the winning team and final score. It’s not just a piece of hardware, it’s a statement.

Designed for Style and Legacy

The Champions Necklace was developed in partnership with Good Art Hollywood, the same jeweller behind the Champions MVP bracelet, which will continue to be awarded separately. According to VALORANT Esports Commissioner Leo Faria, the decision to shift from the cube to a necklace came after speaking with players at the Seoul afterparty last year.

“Potter didn’t say the cube was lame, but she did say players want the drip,” Faria recalled. “They want something cool to show on social media and celebrate the achievement. That’s why we’re doing the Champions Pendant.”

A New Era of Champions Rewards

The necklace represents more than just a prize, it’s a cultural shift. VALORANT players and fans are known for embracing style, and Riot is clearly leaning into that energy with this move. The combination of sterling silver and 22-carat gold ensures it isn’t just flashy but also symbolic of the game’s growing legacy.

VALORANT Champions 2025 wraps up on October 5, and whoever takes the title will be the first team to wear the new Champions Necklace. The cube may be gone, but the drip is here to stay.

The post VALORANT Champions 2025 Winners to Receive 22-Carat Gold Necklace appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Riot Games has locked in the dates for VALORANT Act 5’s Premier event, and if you’ve ever dreamed about taking your in-game skills to the big stage, this is your shot. Running from 27 August through 12 October 2025, Premier is back for another season, and it’s once again giving everyday players a real pathway into the professional VALORANT scene.

For those who might be new, Premier is essentially VALORANT’s built-in tournament mode. Teams of mates can squad up, battle it out each week, and work their way through the divisions. Do well enough, and you could actually end up in the Challengers circuit, which feeds directly into the global VCT. In other words, it’s not just bragging rights on the line.

The Act 5 Premier Schedule

This season of Premier will span seven weeks, with each one tied to a specific map before everything wraps up in a single-day playoff.

your ACT 5 Premier schedule is here pic.twitter.com/vsfhVnWIQx

— VALORANT (@VALORANT) August 20, 2025

Here’s the full breakdown:

• Week 1: Haven – 27 to 31 August
• Week 2: Corrode – 3 to 7 September
• Week 3: Lotus – 10 to 14 September
• Week 4: Ascent – 17 to 21 September
• Week 5: Sunset – 24 to 28 September
• Week 6: Bind – 1 to 5 October
• Week 7: Abyss – 8 to 11 October
• Playoffs: 12 October

If you’ve been keeping up with patch 11.04, you’ll notice a few changes coming into play here. Icebox has been rotated out for Abyss, and some agents have had their balance shifted, so the meta is definitely going to feel fresh.

How Premier Works

Premier splits teams into 22 divisions, ranging from the beginner-friendly Open 1–5 all the way up to Invite, the highest tier. Each week, teams can play up to two best-of-one matches per map, with standings resetting every Tuesday.

Qualifying for playoffs depends on where you’re sitting:

• Open to Elite: rack up 600 Premier Score.
• Contender to Invite: finish at the top of the weekly standings.

From there, the real stakes kick in. The top squads in Contenders and Invite get a shot at qualifying for VALORANT Challengers. Specifically:

• The top two Contenders teams secure direct qualifications.
• Invite playoff winners also move up to Challengers.

It’s as close as you’ll get to a “pro try-out” built straight into the game.

Rewards and Requirements

Even if you’re not chasing a pro career, Premier still dishes out some neat goodies. Everyone who joins in gets an exclusive player card, while playoff winners walk away with a unique title and gun buddy.

To play, though, there are a few boxes to tick:

• Your account needs to be in good standing (no bans or restrictions).
• You’ll need to verify your identity via SMS.
• At least one ranked placement match must be completed at some point on your account.
• Squads should be made up of five to seven players.

It’s pretty simple, get your mates, lock in your phones, and you’re good to go.

So, round up your squad, mark your calendars, and get ready to grind it out. This could be the season where your name starts to mean something in VALORANT.

The post VALORANT Act 5 Premier: Schedule, Format, and How to Qualify appeared first on Shane the Gamer.