Leviatán Won Masters London But Missed Champions: Does the VCT Points System Need a Change?

Right after Leviatán won Masters London, fans naturally expected them to be a top seed for Champions Shanghai. But the harsh reality: the Americas powerhouse failed to qualify for the year-end championship. Leviatán's story is not just a sports shock. It raises a question about the VCT points structure: does a mid-season international champion deserve an automatic spot at Champions, or is winning just part of a long season? The current VCT system allocates spots based on points accumulated across Kickoff, Stage 1, Stage 2, and Masters. The team with the most points in each region gets the ticket. Winning Masters does not grant an automatic berth. Leviatán paid for a slow start: at Kickoff, they lacked star player Neon due to age restrictions (Neon was 17, not yet eligible to play). They lost crucial points early in the season. Although they later had a dominant performance at Masters London with a convincing win, their total reached only 15 points – not enough to surpass consistent teams like NRG and G2 Esports. The Americas region is described as 'absolutely stacked' (Sliggy – analyst). With the same 15 points in a weaker region like China or Pacific, Leviatán would likely have qualified. But in the Americas, where at least 4-5 world-class teams compete, the Champions cutoff is much higher. This creates a paradox: a team can win an international event but fail to qualify for the biggest tournament of the year. Leviatán also contributed to their own downfall. According to Sliggy, in Stage 2 they repeatedly self-banned their best map Split (11-0 record before) and experimented with unfamiliar compositions (Neon-Phoenix). 'They were probably preparing for Champions, but forgot that Champions wasn't guaranteed to be theirs,' he commented. This overconfidence cost them valuable points. From a long-term perspective, Leviatán's absence from Champions is a loss for the tournament: a top team with a large fan base will not appear. This affects viewership, sponsorship, and fan sentiment. Riot may need to reconsider the system: perhaps add a wildcard slot for Masters champions or increase the weight of international tournaments. However, changing the rules is not easy, as it touches the principle of fair competition. Conclusion: Leviatán deserves to be at Champions for their class, but both the system and their own decisions prevented it. This story reminds teams: no victory is permanent, and every point counts. For Riot, this is an opportunity to refine the format, ensuring that true champions are not left behind.