Leviatán wins Masters London but fails to qualify for Champions Shanghai: Is the VCT points system flawed?

The biggest shock in Valorant early 2026: Leviatán – the Masters London champion – failed to qualify for Champions Shanghai. This has raised questions about the fairness of the VCT points system. Leviatán started the season at a disadvantage when star rookie Bruno 'Neon' Rodríguez could not play at Kickoff due to age restrictions, costing them valuable early points. Despite winning Masters London, Leviatán only accumulated 15 VCT points – not enough to surpass NRG and G2 Esports in the 'absolutely stacked' Americas region. Beyond system setbacks, Leviatán made their own problems. In Stage 2, they self-banned their best map Split (11-0 record) and experimented with unusual compositions. Former pro Sliggy commented: 'They are to blame.' Experimenting in low-stakes matches was a risky gamble. Core issue: Should a Masters winner get an automatic berth to Champions? Currently, VCT has no auto-qualification for mid-season champions. The Esports Insider article argues this creates a paradox: the world's best team at one moment misses the biggest tournament of the year. However, changing the system isn't simple. VCT prioritizes season-long consistency to avoid one-hit wonders. If Riot revises rules, they might add a champions' auto-berth or boost points for international events. For Leviatán, opportunity remains. The roster proved its class in London. Tactical mistakes can be fixed. Key lesson: in a brutal region like Americas, nothing is guaranteed – even if you just won the world.