Valorant Esports News

Karmine Corp’s opening debut with their new roster in the VCT EMEA 2026 Kickoff tournament did not deliver quite the brilliant opener they were hoping for. However, despite NAVI’s brilliant start to both maps, Karmine Corp managed to mount late game comebacks both times, resulting in an end result that was far from satisfactory, but not fully disappointing. Following the conclusion to the series, Strafe Esports sat down with Karmine Corp’s Head Coach Andrey “Engh” Sholokhov to speak on the team’s performance during the match, their preparation coming into their first match of 2026, his thoughts on the game’s changes since last season, and so much more in this exclusive interview.

Strafe Esports was recently invited to attend a media event organized by the EWC (Esports World Cup). In it, an open discussion was held around EWC 2026 and beyond, answering some of the bigger questions surrounding one of the world’s biggest emerging esports tournament organizers.

Esports World Cup 2026 announced a historic $75 million prize pool. The annual event will return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 6, featuring 25 tournaments across 24 games.

Trackmania joins the Esports World Cup 2026 lineup. In this precision racing esport, 32 players from all over the world will compete in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for their share of a $500,000 prize pool.

Marking a significant shift, VCT Pacific will take its Stage 1 Finals to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and its Stage 2 Finals to Busan, South Korea. This move marks a departure from the league's traditional home in Seoul.

As the countdown to Kickoff continues, VALORANT Esports EMEA has just announced a multiyear partnership with Razer as the official gaming chair partner for 2026 and 2027. The partnership will extend to both VCT EMEA as well as Game Changers EMEA.

VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) has eliminated the randomness of coin tosses for the 2026 season, introducing a 1v1 Skirmish format that puts player skill at the center to determine map and side selection priority. Starting with the 2026 VCT Pacific Kickoff on January 22, equally seeded teams will send one player each into a pure aim duel to determine who gains the crucial advantage in pick-and-ban phases.​ Rules and Mechanics The new Skirmish Side Selection system operates under straightforward rulesmore

The 2026 VALORANT season begins with VCT Pacific Kickoff, where the twelve teams in the region will compete for Championship Points and three Masters spots. The tournament will be held from January 22 to February 15.

If you think of esports, chances are the G2 name will pop up in your head; the menacing samurai, the countless trophies, the aspiration to be bigger, better. When it comes to the world of competitive video games, G2 Esports is one of the most recognizable brands worldwide, no doubt about it. But, just how big are they really? And perhaps more importantly, what steps did they take to get there? Strafe had the chance to sit down with Albanmore

Competitive VALORANT is set to return for 2026 as 12 teams gear up for the VCT Americas 2026 Kickoff, the first major event of the year that will determine three representatives for VALORANT Masters Santiago. With revamped rosters, a unique triple elimination format, and valuable Championship Points on the line, the Americas league is primed for an intense start to the VCT 2026 season.

Riot Games has introduced the Alpha vs Omega ACT 1 Challenge in VALORANT Season V26, offering players a chance to complete objectives alongside some of their favorite EMEA content creators.

Riot Games brings in 2026 with the new skin bundle Ayakashi, a premium cosmetic collection inspired by Japanese mythology that proves they continue to not mess around when it comes to weapon cosmetic innovations. ​​What The Ayakashi Skin Bundle Contains The bundle costs 7,160 Valorant Points and arrives with a solid lineup: the Phantom and Ghost skins (those reliable guns you already can't aim with) plus the Kogitsune dual-blade melee, VALORANT's first-ever dual short katana design. Think of it as finallymore

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has unveiled the format of the 2026 Esports Nations Cup, scheduled for November. The tournament will feature 24-48 national teams per team-based title and 32-128 individuals per solo title.

Season 2026 is officially here, and the VALORANT Patch 12.00 is dropping some serious heat. This update brings the biggest map rework in the game's history, a brand-new sidearm, and a whole list of changes that are going to shake up how you play. Breeze is back after a complete overhaul, there's a fresh weapon called the Bandit ready to change your eco rounds, and Riot is introducing All Random One Site, a chaotic new limited-time mode that throws strategymore

VALORANT kicks off new season V26 with Patch 12.00. The in-game new year kicks off map and agent changes, new weapon and all new game mode: All Random One Site

VCT 2026 is set to begin in January, starting with the Kickoff tournament. This will be followed by International Leagues Stage 1, Masters Santiago, League Stage 2, Masters London, and VALORANT Champions.

Overview of the Pearl Map in Valorant Pearl is a unique map in Valorant, taking players to an underwater city set in an alternate version of Lisbon, Portugal. Unlike other Valorant maps that include dynamic elements or mechanical hooks, Pearl is a simpler, straightforward map with two bomb sites (A and B) and a traditional three-lane structure. This design makes it ideal for players who appreciate tactical, balanced gameplay where positioning, map control, and teamwork shine. Released in June 2022,more

Valorant's new map, Sunset, introduces unique challenges and opportunities for players. This guide will cover everything you need to know about Valorant Sunset, including its layout, key callouts, recommended agents, and effective strategies. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to Valorant, this guide will help you dominate the Sunset map. Understanding the Layout of Valorant Sunset Valorant Sunset is a two-site map with a medium to small size. It features straightforward design elements similar to the Ascent map butmore

Just like that, a year of esports action has come and gone. Whether you're a fan of FPS games, a devoted MOBA gamer, or anything in-between, chances are that 2025 delivered its fair share of thrills, heartbreaks, and unforgettable moments. Before we move on to a new season of competition and coverage, join us as we go through our Strafe Esports Wrapped, taking a look back at our best performing esports, players, teams, and news articles throughout the year. Mostmore

Seungmin "ban" Oh, a professional VALORANT player, is suspended from competing in any Riot-sanctioned events for the next twelve months. The ban takes effect immediately following a ruling released by Riot Games on what went down during the VCT Pacific 2025 season; specifically, allegations that ban entertained proposals to manipulate a match. The Match That Started It All Back on July 19, 2025, Global Esports and Team Secret faced off in a VCT Pacific match. Shortly after, it became clear that ban had gotten caught up in something he shouldn't have. People had approached him about throwing the match, offeringmore