Valorant Champions Tour 2025: Pacific League Kicks Off with Dramatic Start
The Valorant competitive scene in the Asia-Pacific region has erupted into action with the 2025 Pacific International League (IL) Kickoff tournament. While the event marks a significant moment for regional esports, it comes with a complex narrative of excitement and underlying challenges.
The tournament opened with a headline-grabbing match between T1 and Paper Rex (PRX), which not only captured the highest viewership of the ongoing international leagues but also showcased the intense competition defining the Pacific circuit. T1’s narrow victory over PRX was a testament to the organization’s growing prominence in Valorant, particularly impressive given their legendary status in League of Legends.
However, beneath the surface of this high-energy start lies a concerning trend. Comparative data reveals a notable decline in viewership compared to the previous year’s Pacific Kickoff. The current tournament has attracted approximately 100,000 fewer average viewers during its opening days, continuing a pattern of diminishing audience engagement also observed in the Americas International League.
The tournament’s viewership landscape is particularly interesting when examining language demographics. Japanese viewers emerged as the most significant audience, generating peak viewership over 30% higher than the next most popular language group. This reflects the passionate Valorant community in Japan, which has consistently shown deep investment in local teams.
Japanese squads DetonatioN FocusMe (DFM) and ZETA DIVISION, despite losing their initial matches, remain crucial to the tournament’s narrative. A upcoming elimination match between PRX and ZETA DIVISION on January 26 promises to be a potential viewership highlight, combining PRX’s international appeal with the loyalty of Japanese fans.
T1’s participation
T1’s participation has been particularly notable. The South Korean organization has been instrumental in developing Valorant’s viewership, leveraging their established esports brand to attract international attention. Their match against PRX epitomized this, drawing over 100,000 concurrent viewers and featuring a nail-biting contest that went the full 24 rounds.
As the tournament progresses, questions linger about the sustainability of Valorant’s competitive viewership in the region. While the Pacific Kickoff currently stands as 2025’s most-watched Valorant event, the declining viewer numbers suggest potential challenges ahead. The upcoming matches, especially those involving Japanese teams, will be critical in determining whether the tournament can maintain its momentum.
For esports enthusiasts and analysts, the VCT 2025 Pacific Kickoff represents more than just a tournament—it’s a complex narrative of regional pride, competitive excellence, and the evolving landscape of global esports viewership.
