VCT Pacific's Korea imbalance, Riot vows fix
Riot Games' VCT Pacific league, designed to unite multiple Asian and Oceanic regions, is struggling with a perceived imbalance favoring South Korea.
The VALORANT Champions Tour Pacific league is confronting criticism over a perceived imbalance favoring South Korea, with league head Jake Sin admitting Riot Games has created an unintentional imbalance. Hosted primarily in South Korea, the 12-team league in 2026 includes five Korean squads, representing approximately 42% of the competition. You can see the full list of teams on our squad page.
Multiple factors have fueled a debate on whether VCT Pacific is truly representing its entire region or becoming an extension of the Korean esports scene. The league was designed to unite talent from South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Oceania under one competitive banner. Managing this diverse region, with its vastly different esports infrastructures and languages, has proven complex.
Built on diversity, struggling with balance
Jake Sin, Head of VCT Pacific, has publicly acknowledged the league's inclusivity problem. He stated the imbalance developed over the last few years, partly in exchange for operational stability. Sin is now committed to addressing the issue in the upcoming partnership cycle.
He tweeted about reading reflections from players on their last four years in Pacific as they end their runs in 2026, and promised a new era, adding he is committed to creating an even more amazing ecosystem. Sin directly addressed concerns about favoritism, stating he is committed to making it more inclusive than it ever was. Riot's decisions to host the 2025 Stage 1 Finals in Japan and the 2026 Stage 1 Finals in Vietnam were experiments aimed at long-term balance. Fans can track upcoming events on the official fixtures schedule.
Allegations of competitive integrity breaches
The perception of imbalance is not solely about geography or team numbers. Competitive integrity concerns have also surfaced, contributing to the issue. Multiple VCT Pacific members, including players Maksim "Jemkin" Batorov and Hector "FrosT" Rosario, previously raised allegations of special treatment for South Korean teams during the 2026 Kickoff event.
Their claims, later confirmed by Riot, included an incident where T1 players were permitted to smoke in toilets and another where Gen.G's Lakia wore his headset incorrectly. Riot Games conducted an internal investigation into these allegations. The outcome was written warnings for multiple players and teams, with no further punishments issued.
These incidents have affected trust between teams and league officials. For teams from regions outside Korea, navigating logistics and attracting talent is harder when the league is centered in one country. Fans in other nations also feel excluded, especially when attending matches requires international travel to South Korea.
The path to a more inclusive future
Admitting the problem is a first step. Taking VCT Pacific to more countries outside South Korea is a potential solution. Fanbases in Japan and Vietnam have already demonstrated significant energy when hosting events. Beyond venue location, Riot could ensure a more balanced mix of Korean and non-Korean staff who speak multiple languages to improve communication and transparency.
Riot is making structural changes. The circuit is becoming more open ahead of the upcoming season through the introduction of Open Qualifiers. All partnered organizations, except those in China, will be directly invited to the Kickoff event. The next set of partnered teams for the 2027 VCT season is pending announcement, with Jake Sin revealing that fandom will be a major selection factor. The league's competitive standings and player stats continue to be key metrics for evaluating team performance.
True inclusion, however, may not mean enforcing equal regional representation at the top league level. The goal should be building a Pacific ecosystem strong enough that Korea's dominance is consistently challenged by teams from Japan, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and South Asia. The announced changes indicate Riot recognizes the problem, but the challenge remains turning promises of inclusivity into reality for all regions involved.
