Apeks has officially been relegated from the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA following a last-place finish in the Group Stage of VCT EMEA Stage 2.
As a result, the team will compete in the Challengers League—VALORANT’s tier-two circuit—in 2025, with no opportunity to return through the Ascension tournament next year.
In a social media post, the team stated: “An absolute nightmare. We’re out of VALORANT Esports EMEA. Thanks [to] those following our journey.”
Apeks faced tough opponents throughout Stage 2, beginning with a 2-1 loss to NAVI on July 16. This was followed by another 2-1 defeat to Karmine Corp on July 23, then a close 2-1 loss to Team Liquid on July 31. The team’s final match in VCT EMEA ended with a 2-1 loss to Movistar KOI on August 6.
Due to their placement, Apeks is not eligible for this year’s Ascension event. Riot Games recently overhauled the promotion system, focusing more heavily on team performance. Under the new format, a team that fails to make the Stage 2 Playoffs is automatically relegated to make way for new Ascension teams.
Apeks’ overall 2025 VCT run has been underwhelming. In the EMEA Kickoff, the team placed 12th after losses to Gentle Mates and Team Liquid. Their Stage 1 campaign ended in 11th place with a 0-5 group record. In the Esports World Cup EMEA Qualifier, Apeks finished ninth after early losses to FUT Esports and GIANTX.
After a tough year and a series of disappointing finishes, Apeks now turns its attention to rebuilding in the Challengers League.
