When Does VALORANT Champions 2026 Shanghai Start in Malaysia Time?
Published: 2026-07-27
VALORANT Champions 2026 begins on 24 September 2026 in Shanghai and runs 25 days, with the Grand Final on 18 October. Malaysian fans skip the conversion math — Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai share GMT+8, so every Riot-published start time is already MYT. Sixteen teams fight for a $2.25 million prize pool, with $1,000,000 reserved for the champion (Liquipedia). All times below are MYT (GMT+8) unless flagged otherwise.
What Malaysian Fans Should Watch For
Two rosters have booked their slot as of 26 July: EDward Gaming from VCT CN and Paper Rex from VCT Pacific. Paper Rex is the region's cleanest run at the trophy after Team Secret and DRX bowed out early last year. Riot esports lead Leo Faria framed the return to China this way on the official Valorant Esports site: "Champions 2026 in Shanghai marks the next milestone in our journey to bring VALORANT's biggest event to the heart of each major region" (valorantesports.com).
This is the final Champions of the franchise era. Riot has confirmed VCT reopens to open-qualifier format in 2027, so Shanghai carries a farewell weight the earlier finals never had. Boleh tahan. Paper Rex hail from just across the causeway in Singapore. SEA support in KL and Johor Bahru should be loud from the Group Stage onwards.
The remaining 14 slots close through VCT Americas, EMEA, and Pacific Stage 2 Playoffs — top two per region auto-qualify, then the highest-remaining Championship Points teams take the last spots. Watch Pacific Playoffs from 27 August to 6 September, because every set there doubles as a Champions elimination decider even before the trophy rounds begin in Shanghai the following month.
Full Group Stage and Playoff Calendar (MYT)
The event splits into four phases, and Riot has not yet posted a match-by-match bracket, but the confirmed window for each phase sits on the Liquipedia page for anyone booking flights or leave in advance of the Shanghai finals.
- Group Stage — Pool 1 to Pool 4: 24 September to 6 October. Four GSL groups of four, all matches best-of-three, most days kicking off from 15:00 MYT to fit the Shanghai 15:00 CST broadcast slot.
- Playoffs Upper Bracket: 9 October to 12 October. Eight teams enter double elimination.
- Playoffs Lower Bracket: 14 October to 17 October. Best-of-three until the Lower Final, which shifts to best-of-five.
- Grand Final: Saturday, 18 October 2026 — a single best-of-five, likely 18:00 MYT to fit EMEA primetime.
Since Shanghai runs UTC+8, you skip the 04:00 MYT wake-ups that VCT Americas usually forces on Malaysian fans watching from KL, Petaling Jaya, or Ipoh. Every published match should end before midnight KL time, which is memang best if you are planning around office mornings and school runs the next day.
What the Champions 2026 Skin Bundle Will Cost
Riot drops a Champions bundle during the event each year. It has priced consistently at 5,350 VP since 2023 for the four-weapon set plus knife and card (Valorant Wiki). Half of Riot's net revenue from Champions bundle sales funds the 16 participating teams' prize splits, so buying it is closer to a tip jar for Paper Rex than a normal skin purchase.
On Riot's US pricing, 5,350 VP lists at US$49.99, per Dot Esports' regional VP breakdown (Dot Esports). Convert that at a ~RM 4.70/USD retail rate and you land near RM 235, before the Apple or Google 30% storefront cut layered on top. REDX Game prices Valorant top-ups in native MYR. That means no USD conversion. No App Store storefront fee is folded into the ringgit total either. Smaller top-ups start at 475 VP, and 1,000 VP is enough to buy one skin from the bundle on rotation.
Grab VP through REDX Game's Valorant Malaysia page. The top-up hits your Riot ID inside the advertised one-to-three minute window. Payment options cover DuitNow QR, Boost, Touch 'n Go, FPX bank transfer, and Visa/Mastercard. Murah giler compared to buying VP-equivalent US iTunes gift cards through a reseller.
How to Top Up VP Before Grand Final Weekend
- Head to the REDX Game Valorant top-up page and pick a VP tier. The Champions bundle sits at 5,350 VP; you can also split across smaller stacks.
- Enter your Riot ID (the tag ending in your regional shard). Double-check the exact spelling — Riot IDs are case-sensitive and each ID is unique to its region.
- Pick a payment method. DuitNow QR, Boost, Touch 'n Go eWallet, FPX, and cards all work, with no MYR-to-USD surcharge because the bill is in ringgit directly.
- Complete the payment. REDX Game's dashboard queues the order and normally credits VP inside three minutes.
- Open VALORANT, restart the client if VP does not show up, and check the in-game Store from 14:00 MYT on drop days for the Champions bundle rotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does VCT Champions 2026 start in Malaysia time?
Champions 2026 kicks off Thursday, 24 September 2026 in Shanghai, and because Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai share the same GMT+8 offset, whatever Riot lists on the official schedule is already MYT with no conversion needed. The Grand Final is locked for Saturday, 18 October.
Which teams from Pacific are already qualified?
Paper Rex is the only VCT Pacific team locked in as of 26 July 2026. Two more Pacific slots come out of Stage 2 Playoffs (27 August to 6 September), and one more from Championship Points, per Liquipedia's Champions 2026 bracket.
Where can I watch VCT Champions 2026 from Kuala Lumpur or Penang?
The official English broadcast streams free on the VALORANT Esports Twitch and YouTube channels, so any device with a Malaysian internet connection can pick it up without a subscription. Malaysian esports bars typically host public watch parties from Playoffs week onwards, so check Paper Rex's socials for partner venues in PJ, Shah Alam, and Penang closer to October.
How do I get the Champions 2026 skin bundle in Malaysia?
Top up 5,350 VP through the Valorant Malaysia page on REDX Game, then buy the bundle in the in-game Store when it drops during the event. Half of Riot's net revenue on the bundle funds the participating teams, so Paper Rex sees a cut of every sale to a Malaysian player.
Do I need a China VPN to watch or top up during the tournament?
No. Broadcast rights are global on Twitch and YouTube. REDX Game processes MYR payments to your existing MY-region Riot ID; you do not need a Chinese account or a VPN. The MY server region is unaffected by the event being hosted in Shanghai.
