ULF Esports, BBL PCFIC earn VCT 2026 promotion after EMEA Ascension wins
Two new teams from the EMEA region will join the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) in 2026, as ULF Esports and BBL PCFIC emerged victorious in their respective VCT Ascension EMEA 2025 Grand Finals.
ULF Esports and BBL PCFIC Earn VCT 2026 PromotionULF Esports dominated French side Mandatory 3-0 on Saturday, while BBL PCFIC secured a 3-1 victory over Italy's DNSTY on Sunday to claim their spots in next year's tier-one competition.
ULF Esports only entered VALORANT Challengers Türkey this year, but the all-Turkish roster quickly established itself as one of the region's best, finishing among the top in its domestic league and capturing the Challengers EMEA Stage 3 title.
\ULF swept aside Joblife (2-0) and edged DNSTY (2-1) to top Group A in Ascension before once again facing Mandatory - a familiar rival from Stage 3. The result was the same: another 3-0 win.
Meanwhile, BBL PCFIC - a partnership between BBL Esports and PCFIC Esports - capped off its first full season with a statement victory. PCFIC, an established name in Turkey's tier-two scene since 2021, had come close to promotion last year after falling 3-2 in the Ascension Grand Final to Apeks.
The new roster returned with renewed strength for 2025, cruising through FOKUS (2-0) and Twisted Minds (2-1) to reach the Grand Final. Despite dropping the opening map Lotus, BBL PCFIC stormed back with three consecutive map wins to lift the Ascension 2025 trophy.
With all Ascension tournaments now concluded, the six promoted teams joining the VCT 2026 circuit are:
ENVY (VCT Americas)
SLT Seongnam (VCT Pacific)
Nongshim RedForce (VCT Pacific)
Dragon Ranger Gaming (VCT China)
ULF Esports (VCT EMEA)
BBL PCFIC (VCT EMEA)