The first Valorant Champions tournament was held in 2021. It took place from December 1 to 12 in Berlin, Germany, as the concluding event of the inaugural Valorant Champions Tour season.
Champions was designed as Valorant’s world championship, following regional Challengers competitions and international Masters events. Sixteen teams qualified through circuit points, the Stage 3 Masters result, and regional Last Chance Qualifiers. Acend defeated Gambit Esports 3–2 in the final, making Acend the first Valorant world champion.
A common mix-up is confusing Champions with the Valorant Champions Tour itself. Riot announced the VCT in 2020, but its first competitive season and first Champions tournament took place in 2021. The 2021 event was also distinct from Masters Berlin, which was a qualifying tournament held earlier that September.