40 teams → 32 teams cut… DRX not selected for VCT partnership, "2027 events continue"

Kiwoom DRX was left out of the VCT 2027 partnership. The partner count fell from 40 teams to 32, and the club will continue to compete in the event. The tens of billions of won in losses have not been confirmed.

Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.

Three-line summary

Kiwoom DRX announced on October 19 that it was not selected for the VCT 2027 partnership and said it would continue taking part in the tournaments.
The next VCT partner list shrank from 40 teams to 32, and in each region from 10 teams to 8.
Non-partner teams that qualify for events receive $100,000–$400,000, and can receive prize money separately.

8 spots. These are the VCT partner spots that will be eliminated starting in 2027. Riot Games' next partnership cut the existing 40 teams to 32, and Kiwoom DRX is among the teams leaving. However, the claim in some reports of a "tens of billions of won in fixed income halted, management emergency" has no supporting figures or financial data confirmed.

DRX not selected for VCT partnership, team statement on October 19

PacPik News According to the report, DRX said it was not selected for the partnership and signaled it would continue taking part in the tournaments. According to a report quoting the statement, the team wrote, "Whatever comes next, see you all in VCT 2027." The original official SNS post could not be verified directly. Losing partner status is not expulsion; it changes how the team is paid.

VCT partners 40 teams → 32 teams, 10 teams → 8 per region

Sheep Esports and TalkEsport reported that the next partner size shrank from 40 teams to 32. By calculation, that is a 20% reduction. Since each region loses two teams, the cut is not limited to DRX alone. The new partnership runs on two-year cycles starting in 2027.

VCT distribution of $105.2 million; DRX's share unconfirmed

Riot Games 2025 season wrap-upAccording to the wrap-up, the total VCT teams split in 2025 was $105.2 million. Of this amount, over $86 million came from digital products. However, not all of this distribution can be treated as guaranteed fixed income. The next benefits also differ in nature: base payments, target bonuses, team capsules, and direct qualifier spots.

Ri-deu Gyeongje reported the halt of DRX's "tens of billions of won in fixed income." However, the article contains no data calculating DRX's actual receipts or losses. The per-team revenue range was an "industry estimate" that did not disclose who compiled it. Estimating DRX's share by dividing the total distribution by the number of teams is also invalid, because digital product payouts are not the same as fixed payments.

VCT non-partner payments of $100,000, $200,000, and $400,000

Event reached (2027)	Non-partner qualification payment
Kickoff or Cup	$100,000
Masters	$200,000
Champions	$400,000

According to the criteria Riot Games announced on June 18, non-partner teams also receive set payments when they qualify for events. The amount doubles with each step up. Prize money is paid separately. Ri-deu Gyeongje called this a "one-time prize structure," but Riot explains qualification payments and prize money separately.

Not being selected for the 2027 partnership does not mean all payments stop immediately in October 2026. None of the materials checked this time showed DRX's actual distribution amount, the date payments stopped, or its operating funds situation. What has been confirmed is that the number of VCT partner spots is 32, and DRX is not among them.

Frequently asked questions

Q. If DRX was not selected for the VCT partnership, can it not compete in 2027 events?

No. Not being selected does not mean disbandment or a competition ban. DRX has said it will continue taking part in the tournaments, and non-partner teams can also compete in international events through open qualifiers.

Q. How much are VCT non-partner team payments?

Based on Riot Games' announcement, qualifying for Kickoff or Cup in 2027 pays $100,000, Masters pays $200,000, and Champions pays $400,000. Prize money is received separately.

Q. How much money does DRX lose from not being selected for the partnership?

This has not been confirmed. The total 2025 VCT team distribution of $105.2 million has been made public, but no materials calculating the amount DRX alone received or its losses have surfaced.

Related official sites

DRX official website — check official team information
VALORANT Esports official website — official announcements on VCT schedule and format changes
Riot official Global Power Rankings — latest team rankings and scores

Representative image · Archival photo · Not an on-site photo of the current match in the article · Photo: Wikimedia Commons (David Jiang), CC BY-SA 4.0