VALORANT Champions Shanghai Pick'Ems are open, giving fans a chance to predict the tournament before its first matches on September 24. The group-stage deadline is approximately 2:10 AM Pacific Time that day, which converts to 2:40 PM IST. Riot describes the lock as about ten minutes after the opening game begins, so submit earlier rather than relying on the final seconds.
The prediction competition has a second window for playoffs. Completing group picks does not remove the need to return when that later stage opens. This guide covers the published windows, the rewards and a practical way to organise your entry.
Champions Shanghai Pick'Ems: the key dates
Riot's September 11 Pick'Ems announcement says group picks opened on September 10 and lock on September 24 at approximately 2:10 AM PT. Playoff picks open after the October 4 draw show and lock on October 7 at approximately 2:10 AM PT.
Pacific Time is UTC minus seven on those dates, making both published lock times approximately 2:40 PM in India. The word approximately matters because Riot ties the deadline to the start of play.
Entries are available through the VALORANT client, Riot Mobile and the official Pick'Ems website. A valid Riot account is required, and regional restrictions apply.
What rewards are listed?
The published reward tiers are a “Calculated” title for participation, the Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy for the top 50 percent, the Pick'Ems Master version for the top 20 percent, and a “100%” title for perfect picks. Riot says rewards are cumulative.
That means a higher qualifying tier includes the lower applicable rewards. It does not mean simply opening the prediction page guarantees every item. Read the eligibility conditions in the official announcement and the entry interface for your account's region.
Why the tournament format affects your predictions
Riot's Champions Shanghai event guide describes 16 teams entering four groups, with eight advancing. Group matches are best-of-three, and a second loss eliminates a team. The group stage runs from September 24 to October 4.
Playoffs run from October 7 to October 18 using double elimination. The guide also lists breaks between stages and during the playoff schedule. A day without matches is therefore part of the published programme rather than proof that an event has been postponed.
The format means that predicting a team to lose one match is not always equivalent to predicting its elimination. Check which branch of the bracket the interface is asking you to fill before selecting the next winner.
A practical entry checklist
Open the prediction interface through an official Riot destination and confirm you are signed into the account you intend to use. Read the current stage label, complete every required selection and check that the entry is saved.
Then reopen the page or client view to verify that your choices remain visible. This is a simple way to catch an unfinished submission or a selection that was never confirmed. A screenshot can help you remember your choices, but the saved account entry is what matters.
Set a personal reminder well before the published lock time. If you are entering with friends in different countries, share the date and time zone together rather than sending only a clock time.
How to compare teams without inventing certainty
Start with recent results, the opponents faced and the maps on which a team has looked comfortable. A strong win against one style of opponent may not predict the same outcome against another. Small samples can also exaggerate a team's apparent strength or weakness.
Keep the reason for each important pick short. For example, note whether it rests on consistent recent form, a favourable map pool or a willingness to choose an upset. This makes the prediction more interesting to revisit than a bracket chosen without any rationale.
These are ways to organise a fan prediction, not a guarantee of rewards. A favourite can lose, and a convincing regional performance does not settle an international matchup in advance.
Remember the separate playoff window
The playoff draw provides information that is not available in a finished group-stage bracket. Return after the October 4 draw show, check the actual matchups and make the required playoff selections before the October 7 lock.
Our double-elimination guide explains how the lower bracket works. It is especially useful if you normally follow sports in which one knockout loss ends a team's event.
The useful action now is to complete and verify the group entry, then keep the later playoff window on your calendar. Check Riot's interface for changes before the deadline, and treat the listed IST conversion as a planning aid rather than a reason to wait until the competition locks.
