Valorant First Strike Korea to have a live audience for finals
A handful of lucky Valorant fans will be able to watch the First Strike Korea action in person.
Riot has rolled out the international First Strike event, allowing teams from all over the world to compete within their region for a piece of the $100,000 prize pool. Korea had 24 teams competing in the First Strike Qualifiers on November 12 through the 22nd. Now, teams are competing in the finals.
The competing teams are:
- F4Q
- Cloud9 Korea
- Vision Strikers
- Quantum Strikers
- Crazyhamster
- PROPARTY
- aNg Darkhouse
- T1
While Valorant fans were excited to watch the region’s top teams compete, it wasn’t the matches themselves that caught a lot of viewers’ attention. The finals actually had a live audience, something that most esports events haven’t boasted in many months.
The finals were held at Roll Park on the third floor of Jongno Grand Seoul. A total of 40 seats were filled for the matches, which is 10% of the venue’s capacity. Each ticket was about $14 (15,000 won).
To keep viewers safe, strict safety measures were put in place. All viewers had their temperatures taken upon entering and exiting the event. They were also instructed to always remain seated. While inside the venue, the lucky few Valorant fans had to wear masks. They were also not allowed to eat while within the stadium, further ensuring their masks would always be up.
Most Valorant events have been strictly held online, only viewable through Twitch and other streaming services. Bringing in live fans here was definitely an interesting choice on the tournament organizer’s behalf, and it might open up other events to the possibility in the future.
The League of Legends World Championship, also organized by Riot, also boasted a live audience during the finals. They had 6,000 people in the live audience, all of whom seemingly
stayed silent
when DAMWON Gaming beat their Chinese rivals.
Olivia Richman
About Olivia Richman
Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.
View full profile
Read Also
League of Legends
Is Voice Chat Coming to League of Legends in 2026?
Ben Boland
After a decade of being opposed to it, Riot has finally taken steps to implement voice chat in League of Legends. However, the launch of voice chat in LoL has been delayed as the feature is experiencing setbacks. Here’s a rundown of the situation. Earlier this year, players discovered voice chat-related files on the LoL Player Beta Environment (PBE). Following them, Riot communicated on March 13 that they were now ...
League of Legends
LoL: Europe Shines Against Korea in 2026 As NA Struggles To Keep Pace
Ben Boland
In 2026, Europe has had its best results against the East in LoL Esports history. While their losses to North America may overshadow their achievements, EU has a winning record against South Korea this year. Meanwhile, NA has the LEC’s number but has its worst head-to-head against the East since 2023 — here I will break down the key statistics that show this. After years of Europe being a shell ...
League of Legends
Which League of Legends Region Will Win 2026 Worlds?
Hannan Mundia
The League of Legends World Championship is easily the game’s most important annual tournament. The top teams from every major region compete for a chance to win the substantial cash prize and etch their names in League of Legends history. This year will be no different, with the 2026 Worlds coming beginning on October 15. Teams from multiple regions have already qualified for the tournament, though their performances throughout the ...
Esports Betting
Cloud9 vs LYON LCS Summer Playoffs Upper Bracket: Best Bets and Predictions
Ben Boland
It’s a great time to be a League of Legends esports bettor with the LCS Summer playoffs heating up. We have Cloud9 looking to slay their playoff demons against LYON, a side that is looking to win their third straight championship. With LYON picking Cloud9 as their opponent, perhaps they are extremely confident they will get the job done, or are they underestimating the boys in blue? Stay tuned as ...
League of Legends
Team Liquid vs FlyQuest: Predictions & Best Bets for the LCS Summer Playoffs
Ben Boland
With the LCS Summer Playoffs heating up, Team Liquid is looking to make history with a surprise win over FlyQuest this weekend. It would mean TL would be competing at Worlds 2026 on home soil for the first time in the organisation's history. For FlyQuest, this is a chance to progress ahead of schedule with their young squad, getting some valuable reps on the biggest stage esports has to offer. ...
Esports Betting
Gen.G vs HLE: Best betting odds and picks for LCK 2026 grand final
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LCK grand final will see HLE challenge Gen.G to determine which team walks away with the first-place prize, giving the winning team a much-needed confidence boost before the World Championship. After every top professional Korean League of Legends team has poured sweat and time, this year’s LCK split is finally about to conclude. The grand final match will be between the powerhouse team Gen.G and the challenging Hanwha ...
Esports Betting
Here Are My Predictions For The Hanwha Life Esports vs T1 LCK Lower Final
Ben Boland
LCK fans are in for a treat as Hanwha Life Esports and T1 both battle for a ticket to the grand final, where Gen.G awaits. The last time these two met, they tore the house down. I expect more of the same this time in the lower final. Here are the best bets to make on HLE vs T1 in the LCK 2026 Summer Playoffs Lower Final at GG.BET, one ...
