With the conclusion of VCT China Kickoff 2026, All Players, XLG Esports and EDward Gaming (EDG) have certified for VALORANT Masters Santiago.
From February twenty eighth to March fifteenth, the Chinese language representatives will face eight yet-to-be-determined groups from EMEA, Americas and Pacific on the first worldwide VCT occasion of the yr.
VCT China Kickoff 2026 passed off from January twenty second till February ninth, that includes 10 companion groups and two rosters from the area’s VCT Ascension occasions.
Due to Kickoff’s new triple-elimination format, the competitors crowns a winner for the Higher Bracket, Center Bracket and Decrease Bracket finals, leading to three Masters Santiago slots per VCT area.
All Players Wins VCT China Kickoff
All Players was the primary group to qualify for Masters Santiago, successful the occasion in its entirety. The organisation kicked off the season with an virtually totally rebuilt roster, consisting of 4 Chinese language gamers and Russian import Roman ‘f4ngeer’ Smirnov.
Solely Yang ‘Shr1mp’ Yong and in-game chief (IGL) Huang ‘K1ra’ Zhihao stay from All Players’ 2025 line-up.
Regardless of these main adjustments, All Players went on a powerful run in Kickoff’s Higher Bracket. The underdog first took down Nova Esports (2-0), adopted by Bilibili Gaming (2-0) and Dragon Ranger Gaming (2-0), the latter of which represented the area at VALORANT Champions Paris final yr.
A 3-2 victory over one other Champions 2025 participant, XLG Esports, within the Higher Bracket Remaining awarded All Players with the area’s first seed at Masters Santiago.
A Swift Redemption For XLG Esports
XLG Esports first competed in China’s semi-franchised VALORANT circuit after successful the area’s Ascension event in 2024. Final yr, the organisation robotically retained its tier-one privileges by putting larger at VALORANT Champions than fellow Ascention group Dragon Ranger Gaming.
For the 2026 season, XLG Esports signed former Wolves Esports participant Liang ‘Lysoar’ Youhao and Taiwanese rookie Huang ‘WsLeo’ Ping-wei following the departure of Colin ‘coconut’ Chung and Ran ‘Viva’ Lifan.
The revamped roster had a wonderful begin at Kickoff, defeating Wolves Esports (2-0) and EDward Gaming (2-0). Regardless of its loss towards All Players within the Higher Bracket Remaining, the Ascension group bounced again swiftly to take down Bilibili Gaming (3-2) within the Center Bracket Remaining.
XLG Esports is now headed to Santiago, Chile, as VCT China’s second seed.
EDward Gaming Perseveres within the Decrease Bracket
Following a blended VCT 2025 season, the Chinese language organisation made important adjustments to its teaching employees. Most notably, EDG changed its earlier Head Coach Tang ‘Muggle’ Shijun with Shao ‘24K’ Yubo and former T1 Head Coach Yoon ‘Autumn’ Eu-teum.
The organisation additionally signed Wang ‘cb‘ Qingchuan to exchange Zhang ‘Jieni7’ Juntai, who presently sits on EDG’s bench.
As one of many area’s representatives at Champions 2025, EDG began its VCT 2026 Kickoff run within the Higher Bracket Quarterfinals, the place it decisively defeated TYLOO (2-0). Nevertheless, the roster was quickly despatched to the Decrease Bracket following defeats to XLG Esports (0-2) and Bilibili Gaming (1-2).
From there, EDG gained three consecutive matches towards JD Gaming (2-1), TYLOO (2-1), and Dragon Ranger Gaming (2-1) to achieve the Decrease Bracket Remaining. The most effective-of-five (BO5) collection right now noticed EDG swiftly take revenge towards its earlier Center Bracket opponent Bilibili Gaming (3-1).
Whereas EDG, All Players and XLG Esports have secured a spot at Masters Toronto, the opposite VCT areas, EMEA, Americas and Pacific, have but to conclude their Kickoff occasions. By February sixteenth, all 12 Masters Santiago opponents can have been decided.
