Guide to the Radiant Invitational 2025: VALORANT’s final OFF//SEASON event before Kickoff

As the competitive season winds down, one final tournament stands out before players transition into the 2026 campaign: the VALORANT Radiant International Invitational, an OFF//SEASON event bringing a curated mix of top regional teams to Fuzhou, China. Scheduled for December 18–21, 2025, the four-day event sits at the center of the city’s year-end VALORANT celebration and promises high-stake battle lines between squads from Pacific, Americas, and China.

Unlike its predecessor, the 2024 Radiant Asia Invitational in Chengdu, which Paper Rex won after taking down DFM, this year’s iteration expands its reach beyond Asia to a select global lineup of six teams. The event is part of a larger two-week VALORANT festival in Fuzhou that includes fan activations, national championship finals, and celebratory esports content.

Teams at the Radiant Invitational: A Blend of Champions and Contenders

A total of six teams have been invited to the Radiant Invitational, representing three key VALORANT regions:

Paper Rex (VCT Pacific)
Paper Rex arrive in Fuzhou not just as invitees, but as defending champions, having won last year’s Radiant Asia Invitational in Chengdu. Throughout the 2025 season, they posted strong results in Pacific competition, qualifying for Masters Toronto 2025 where they claimed the title in a 3-1 Grand Final over Fnatic, a major international highlight for the org. They finished fourth in their 2025 campaign at VALORANT Champions Paris.

G2 Esports (VCT Americas)
G2 Esports represent the Americas at Fuzhou. The European-based org (competing domestically in Americas play) enters Radiant as a seasoned international competitor, having placed second at Masters Bangkok, won all three domestic trophies this year, and they continue to field a roster consisting of their OG core, complemented by babybay instead of JonahP after the off-season changes. G2’s 2025 VCT season included qualification to Champions Paris after their stage 2 win in Americas although they fell short of an international VCT trophy till date.

Gen.G (VCT Pacific)
Gen.G’s Pacific showing throughout 2025 was marked by consistent league performances and competitive resilience. In VCT Pacific Stage 1, they finished near the top of the standings and qualified for Masters Toronto alongside Paper Rex and Rex Regum Qeon. Though not as decorated internationally as their Singaporean counterparts in 2025, Gen.G’s presence in Toronto and solid Pacific placements underscore their talent, however, having lost Munchkin, it remains to be seen how they will perform.

Bilibili Gaming (VCT CN)
Bilibili Gaming enter as 2025 China Stage 2 champions, capturing top honors in the domestic league and showcasing strong structural play. Across the China season, BLG posted notable wins and often challenged the region’s best before ultimately earning the national title. Their inclusion as hosts in Fuzhou makes them one of the favorites at home, alongside the next two teams also from China.

FunPlus Phoenix (VCT CN)
FunPlus Phoenix qualifies through the CN Evolution Series Epilogue, where they finished runner-up behind BLG. FPX’s 2025 calendar featured solid domestic results and several strong showings against top Chinese peers, driven by recent additions including Natchaphon “sScary” Matarat and newcomer Setrod. While not as internationally tested as some invitees, FPX brings a competitive CN roster hungry to upset the expected order, especially with sScary joining their roster.

Nova Esports (VCT CN)
Rounding out the lineup is Nova Esports, the least decorated of the invited sides this season but a team that earned their place through a 9th–10th finish in China’s Stage 2 standings and a runner-up result in the Evolution Series Epilogue behind FPX. Nova’s invitation underscores the invitational’s balance between elite performance and regional representation, offering a chance for underdogs to shine against heavier favorites.

Format and Competitive Path in Fuzhou

The Radiant Invitational will begin with a Ranking Stage where each team plays four Best-of-One (BO1) matches against randomly drawn opponents, rather than a full round-robin. Every squad faces four out of the possible five adversaries, with results determining playoff paths in a King-of-the-Hill style used at other off-season events. Only the top four teams from this stage advance.

The top team in the standings earns a direct spot in the Best-of-Five Grand Final, putting a premium on early success. The second-placed squad gets a bye into the Best-of-Three Semifinal, while the third and fourth seeds open their playoff campaigns in a Best-of-Three Quarterfinal match. From there, winners climb the stepladder bracket with a clear path to the crown.

What to Expect — Matchups and Stakes

Day one kicks off with a Pacific-dominated fixture as Nova Esports face off against Paper Rex, followed by another showdown when FunPlus Phoenix takes on Pacific power Gen.G. The group stage continues with a mix of cross-regional clashes, including Paper Rex vs. Gen.G and Chinese heavyweights Bilibili Gaming vs. G2 Esports. These early contests will not only provide spectacle but set the tone for which teams are well-positioned to take advantage of the direct finals berth.

#VALORANTRII is coming to Fuzhou, China!
From Dec 18 to 21, let’s meet at the City of the Banyan Tree! pic.twitter.com/gAQCvBf97r

— VALORANT Champions Tour CN (@valesports_cn) December 2, 2025

Given this structure, every BO1 matters: a single win or loss in the Ranking Stage can mean the difference between immediate finals qualification and a longer, more grueling playoff gauntlet.

The Radiant Invitational in Fuzhou occupies a unique spot on the VALORANT calendar. With a global mix of Pacific, Americas, and Chinese teams, it gives viewers one final glimpse of high-level play before the 2026 season gears up. Moreover, Paper Rex’s return as defending champions brings continuity from last year’s Chengdu edition, while the inclusion of G2 Esports signals increasing cross-regional integration for off-season competition.