VCT China’s Road to VALORANT Champions Paris: Four Teams, One Goal

As the VCT 2025 season nears its climax and VALORANT Champions Paris lies on the horizon, four teams from VCT China Stage 2 have confirmed their passage to the event: Bilibili Gaming (BLG), Dragon Ranger Gaming (DRG), EDward Gaming (EDG), and XLG Esports (XLG).

China is the one region where both Ascension winning teams have qualified for Champions. They also won last year’s Champions thanks to EDG, meaning China has a chance to be the first region with a team to win back-to-back Champions trophies if EDG can pull it off again. EDG aren’t China’s top seed, however. Let’s take a look at all the qualified teams and their pathway to Champions Paris.

Bilibili Gaming: VCT China Stage 2 Champions and CN’s Top Seed

Bilibili Gaming (BLG) closed out Stage 2 of the VCT China league with a hard-fought championship victory over Dragon Ranger Gaming. After early setbacks where they finished second in Stage 1, followed by an early Swiss stage exit at Masters Toronto, BLG hit their stride in Stage 2. They advanced through the group stage and topped the lower bracket, then exacted revenge on DRG in the Grand Final with a 3–1 win. Their path showcased adaptability and peak form when it mattered most, and they secured the #1 seed for Champions Paris. The finals MVP honors went to Wang “whzy” Haozhe, who dazzled with lethal aggression throughout the series.

Dragon Ranger Gaming: Ascension success and redemption

Dragon Ranger Gaming’s story began in 2023 when they won the China Ascension tournament, earning a place in Tier 1 competition. After a period of adjustment and middling Stage 1 results (the team missed both Masters Bangkok and Toronto), DRG exploded in Stage 2. They dispatched XLG to advance through the upper bracket and punched their ticket to the upper final. Though they ultimately fell to BLG in the grand final, DRG’s second-place finish guaranteed them a top-two seed heading into Champions. It also provides key implications for their continued presence in VCT China ahead of 2026, depending on whether they can finish above the other Ascension team in Paris.

EDward Gaming: The veterans that continue to deliver

EDward Gaming has long been the standard-bearer for Chinese Valorant. Their Champions victory in 2024 and steady presence in the Chinese scene positioned them well heading into 2025. They started the year well with a third-place finish at Masters Bangkok but failed to qualify for Masters Toronto. They recalibrated for Stage 2 with a strong lower bracket run, and, while they did not win the event, EDG accumulated enough Championship Points across the season to clinch the #3 seed for Champions Paris.

That reliable consistency has again earned them a major place on the international stage. Champions 2024 winners, EDG have the chance to claim two consecutive Champions trophies, a feat that no other team has yet accomplished in Valorant history.

XLG Esports: Rising stars from Ascension to the global stage at VALORANT Champions

XLG Esports emerged from Ascension 2024 as newcomers in Tier 1 Chinese VALORANT. Their debut year began shakily, but they rebounded by winning Stage 1 and making it to Toronto as first seed for China, where, however, they bombed out early. A key victory over All Gamers in Stage 2 sealed their qualification in the Champion Points standings. Despite not making it all the way to the final, they earned the #4 seed for Champions Paris. For a promoted roster in their first full season, this is a major ascent — reflecting not just raw potential, but tangible, competitive progress.

What This Means for the Two Ascension Teams

Both DRG and XLG joined the international league via Ascension in recent years, and their success has direct implications under Riot’s retention rules. Only one Ascension team can be retained automatically each year, with the other needing to fight to re-earn their place or being immediately relegated. In China’s case, that retention will go to the team that performs better at Champions Paris. With both having qualified, the upcoming global event will determine which Ascension team avoids returning to Challengers — and which must defend their slot in the 2026 Ascension cycle.

In the end, VCT China’s representation at Champions Paris will feature a powerful quartet: BLG as Stage 2 champions and top seed, DRG rising to second via their playoff run, EDG holding steady via points, and XLG completing the group with a points-based qualification. As Champions Paris approaches, China’s strongest soldier is no longer just EDG, compared to last year’s storylines. Multiple teams and players are ready to fight for not just a chance at an international trophy but also to showcase the growth and evolution of the Chinese circuit over the last few years. Next stop: the Paris stage.