Despite having a large fanbase and skilled professionals, China has yet to fulfill its potential in dominating the Valorant esports scene.
At Valorant Champions 2022 and VCT LOCK//IN, the first events in the region, Chinese teams failed to secure a win and ended with a record of 0-4.
Despite previous disappointments, Masters Tokyo proved to be a turning point for EDward Gaming. The team finally found their rhythm on the international stage, securing significant series victories and achieving a top six placement, a first for the region.
Ever since, EDG and the other representatives from the region have failed to demonstrate their ability to perform beyond the initial stages.
Nevertheless, VCT Masters Shanghai presents an ideal opportunity for China to alter its luck and fulfill its destiny.
At their hometown venues, EDG, FunPlus Phoenix, and Dragon Ranger Gaming will have the full support of the entire country. They have spent an entire split improving and have developed three unique play styles.
EDG, DRG, and FPX have only improved during the first VCT China split
Chinese Valorant teams are known for their highly aggressive style of play. They tend to advance towards the enemy team after using a single ability, such as a Sova dart, to distract them, and are not afraid to engage in aim duels.
Despite the introduction of the VCT China League, teams still maintain their unique identities.
Ryan ‘RyanCentral’ Horton, a caster and content creator from Britain who frequently co-streams the league, described the experience of watching VCT China every day as akin to “Saturday morning cartoons”due to the wild and daring playstyle of the teams.
Can EDG build on their Masters Tokyo success?
The scene is quite a spectacle, with either incredible shots or a car crash that is impossible to look away from.
The Valorant esports commentators urged fans to approach this tournament with a more open mindset towards teams from the newest VCT league. They also emphasized that fans should not judge these teams solely based on the region’s underwhelming performance at Masters Madrid.
Despite occasionally being caught off guard in early playoff series, EDG remains the dominant team in China following their success in Madrid. Their decision to move Zhang ‘Smoggy’ Zhao to the Controller role has proved beneficial as he can now excel in late-round situations, similar to how TenZ’s role change has elevated Sentinels’ gameplay.
According to RyanCentral, FPX has shown significant improvement during Split 1, largely credited to Liang ‘Lysoar’ Youhao’s notable performance and IGL Chang ‘BerLIN’ Po-lin’s expertise in utilizing triple controller compositions on Lotus and Icebox.
The main Duelist for Nova Esports, Ali ‘Swerl’ Kobraee, went head-to-head with FPX and DRG in Split 1. He commended FPX for their organization and teamwork, and also spoke highly of DRG’s synergy with their Russian Sentinel player, Ilya ‘vo0kashu’ Ushakov.
When asked about his expectations for each VCT China team, he expressed his belief that FPX will reach the playoffs. As for EDG, he admitted that although they are a formidable team, he does not have any specific expectations for them. He acknowledged their potential to win the entire tournament. Additionally, he predicted that DRG will cause some surprises during the Swiss Stage and may even qualify for the playoffs.
Hometown Advantage: The Pros and Cons
China boasts a massive following for Valorant, as millions of fans eagerly watch its teams compete against formidable international rivals.
The crowd will rally behind EDG, FPX, and DRG for every match, providing them with the confidence to face tough opponents.
Additionally, they will bear the burden of fulfilling an entire nation’s hopes and may collapse under the weight of such high expectations.
“RyanCentral expressed his belief that the team will strive to represent the region well, but he was uncertain about the cultural environment and audience reception. He wondered if players like Zheng ‘ZmjjKK’ Yongkang would receive support or face harsh criticism. On his streams, Yongkang often receives abusive comments while playing. As professional players, they already face a lot of criticism, but what will it be like to have the entire country of China watching and supporting them, with high expectations to live up to?”
Swerl has noted that during the first split, the fans were highly involved and enthusiastic. He anticipates that the crowd will bring the same level of energy to this tournament.
In the past, we have witnessed players succumb to pressure on stage, particularly in front of a home audience, such as LOUD during the LOCK//IN Grand Final. Nevertheless, these same players should feel at ease on stage, despite any pressure or high expectations, as the Swiss Stage will be held in the same location where they competed in their VCT China matches.
Start Believing in Chinese Valorant Teams Before It’s Too Late
Despite already facing criticism from some, Chinese Valorant teams, including 100 Thieves’ Kelden ‘Boostio’ Pupello, have not been deterred. Pupello famously stated in 2023 that he did not believe the region would surpass North America anytime soon, and his opinion of them has not changed.
“According to a statement made at a pre-event press conference by a source, it appears that the Chinese teams are still considered the weakest among all the regions. The source predicts that none of the Chinese teams will advance past the Swiss Stage, leaving only EDG as the remaining representative. The source believes that among the remaining teams, EDG is likely to be in the bottom two.”
🇺🇸 100T Boostio: “I think the Chinese teams are still definitely the weakest teams out of all the regions, like not even close.Probably none will make it out of the Swiss stage, and then EDG will be the only team left […]” Asuna’s expression at the end is priceless pic.twitter.com/G1mLC9IhSZ
— VALO2ASIA (@VALO2ASIA) May 22, 2024
Although it may not be considered a controversial opinion, it is important not to upset one of the largest regions in esports at this event. While all teams and players are undoubtedly grateful for the opportunity to compete at the Masters event, it holds a special significance for teams from VCT China.
Following his victory against Trace Esports that secured his spot in Shanghai, DRG’s Tang ‘TZH’ Zhehao became emotional and shed tears. Despite having previous experience at international events with FPX, qualifying for the first Masters event in China held a special significance for the veteran player.
“RyanCentral pointed out that the significance of attending Shanghai is evident in the strong reactions of some individuals. This event clearly holds importance, despite any claims that it may not matter.”
Despite the upcoming Masters, the VCT China ambassador has expressed caution and lowered expectations for the league, stating that the likelihood of a Chinese team winning the tournament is slim.
“The expectations for DRG, as well as EDG and FPX, should be kept low. During postgame interviews, the players repeatedly emphasized the need to manage expectations, even after qualifying for the competition. They expressed that while they are constantly improving, it would be difficult to live up to high expectations and represent China well. Therefore, it is important to keep our expectations in check and not put too much pressure on the players.”
Maintaining low expectations is a wise strategy for keeping players composed and mentally stable during matches, as well as lessening the impact of a loss to some degree.
However, this event serves as the perfect opportunity for Chinese teams to make a significant impact and establish themselves as more than just a region with potential for upsets. What better way to achieve this than by winning a trophy on your own home soil, in front of millions of devoted fans who have believed in you from the very beginning?
RyanCentral is confident that the region will establish itself as a leading destination by 2025, but I believe we don’t have to wait that long to see its potential.
Do not underestimate Chinese Valorant at your own risk.
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