All Avid gamers, XLG and EDG qualify for VALORANT Masters Santiago

With the conclusion of VCT China Kickoff 2026, All Avid gamers, 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 12 months.

VCT China Kickoff 2026 occurred from January twenty second till February ninth, that includes 10 associate groups and two rosters from the area’s VCT Ascension occasions.

Because of 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 Avid gamers 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 Avid gamers’ 2025 line-up.

Regardless of these main adjustments, All Avid gamers 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 12 months.

A 3-2 victory over one other Champions 2025 participant, XLG Esports, within the Higher Bracket Closing awarded All Avid gamers with the area’s first seed at Masters Santiago.

XLG Esports first competed in China’s semi-franchised VALORANT circuit after successful the area’s Ascension event in 2024. Final 12 months, the organisation routinely retained its tier-one privileges by inserting 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 superb begin at Kickoff, defeating Wolves Esports (2-0) and EDward Gaming (2-0). Regardless of its loss towards All Avid gamers within the Higher Bracket Closing, the Ascension group bounced again swiftly to take down Bilibili Gaming (3-2) within the Center Bracket Closing.

XLG Esports is now headed to Santiago, Chile, as VCT China’s second seed.

Following a blended VCT 2025 season, the Chinese language organisation made important adjustments to its teaching workers. 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 received three consecutive matches towards JD Gaming (2-1), TYLOO (2-1), and Dragon Ranger Gaming (2-1) to achieve the Decrease Bracket Closing. 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 Avid gamers 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 rivals can have been decided.