At VALORANT Masters Santiago, luck was not on the aspect of the Chinese language groups, as each EDG and XLG have been eradicated from the match.
March 3 was a troublesome day for the Chinese language groups on the VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026, with each EDward Gaming (EDG) and Xi Lai Gaming (XLG) being eradicated from the competitors. All Avid gamers is the one workforce from the area. Their direct qualification for the Playoffs stage has given the area one closing probability to make an affect.
EDG and XLG are out of the Masters Santiago
For each the Chinese language groups, EDG and XLG, the journey to the Masters Santiago was shorter than they wished. After two sequence, each ended up being eradicated from the match. Whereas Mild Mates and T1 defeated EDG, the American groups NRG and G2 Esports took down XLG.
What’s taking place to EDG?
Since their triumph at VALORANT Champions 2024, EDG has struggled to regain its former dominance. Though they gained the VCT China Kickoff 2025, their fame as “the very best Chinese language workforce” has light.
Regionally, they’ve been unable to beat the so-called third-place curse, and internationally, their efficiency has been much more disappointing. After ending third on the Masters Bangkok, the workforce didn’t qualify for the Masters Toronto, and on the Champions 2025, they led to thirteenth–sixteenth place.
Within the 2025 low season, the workforce ended up making large adjustments each on the roster and the teaching employees. They added Wang “cb” Qingchuan to the roster and the Korean coach Yoon “Autumn” Eu-teum, who had gained the Masters Bangkok with T1.
At VALORANT Masters Santiago, EDG confronted off in opposition to Mild Mates, a workforce driving a wave of momentum from the European league. The French group has been delivering spectacular performances, with M8 Marteen even breaking the all-time kill report.
The sequence in opposition to T1 was much more disheartening, with EDG struggling a 1–13 loss on the primary map. Though they confirmed enchancment on the second map, it wasn’t sufficient to safe the sequence or pressure a decisive third map. On the post-match press convention, the gamers described the addition of recent employees and gamers as a “contemporary begin,” noting that they nonetheless haven’t had sufficient time to construct confidence as a workforce. “I really feel we’re solely going to maintain getting higher. There are nonetheless lots of matches left to play,” EDG ZmjjKK mentioned.
XLG and the worldwide strain
As for Xi Lai Gaming, the state of affairs is kind of comparable. With two new gamers becoming a member of the roster, there was nonetheless not a lot time to get everybody on the identical web page. Nonetheless, the worldwide strain appears to be affecting Xi Lai Gaming’s performances since their debut in Tier 1.
Their first worldwide efficiency was on the VALORANT Masters Toronto, the place they ended up getting a really spectacular Seventh-Eighth place. Followers have been hyped and curious in regards to the workforce, however they didn’t succeed regionally. They’ve certified for Champion 2025, but additionally didn’t get previous the Ninth-Twelfth place. The 2026 season appeared to have began in a greater type, however they couldn’t take down All Avid gamers for the Kickoff title.
At Masters Santiago, XLG confronted two American powerhouses: NRG, the Champions 2025 victors, and G2 Esports, a workforce with a formidable historical past since Ascension and three consecutive regional match wins in 2025. In opposition to NRG, the primary match was a stomp. They misplaced by 2-13, however they didn’t get intimidated by it. Whereas the second map was wanting method higher for them, particularly within the second half, they couldn’t take out a single map.
The matchup in opposition to G2 advised a special story. XLG began robust, however the American workforce regained management within the second half, closing the primary map 8–13. The second map was an entire rout, with XLG unable to mount a problem, and falling 3–13.
What’s behind the struggles of the Chinese language scene?
There’s no single clarification for why Chinese language groups underperformed on the Masters Santiago and different worldwide occasions. Whereas the area started competing in VALORANT later than others, that alone doesn’t absolutely account for its lack of worldwide success in latest tournaments.
Within the Valorant Aggressive Reddit, some customers talked in regards to the lack of map management on Chinese language groups. “They don’t push principal to manage rotations or collect intel on lurkers. They’re utterly passive,” the consumer commented. Additionally they criticized Chinese language groups for weaker utility utilization in comparison with different areas, an absence of retake methods, minimal thoughts video games or pretend performs, and general poor self-discipline. “The Chinese language VALORANT may be very totally different from the remainder of the world’s as a result of their methods are tailored to their area,” they added.
Because the final remaining consultant of VCT China, All Avid gamers carries the burden of proving that the area is able to contending for worldwide titles. All eyes are on them. Can they really make a distinction and show everybody improper?
