EDward Gaming reign supreme at Valorant China Evolution Series Act II
The second edition of Valorant China Evolution Series concluded yesterday with EDward Gaming Valorant coming out as China’s best team once again. With this win, EDward Gaming continued their domestic domination reminiscent of DRX and Korea. The Act II was the last of the Evolution series tournaments. The teams will next play the inaugural season of VCT China 2024.
Valorant China Evolution Series Act II Format:
The tournament featured four stages viz. Open Qualifiers, Play-in stage, Group stage and Knockout stage.
A total of forty teams played the four open qualifiers. The bottom four teams in each open qualifier played each other and joined the top six in a single elimination bracket with only four teams qualifying out of each group.
The double-elimination bracket had the sixteen open qualifier teams battling it out to qualify for play-in stage. A total of eight teams qualified for the play-in stage.
The play-in stage featured two groups of four teams each. Each group played in a double-elimination bracket with two teams from each group qualifying for the Group stage.
The group stage featured four teams qualified through play-in stage, the top four teams from Act I directly qualified for Stage 2 group stage. Two teams each from the two groups of four teams qualified for the double-elimination bracket knockout stage.
Valorant China Evolution Series Act II - Open qualifiers and Play-in stage Recap:
The four open qualifiers featured ten teams. Only four out of the ten teams in each Open qualifier qualified for the Ro16 Qualifiers.
Teams qualified for Ro16 are as follows:
- Group A
- Attacking Soul Esports
- Kingzone
- Tianba
- Night Wings Gaming
- Group B
- Four Angry Men
- Invincible Gaming
- Monard Effect
- TOP Esports
- Group C
- Dragon Ranger Gaming
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- All Gamers
- Bilibili Gaming
- Group D
- TYLOO
- JD Gaming
- KeepBest Gaming
- Royal Never Give up
Out of these sixteen teams only eight qualified for play-in stage. The double-bracket play-in stage saw the elimination of eight teams. The eight teams qualifying for play-in stage are as follows:
- Attacking Soul Esports
- Four Angry Men
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Royal Never Give up
- TYLOO
- Dragon Ranger Gaming
- Bilibili Gaming
- JD Gaming
The play-in stage split these eight teams in groups of four. The two groups played a double-bracket stage to eliminate a total of four teams. Out of the eight teams four qualified for the Group stage, joining the teams qualified based on Valorant China evolution series Act I.
The Group A saw Bilibili gaming defeating Ninjas in Pyjamas and Royal Never Give up to qualify. Royal Never give up became the second team to qualify from Group A, after they defeated JD Gaming and Ninjas in Pyjamas in the lower bracket to qualify.
From Group B, Attacking Soul Esports defeated Dragon Ranger Gaming and TYLOO to qualify. TYLOO qualified via the lower bracket after defeating Dragon Ranger Gaming.
Valorant China Evolution Series Act II 2023 Play-in stage results (credits: Valorant Esports China)Valorant China Evolution Series Act II - Group Stage recap
The group stage featured four teams invited based on their Act 1 performance. This included EDward Gaming, Rare Atom, FunPlus Phoenix and Trace Esports.
EDward Gaming dominated their group to qualify after defeating RNG and Bilibili Gaming. Trace Esports continued their playoff qualification streak and exacted revenge on Bilibili gaming to qualify for the Knockouts stage.
In Group B, Attacking Soul Esports, defeated Rare Atom and FPX to qualify for the knockout stage. Rare Atom took down FPX to qualify for the knockout stage.
Valorant China Evolution Series Act II Group Stage results (credits: Valorant Esports China)Valorant China Evolution Series Act II - Knockout recap:
Upper Semifinals - Attacking Soul Esports 1-2 Trace Esports:
The double-elimination bracket Knockout stage started with Attacking Soul Esports taking on Trace Esports. Both teams exchanged map picks in Haven and Bind to play Split. Split was a back and forth affair, with Trace Esports going into the second half with a nominal two round lead. They extended the lead despite the comeback attempts from ASE, and closed the game 13-11.
Player of the game: Yip “YOU” Man Ho
Play of the game:
Upper Semifinals - EDward Gaming 2-0 Rare Atom:
In a one-sided affair, EDG dominated Rare Atom. On Rare Atom’s Lotus, EDG won nine attacking rounds and denied the 9-3 curse to win the map 13-6. Sunset saw EDG bulldoze to the finish line, dropping just two rounds to win the map 13-2, winning the series with comfort.
Player of the game: Zheng “ZmjjKk” YongKang
Play of the game:
Upper Finals - Trace Esports 2-0 EDward Gaming:
Trace Esports gave EDward their first defeat in the Chine Evolution series. They delivered the defeat in a dominating fashion. Starting on EDG’s sunset, Trace shutdown all of EDG’s attack to win the first half 9-3. They extended the lead to eight rounds and closed EDG’s map 13-5.
The TE domination continued on Lotus as their defense locked out EDG, leading to a 11-1 half.
EDG answered back in the second half but the 10 round lead left no room for error. In the end, Trace Esports won the series qualifying for the grand finals.
Player of the game: Yip “YOU” Man Ho
Play of the game:
Lower Round 1 - Attacking Soul Esports 1-2 Rare Atom:
The lower round 1 duel followed a series of three maps that went too close in terms of scores. ASE’s Lotus, saw them taking a two round lead in the first half but their defense crumbled in the second half leading to a 10-13 loss.
Rare atom’s Haven saw them losing the first half 5-7. After recovering and taking a two round lead, their defense fumbled to lose the map 11-13, forcing a third map.
Rare Atom’s Split defense helped them secure a strong 8-4 lead which they converted into a strong 13-8 victory, living to breathe another day. They next faced EDward Gaming in a Bo5 series.
Player of the game: Lifan “Viva” Ran
Play of the game:
Lower Finals - EDward Gaming 3-1 Rare Atom:
After their opening round defeat, Rare Atom created an opportunity to avenge their opening round loss. Compared to the first series, the series was closer than expected.
Starting on Split, EDward Gaming drew first blood after they displayed a defense masterclass after a tied first half.
Rare Atiom answered back on EDG’s Lotus, completely blowing apart their defense to win the half 10-2 and converting it into a 13-2 victory.
Bind saw EDG taking an early lead but Rare Atom’s persistence helped them keep it close. Unfortunately, EDG’s defense prevailed once again, helping them secure a 13-10 win to secure a 2-1 series lead.
EDG struggled against Rare Atom’s defense but soon readjusted to end the first half with a two-round lead. In the second half, EDG’s impenetrable defense made it tough for Rare Atom to win a round, and EDG won the series 3-1, qualifying for the grand finals.
Player of the game: Guo “Haodong” Haodong
Play of the game:
Grand Finals - Trace Esports 0-3 EDward Gaming:
EDG was ready for revenge, the series started on TE’s ascent. Despite the early lead, TE could not turn the first half in their favor. After a tied first half, EDG’s attack led by ZmjjKk destroyed the TE defense, winning them the first map 13-9.
EDG’s Haven started with TE starting strong, but the EDG defense came through to win the first half 9-3. Despite TE’s attempt to comeback, EDG prevailed, winning the second map 13-7.
TE previously dominated EDG on sunset and winning here will mean another chance. But EDG came prepared, completely shutting down the TE attack to secure a notable 8-4 lead which they converted into a 13-5 win to secure the Valorant China Evolution Series Act II title.
Player of the game: Zheng “ZmjjKk” YongKang
Play of the game:
The Chinese teams will return for VCT China 2024, with most of the top team already being part of the top partner teams including EDG, FPX, ASE, BLG and more.
Follow VCT China 2024 and more on Strafe.
Featured Image Credits: Valorant Esports China
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