The “King’s House” of VALORANT in China “Falls from the Throne,” Suffering Defeat on the International Stage
Certainly, by now, you may have envisioned who the “King” of VALORANT in China is. It is none other than the team Edward Gaming (EDG) – the pride of the FPS genre in the current era. This is precisely why EDG is referred to as the “King.” Since its establishment in 2020, EDG has continuously represented China in international VALORANT tournaments.
In 2023, EDG won the championship of the VALORANT China Evolution Series across Acts 1, 2, and 3. On the international stage, EDG participated in the VALORANT Masters in Madrid and the VALORANT Champions in Los Angeles, finishing in the 5th-6th place. However, EDG’s reputation truly soared when they successfully secured a spot in the VALORANT Champions 2024. This achievement marks the first time a Chinese FPS team has reached the global stage, simultaneously elevating EDG to legendary status in this Esports genre.
However, contrary to the expectations, EDG suffered a heavy defeat against T1 in the recent Valorant Masters in Bangkok 2025. Although beforehand, EDG had defeated T1 and was expected to perform well, the team experienced a swift downfall, overshadowed by the impressive play from the Korean team. The Chinese representatives could only secure one victory, ultimately losing 1-3 in a complete upset.
Despite this, is EDG still the VALORANT team to watch in the future?
It seems that EDG will have to endure a wave of criticism from netizens back home, especially following their performance at the recent event in Bangkok. Nevertheless, EDG continues to receive substantial support, particularly for their remarkable achievements in their home country.
According to Sohu, this team was recently honored with the EDG Fearless Contract award by the Ministry of Culture, Broadcasting, Television, Tourism, and Sports on March 4. Notably, the impressive achievements that EDG has garnered have also allowed the team to receive a whopping prize of up to 1 million USD (25 million VND).
It is evident that although they faced defeat on the international stage, EDG still holds a significant place in the hearts of fans back home. This situation exemplifies the nuanced approach to Esports development in China. The supportive policies and recognition of achievements like this have solidified EDG’s status as a symbol of success. While many regions view victory as the sole measure of success, China takes a different approach, valuing the long-term contributions of the team over immediate results.
