No maps on home soil: VCT China's 0-8 start leaves the hosts fighting for survival at Valorant Champions Shanghai
All four Chinese teams lost their Valorant Champions Shanghai openers without winning a map. Now come must-win elimination games.
Valorant Champions 2026 is being played in Shanghai, but the home region has had a first week to forget. All four VCT China teams (TYLOO, Xi Lai Gaming, EDward Gaming and JD Gaming) lost their opening group matches, and together they did not win a single map. That makes them 0-8 on maps, as Esports.gg pointed out on 28 September.
The opening-round scoreboard
| Group | Result | Maps |
|---|---|---|
| C | G2 Esports 2-0 TYLOO | Lotus 13-6, Sunset 13-3 |
| D | Karmine Corp 2-0 Xi Lai Gaming | Sunset 13-3, Abyss 13-6 |
| B | LOUD 2-0 EDward Gaming | Lotus 13-8, Summit 13-5 |
| A | FUT Esports 2-0 JD Gaming | Ascent 13-1, second map 13-10 |
JD Gaming came closest to taking a map. They lost 13-10 on their second map after FUT won the opener 13-1. JD Gaming's 10 rounds on that map were the only time a Chinese team reached double figures in any of the eight maps.
By region, the Americas went 4-0 in the openers, and EMEA went 3-1. Team Liquid's loss to Paper Rex was the only EMEA defeat.
The Pacific picture
Paper Rex are the only Pacific winner so far. They beat Team Liquid 2-1 (Ascent 13-4, Haven 7-13, Lotus 13-10), with two aces along the way. The other Pacific teams all lost narrowly or were beaten outright:
- Global Esports lost 2-1 to Team Vitality (Abyss 10-13, Ascent 13-9, Summit 11-13).
- T1 lost 2-0 to 100 Thieves (Summit 8-13, Ascent 9-13).
- Nongshim RedForce lost 2-0 to NRG (Lotus 5-13, Split 10-13).
Pacific vs China: the elimination clashes
Each group uses a GSL-style double-elimination bracket, so the four opening-round losers in each group meet in elimination matches. That creates a run of Pacific-versus-China matches in which the loser goes home:
- Group B: Global Esports vs EDward Gaming on 4 October. Esports Insider notes that defeat would end Global Esports' Champions run.
- Group C: TYLOO face Team Liquid on 1 October. This is China's only elimination match against an EMEA side.
- Groups A and D: T1 and Nongshim RedForce are due to face JD Gaming and Xi Lai Gaming respectively.
The top two teams in each group reach the playoffs, which start on 7 October. The grand final is on 18 October.
Today in Malaysia: Paper Rex vs G2
The Group C winners' match between Paper Rex and G2 Esports starts at 5pm Malaysia time today (29 September). The winner books a playoff place. Paper Rex include Malaysia's own d4v41, so this is the match local fans will be watching. G2 reached the winners' side with the most one-sided opener of the tournament: they held TYLOO to nine rounds across two maps.
Remaining winners' matches (Malaysia time):
- 29 September, 8pm: NRG vs Karmine Corp (Group D)
- 30 September, 5pm: Team Vitality vs LOUD (Group B)
- 30 September, 8pm: 100 Thieves vs FUT Esports (Group A)
The event has a US$2.25 million prize pool, with US$1 million for the champions.
Key takeaways
- The four VCT China teams went 0-8 on maps in their Champions Shanghai openers.
- Paper Rex are the only Pacific team to win their opener.
- The upcoming elimination matches include several Pacific-versus-China contests.
- Paper Rex vs G2 starts at 5pm Malaysia time today, with a playoff spot on the line.
FAQ
Are the Chinese teams already out? No. In the GSL format, each team gets a second chance through an elimination match. Two more wins would put a team into the playoffs.
When do the Valorant Champions playoffs start? On 7 October. The grand final is on 18 October.
What time is Paper Rex vs G2 in Malaysia? 5pm on Tuesday, 29 September (5am EDT).
Sources: Esports.gg, VLR.gg, Dot Esports, Esports Insider, Sheep Esports