The 2026 VCT China Kickoff will be the first event of the region’s roadshow announced by Riot Games in December.
Starting January 22nd, a total of 12 teams will battle in front of a live audience for the trophy and qualification to Vtc’s first Masters event of the year in Chile.
The draw for VCT China Kickoff has taken place, and here are the opening matches fans can look forward to, along with details of the event’s format.
VCT China is the Only International League Without a New Team
Unlike other regions, both Ascension teams from 2024 — Dragon Ranger Gaming and Xai Li Gaming — have retained spots in their VCT International League.
XLG finished higher in the VALORANT Champions Paris standings to secure automatic retention, while DRG made its return by winning Ascension China 2025.
Here are all the teams competing at the VCT China Kickoff 2026:
| All Gamers | Dragon Ranger Gaming |
| Nova Esports | Xi Lai Gaming |
| JDG Esports | EDward Gaming |
| Trace Esports | TYLOO |
| FunPlus Phoenix | Wolves Esports |
| Bilibili Gaming | Titan Esports Club |
VCT China Kickoff Format and Opening Matches
The tournament will follow a triple-elimination format, with the region’s representatives at VALORANT Champions 2025 receiving a direct bye to the second round of the upper bracket.
These teams include EDward Gaming, Bilibili Gaming, Xai Li Gaming, and Dragon Ranger Gaming. All remaining teams will begin their campaigns in the first round.
Check out the opening matches for the 2026 VCT China Kickoff below:
Round 1
- Match 1 (January 23rd at 9 AM GMT): All Gamers vs Nova Esports
- Match 2 (January 23rd at 11 AM GMT): JDG Esports vs Titan Esports Club
- Match 3 (January 22nd at 9 AM GMT): Trace Esports vs Wolves Esports
- Match 4 (January 22nd at 11 AM GMT): FunPlus Phoenix vs TYLOO
Round 2
- Match 5 (January 25th at 9 AM GMT): Bilibili Gaming vs Winner of Match 1
- Match 6 (January 25th at 11 AM GMT): Dragon Ranger Gaming vs Winner of Match 2
- Match 7 (January 24th at 9 AM GMT): Xi Lai Gaming vs Winner of Match 3
- Match 8 (January 24th at 11 AM GMT): EDward Gaming vs Winner of Match 4
In the end, the top three teams from the tournament will advance to Masters Santiago, scheduled to take place from February 28th to March 15th.
Championship Points Allocation and Broadcast Details
Along with Masters Santiago qualification, Championship Points are also on the line, which can prove crucial for VALORANT Champions 2026 heading to Shanghai in October. Here is the distribution:
- 1st Place: 4 Championship Points
- 2nd Place: 3 Championship Points
- 3rd Place: 2 Championship Points
- 4th Place: 1 Championship Points
