FunPlus Phoenix, Bilibili Gaming, and JD Gaming are the first three organizations confirmed for the upcoming VCT CN League.
CHINA – FunPlus Phoenix, Bilibili Gaming, and JD Gaming have been unveiled as the first batch of organizations to take part in the upcoming VCT CN League next year. The announcement of the remaining seven organizations is set to take place over the next few days, during which additional information about the league’s schedule and plans for the inaugural season will also be shared, according to multiple sources close to the situation.
The VCT CN League emerges as the fourth International League for VALORANT, established shortly within a year following the game’s official approval in China to position it alongside the Pacific, Americas, and EMEA leagues. The selection process for these ten organizations was extensive, spanning several months and involving written applications, detailed interviews, and thorough financial evaluations.
The ten organizations in the league will be joined by an eleventh team, which will qualify through Ascension China for the two upcoming 2024 and 2025 seasons. This addition will bring the total number of teams in the league to eleven, aligning it with the team count in the other four international leagues.
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| FPX | BLG |
| JDG | TBA |
| TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA |
FunPlus Phoenix, backed by game developer and publisher FunPlus, has been operating a VALORANT division since the game’s release in August 2020, initially focusing on the EMEA region. The winning-caliber roster was headlined by Kyrylo “ANGE1” Karasov and clinched their first international title at VALORANT Masters Copenhagen in 2022 and secured a fourth-place finish at VALORANT Champions Istanbul before making their return to China in 2023.
“FPX has been among the first teams to develop VALORANT Esports. We’ve overcome challenges and fought from the bottom to the summit. Domestically, with determination and precision, we have continually scouted and nurtured talent, providing opportunities for young players to chase their dreams.
On Jan 9th of this year, FPX officially launched the operations of VALORANT Esports in the CN region. Since then, we have eagerly awaited the arrival of today. As the dust settles and the new journey begins, it is an honor for FPX to witness and participate in this grand moment! We thank VALORANT Esports China for their trust, appreciate the efforts of every player and industry professional, and thank everyone who has accompanied us on this journey!”
Bilibili Gaming is the second organization confirmed as part of the VCT CN circuit. Backed by major Chinese online entertainment platform Bilibili, BLG has a strong presence in the esports world with its LPL team and Overwatch League team Hangzhou Spark.
It did not take long before the BLG VALORANT roster led by Wang “yosemite” Lei made their presence on the world stage by qualifying for VALORANT Champions Los Angeles. The team impressed during their time in LA by taking down North American powerhouse NRG Esports twice to create one of the most memorable upsets in the history of VALORANT.
JD Gaming, which stands for Jingdong Gaming entered VALORANT only recently for the VALORANT China Evolution Series. The organization is backed by JD.com, one of China’s biggest e-commerce platforms, and currently also has held an LPL slot since 2017.
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Cover photo courtesy of VALORANT China
