Opening matchups revealed for VCT CN Kickoff 2026

by Juandi January 3, 2026

Guangzhou hosts the season opener as 12 teams battle in the triple-elimination VCT CN Kickoff bracket for three international spots in Santiago.

CHINA – The opening matchups for VCT CN Kickoff 2026 have been revealed, with the first official VCT CN action of the year set to run from January 22 to February 9 in Guangzhou.

The 12 participating teams will play through a triple-elimination bracket, matching the new Kickoff structure adopted across the international leagues this season. Under the format, teams effectively have three lives instead of two. Seeding for the bracket is built around results from last season. 

The four teams that qualified for VALORANT Champions Paris are rewarded with deeper placement in the bracket, while the remaining teams are slotted into the opening round based on their records. By the end of the bracket, the top three finishers will secure VCT CN’s first international tickets of 2026, qualifying for VALORANT Masters Santiago in late February.

Also read: VCT Pacific Kickoff 2026 Opening Matchups Revealed

VCT CN Kickoff 2026 will begin with four opening clashes:

  • All Gamers vs Nova Esports
  • JDG Esports vs Titan Esports Club
  • Trace Esports vs Wolves Esports
  • TYLOO vs FunPlus Phoenix

All Gamers and Nova Esports are set to start the year head-to-head, while JDG Esports will meet Titan Esports Club in another first-round series that immediately puts pressure on both sides to avoid an early trip into the lower portion of the bracket.

Two of the most watched storylines come from the remaining pairings. Trace Esports will open their season against a revamped Wolves Esports, giving fans an early look at how Wolves shape up after an off-season reset. Meanwhile, TYLOO vs FunPlus Phoenix is positioned as a measuring stick match, with FPX entering the year with momentum after strong off-season form while TYL now featuring former RRQ Academy player Moses "Splash" Jonathan.

Bilibili Gaming, Dragon Ranger Gaming, Xi Lai Gaming, and EDward Gaming will wait for the winners coming out of the first-round matchups.

Kickoff is also the first step in VCT CN’s new touring approach for the season. The league will run across more than five cities throughout the year, turning the circuit into a broader national roadshow rather than remaining in a single hub.

After Kickoff in Guangzhou, Stage 1 will be split across Hangzhou and Beijing, while Stage 2 will be hosted in Changsha and Chengdu. The year will culminate in Shanghai, which will serve as the host city for VALORANT Champions this season. VCT CN will also stage a VALORANT Radiant Invitational in a city that has yet to be announced.

The VCT CN Kickoff 2026 bracket is as follows:

For more insights on the Asian VALORANT scene and upcoming content like this, be sure to like and follow VALO2ASIA on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

Cover photo courtesy of VCT CN