qiutiaN heads to Nova Esports while Wolves Esports sign R1ckLee
qiutiaN departs Wolves for Nova as both teams continue reshaping their lineups for Stage 1.
CHINA – Wolves Esports have officially parted ways with Bijan "qiutiaN" Moeinzadeh following his transfer to Nova Esports, while also announcing the signing of Li "R1ckLee" Xu as his replacement ahead of VCT CN Stage 1 in Hangzhou.
The move brings an early end to qiutiaN’s first stint at the tier-one level. After joining Wolves Esports from Ascension-qualified side Thunder Gaming, the 26-year-old was brought in as part of a broader roster rebuild that saw the organization place its trust in several relatively unproven names heading into the new season. However, the project never fully found its footing during the opening stretch of the year.
Now moving into Stage 1, qiutiaN will continue his 2026 campaign with Nova Esports, a team that is likewise searching for answers after a rough start to the year. NOVA have yet to secure a win so far in either Kickoff or the CN Evolution Cup Series Act 1, leaving plenty of questions around the direction of the roster as the team looks to regroup. Their starting five for the upcoming stage has also yet to be fully finalized.
Nova Esports’ struggles come in contrast to some of the promise they showed late last year. During the 2025 CN Evolution Cup Series Epilogue, the team managed wins over EDward Gaming and JDG Esports. Since then, however, that momentum has not carried over. NOVA have continued to struggle not only within China’s regional circuit, but also against international opposition, including during their appearances at the VALORANT Radiant International Invitational.
On the other side of the move, Wolves Esports did not wait long to fill the vacancy. On the same day as qiutiaN’s departure, the organization confirmed the signing of R1ckLee, a former Weibo Gaming player who was last active in the public eye during the 2023 season.
Very little verified information is currently available about the player’s recent competitive history, with his last officially recorded appearance on VALORANT Esports dating back to 2024. Even so, it remains possible that he has continued playing outside the spotlight in China’s lower-tier national ecosystem.
VCT CN Stage 1 in Hangzhou begins on March 31st before heading to Beijing for the playoff portion of the event.
For more insights on the Asian VALORANT scene and upcoming content like this, be sure to like and follow VALO2ASIA on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.