The countdown is on. The VALORANT Radiant Asia Invitational kicks off in less than a week. Here’s everything you need to know about the Chengdu event
CHINA – The VALORANT Radiant Asia Invitational is happening from November 21 to December 1, marking the first OFF//SEASON event ever held in China. Hosted at the Quantum Media VSPO E-sports Center in Chengdu, the tournament will feature eight teams from the two international leagues in Asia: VCT Pacific and VCT CN.
Representing VCT CN, EDward Gaming will return to the stage for the first time since their championship-winning performance at VALORANT Champions Seoul, where they were crowned the 2024 World Champions. They will be joined by Trace Esports and Bilibili Gaming, the latter having secured their spot after winning the 2024 FGC VALORANT Invitational.
On the VCT Pacific side, the lineup includes Paper Rex, DRX, Gen.G, DetonatioN FocusMe, and Rex Regum Qeon. Paper Rex’s current form is a mystery as they have not played any official matches since their group stage exit in Seoul last August, Meanwhile, the other teams have stayed active during the OFF//SEASON, with Gen.G notably claiming victory at both the TEN VALORANT Asia Invitational and the Gwangju Esports Series Asia Invitational.
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Despite showing promise at the Red Bull Home Ground APAC Play-In, DetonatioN FocusMe will be without full strength at the Chengdu event, as their newest recruit Koki “gyen” Nakamura will miss out due to health concerns. Stepping in for gyen is Tomonori “SSeeS” Okimura, who has been with DFM throughout the 2024 season and is now filling in as a substitute.
Rex Regum Qeon also participated in the same event in Tokyo that DFM attended, where they debuted Bryan “Kush” Setiawan. Meanwhile, DRX have recently promoted academy player Na “Athan” Ha-jun to their permanent roster after he stood in for the team at the TEN VALORANT Asia Invitational.
Teams have had time to regroup and adjust after the player break and any roster changes they made over the off-season. Now, it is time for them to start stepping up and showing what they’re made of ahead of the 2025 VCT season. The Chengdu event gives a solid sample size of games for the community to get an early look at how the teams are shaping up and what kind of performance we can expect when the real action begins.
The action kicks off with a Swiss stage, and Round 1 matchups have already been set. On the first day, November 21, Trace Esports will face off against RRQ, followed by a VCT Pacific derby between Paper Rex and Gen.G. Day 2 will begin with Bilibili Gaming seeking revenge for their loss in Seoul against DRX, and the day will conclude with EDward Gaming taking on DetonatioN FocusMe.
In short, teams need to secure two wins in the Swiss stage (November 21-25) to advance to the Playoffs, while teams with two losses will be eliminated. After a two-day break, the top four teams will continue in the playoffs starting November 28. The tournament will be played in best-of-three series, with the lower bracket and grand final contested in best-of-five.
“Chengdu, with its unique blend of rich historical culture and modern cultural exchange, has become an ideal location for hosting VALORANT tournaments. The Asia Invitational will not only bring fresh esports energy to the city but also promote international esports cultural exchange, creating a grand year-end event for VALORANT in Asia in 2024.
In 2024, VALORANT saw numerous shining moments for Asian teams on the global stage: VALORANT Masters landed in Shanghai for the first time, with an Asian team taking the trophy, and the VCT CN region, in its inaugural year, won the global championship held in Asia. Fans of first-person shooters worldwide witnessed a historic breakthrough in Asia’s esports power and are eagerly anticipating a VALORANT event dedicated exclusively to the Asian region.
Therefore, we are incredibly excited to host a VALORANT tournament in Chengdu for the first time. With the abundant tourism resources of the “Land of Abundance,” the Asia Invitational in Chengdu will offer participants and spectators from around the world not only an esports experience but also the joy of leisure, entertainment, and cultural exploration. Here, both audiences and players will experience more than just the comp
The tournament has yet to confirm whether there will be a prize pool or an English broadcast.
The full schedule for the VALORANT Radiant Asia Invitational is as follows (time in GMT+8 – SGT/PHT/MYT):
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Cover photo courtesy of VALORANT Esports CN
