The VALORANT Champions Tour China has officially announced its group compositions for Stage 2, introducing significant changes that reshape the competitive landscape for the upcoming phase. The groups have been completely redrawn from Stage 1, creating fresh matchups and rivalries as teams prepare for the next chapter of VCT China 2025.
The New Group Structure
Group Alpha
- EDward Gaming
- Bilibili Gaming
- Titan Esports Club
- Trace Esports
- JDG Esports
- TYLOO
Group Omega
- Xi Lai Gaming
- Dragon Ranger Gaming
- Wolves Esports
- Nova Esports
- FunPlus Phoenix
- All Gamers
The Draw Process Explained
The redistribution of teams followed a methodical approach based entirely on Stage 1 regular season performance. Teams were seeded according to their results, and a random draw determined which seeds would swap groups from the previous stage.
The process began with the fifth and sixth seeds, where only FunPlus Phoenix and JDG Esports (the fifth seeds) were selected to switch groups, while TYLOO and All Gamers (the sixth seeds) remained in their original placements.
This pattern continued with the third and fourth seeds, resulting in Nova Esports and Titan Esports Club (the fourth seeds) exchanging positions. Finally, Dragon Ranger Gaming and Bilibili Gaming (the second seeds) were drawn and swapped to complete the group formations.
Format Changes and Implications
This reshuffling marks a significant departure from the 2024 season format. Previously, teams’ records from both stages were combined to determine qualification for the Stage 2 playoffs. Each stage operates independently, giving teams a clean slate for Stage 2 regardless of their Stage 1 performance.
This format change substantially impacts how teams’ strength of schedule affects their qualification chances for Champions 2025. Teams that may have struggled in Stage 1 now have an equal opportunity to make a comeback in Stage 2, while successful Stage 1 teams must prove themselves again rather than resting on their previous accomplishments.
Evolution Series Returns
During the group draw announcement, officials confirmed that VCT China will host another Evolution Series tournament. This supplementary competition will feature teams not qualifying for Masters Toronto, providing them additional competitive opportunities and a chance to earn prize money during the international event.
The Evolution Series has become an integral part of the Chinese VALORANT ecosystem, designed to maintain competitive momentum for teams not participating in international events. The Act 2 tournament is scheduled to run from May 15-25, continuing the series that began with Act 1 in February, which Nova Esports won by defeating Wolves Esports in the finals.
As Stage 2 approaches, all twelve Chinese teams will be looking to maintain their momentum or reverse their fortunes in this refreshed competitive environment. The Champions League qualification is ultimately on the line.
Andrew "SuZki" Scola is a dedicated Valorant player who has been in the game since the Valorant beta release. He has a peak rank of Immortal 3 and is also a semi-pro esports player. He's also been associated with a few gaming clans and communities, including Highlander Gaming and SoCal Valorant Community. In his free time, he creates content for the Valorant community and writes guides about Valorant based on his experience.
