Organizer
Tournament edition
VCT 2026: China Stage 1
VCT 2026: China Stage 1 ran March 31–May 10 across Hangzhou and Beijing. EDward Gaming defeated Xi Lai Gaming 3–2 in the final to win the 12-team stage.
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Updated October 19, 2026Competition snapshot
Host and dates
West Lake Gymnasium, Hangzhou · Mar 31–Apr 19; Shougang Ice Hockey Arena, Beijing · May 1–10, 2026[1][2]
Champion
Combined prize pool
Unknown
VLR lists no cash award; the stage record tracks VCT Championship points instead.[4][5]
Games
Participant scale
12 teams across two groups; the top four from each group advanced to playoffs[1][4]
CategoryPartnerCommercial note
Category
Organizer
Partner
Riot GamesCommercial note
Competition organizer · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[9]
Category
Organizer
Partner
TJ SportsCommercial note
China league operator · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[10]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
JD.comCommercial note
Strategic partner · Hangzhou; core partner · Beijing · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[6]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
Want Want GroupCommercial note
Strategic partner · Hangzhou; core partner · Beijing · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[6]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
LenovoCommercial note
Strategic partner · Hangzhou; core partner · Beijing · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[6]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
AMDCommercial note
Official partner · Hangzhou stop · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[3]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
SKYMOTORCommercial note
Official partner · Hangzhou and Beijing stops · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[6]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
AutoFullCommercial note
Special partner · Hangzhou stop · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[3]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
ZOWIECommercial note
Special partner · Hangzhou stop · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[3]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
ZYNOOCommercial note
Special partner · Hangzhou stop · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[3]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
MelGeekCommercial note
Core partner · Beijing stop · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[6]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
ShizurenCommercial note
Core partner · Beijing stop and CN league partner · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[8]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
Mala WangziCommercial note
2026 VCT CN league partner; Beijing stop promotion · Recorded in the 2026 edition.[7]
PTG Database Analysis
VCT 2026: China Stage 1 ran March 31–May 10. The 12-team group stage was held at West Lake Gymnasium in Hangzhou through April 19. Eight teams advanced to the double-elimination playoffs at Shougang Ice Hockey Arena in Beijing, where the top three also secured places at Masters London.[1][2][4][5]
The field comprised All Gamers VALORANT, JD Gaming VALORANT, TYLOO VALORANT, Titan Esports Club VALORANT, Bilibili Gaming VALORANT, FunPlus Phoenix VALORANT, Xi Lai Gaming VALORANT, EDward Gaming VALORANT, Dragon Ranger Gaming VALORANT, Trace Esports VALORANT, Nova Esports VALORANT and Wolves Esports VALORANT. EDward Gaming beat Xi Lai Gaming 3–2 in the final on May 10.[4][5]
Riot Games organized the VCT circuit, with TJ Sports operating the China league. For Hangzhou, the official partner announcement named JD.com, Want Want Group and Lenovo as strategic partners; AMD and SKYMOTOR as official partners; and AutoFull, ZOWIE and Zynoo as special partners.[3]
The official Beijing stop post listed JD.com, Want Want Group, Lenovo, SKYMOTOR, MelGeek and Shizuren as its six core partners. Mala Wangzi was also a 2026 VCT CN official partner and ran a Beijing playoff ticket promotion. These local activities are recorded against their respective stops.[6][7][8]
References11
- [1]V26 Hangzhou stop — VCT CN Stage 1 regular-season ticket announcement — VALORANT Esports China
- [2]V26 Beijing stop — VCT CN Stage 1 playoffs — Shijingshan District Government, Beijing
- [3]2026 VCT CN Stage 1 Hangzhou stop — partner acknowledgements — VALORANT Esports China (verified account; Sina mirror)
- [4]VCT 2026: China Stage 1 — groups, participants and results — VLR.gg
- [5]VCT 2026: China Stage 1 — playoff bracket and final standings — VLR.gg
- [6]无畏巡回北京站开启 — VALORANT (verified official account; Sina mirror)
- [7]Mala Wangzi becomes a 2026 VCT CN official partner — Mala Wangzi official account (Sina mirror)
- [8]Shizuren official account — 2026 VCT CN Beijing stop activations — Shizuren official account
- [9]VALORANT Esports League Handbook — Riot Games
- [10]解锁‘会展+电竞’新场景，打造产业融合海珠样本！ — 南方+
- [11]VCT 2026: China Stage 1 — tournament listing — GosuGamers
Commercial opportunities
Hangzhou stop · strategic partners
The official Hangzhou announcement named JD.com, Want Want Group and Lenovo as strategic partners for the March 31–April 19 regular-season stop.[3]
Hangzhou stop · official partners
The official Hangzhou announcement named AMD and SKYMOTOR as official partners.[3]
Hangzhou stop · special partners
The official Hangzhou announcement named AutoFull, ZOWIE and Zynoo as special partners.[3]
Beijing stop · core partners
The official account named JD.com, Want Want Group, MelGeek, Lenovo, SKYMOTOR and Shizuren as core partners for the May 1–10 Beijing stop; MelGeek and Shizuren also had on-site activations.[6]
Beijing stop · league partner promotion
Mala Wangzi was a 2026 VCT CN official partner and promoted tickets for the May 8 Beijing playoff match.[7]
Tournament schedule
- Grand Final
EDward Gaming wins Stage 1
EDward Gaming defeated Xi Lai Gaming 3–2 in the Grand Final to take the Stage 1 title.[](cite:5)
- Playoffs
Eight-team playoffs begin at Shougang Park
The playoff bracket opened at Shougang Ice Hockey Arena, with the eight qualifiers competing for the Stage 1 title and three Masters London places.[](cite:2)[](cite:5)
- Group Stage
Eight teams secure playoff places
The Hangzhou regular season ended with eight teams advancing to the Beijing double-elimination playoffs. The Shijingshan District Government identified XLG, AG, EDG, JDG, TYL, DRG, TE and TEC as the playoff teams.[](cite:2)
- Group Stage
Stage 1 group play opens in Hangzhou
The 12-team league field began play in two groups at West Lake Gymnasium. Regular-season matches and seeding deciders ran through April 19.[](cite:1)[](cite:4)
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