Both teams, Dragon Ranger Gaming and XLG Esports, who joined the VCT after their triumph at Ascension, continue to knock partner teams out of the VCT 2025: China Kickoff tournament in the lower bracket. Read more about the results of each match in this material.

Dragon Ranger Gaming vs. Nova Esports

Dragon Ranger Gaming defied fan predictions: despite being considered underdogs, they not only secured victory but also confidently outplayed Nova Esports. Dragon Ranger Gaming easily won both their map pick and their opponent's: Pearl (13:8) and Bind (13:7). Nova Esports concluded their tournament run, while Dragon Ranger Gaming continues their fight for a spot at Masters Bangkok. Their next match will be against FunPlus Phoenix.

JD Gaming vs. XLG Esports

The second match of the day was less surprising. XLG Esports, regarded as favorites, defeated JD Gaming with a 2:1 map score. Despite challenges, XLG Esports managed to secure the win and sent their opponents home. On January 22, XLG Esports will face the reigning world champion, EDward Gaming.

The VCT 2025: China Kickoff runs from January 11 to 25 as a LAN event at the VCT CN Arena in Shanghai. Twelve partner teams from the VCT program compete for two spots at Masters Bangkok and valuable China Points, which are critical for qualification to the World Championship.