After a short break following the conclusion of Masters Bangkok, the competitive season is back, and the first region to kick things off is China. Tomorrow marks the start of the second qualification stage for VCT 2025: China Stage 1, where BiliBili Gaming will face XLG Esports in the opening match. Below, we will analyze both teams' current form and try to predict the winner.
Current Form of the Teams
XLG Esports
Their opponent, XLG Esports, enters the match as the underdog. The team only secured a Tier-1 slot in the Chinese region this year, but they have already shown the ability to challenge more experienced opponents. XLG Esports have won two out of their last five matches, defeating All Gamers and JDG Esports, while losing to BiliBili Gaming, EDward Gaming, and JDG Esports again.
XLG Esports Match Results
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| XLG Esports | 0 - 2 | JD Gaming |
| XLG Esports | 1 - 2 | Edward Gaming |
| XLG Esports | 2 - 1 | JD Gaming |
| XLG Esports | 2 - 1 | All Gamers |
| XLG Esports | 1 - 2 | Bilibili Gaming |
Their dark horse status gives fans hope while simultaneously relieving the team of pressure when facing stronger opponents—like their upcoming rivals.
BiliBili Gaming
BiliBili Gaming had a solid start to the season. The team finished 3rd at the VALORANT China Evolution Series Act 1 and 3rd at VCT 2025: China Kickoff. However, only the top two spots secured a ticket to Masters Bangkok, meaning the team missed out on the first international tournament of the year.In their last five matches, BiliBili Gaming secured victories against JDG Esports and TYLOO but suffered defeats to Nova Esports, EDward Gaming, and Trace Esports.
Bilibili Gaming Match Results
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bilibili Gaming | 3 - 0 | JD Gaming |
| Bilibili Gaming | 0 - 2 | Nova Esports |
| Bilibili Gaming | 2 - 0 | TYLOO |
| Bilibili Gaming | 0 - 3 | Edward Gaming |
| Bilibili Gaming | 1 - 2 | Trace Esports |
Historically, the team has been one of the strongest in the region, largely thanks to their duelist, who consistently achieves the highest ACS in nearly every match. However, the lack of impact from other players has prevented BiliBili Gaming from climbing higher in the regional rankings.
Map Pool Analysis
Expected Bans:
- BiliBili Gaming may ban Haven.
- XLG Esports are likely to remove Pearl.
Expected Picks:
- BiliBili Gaming will likely pick Ascent.
- XLG Esports may go for the returning Icebox.
Head-to-Head Record
Over the past six months, the teams have met twice. The first time at FGC 24 where BiliBili Gaming won with a score of 2:1. The second time on VCT 25: CN Kickoff, where the result was the same. This shows that experience still wins in head-to-head meetings.
Match Prediction
Considering the teams’ current form, this match promises to be an exciting one. However, BiliBili Gaming hold the advantage in both experience and head-to-head history, having already defeated XLG Esports twice. While XLG may surprise and take their map pick, securing a full series victory seems unlikely.
Prediction: BiliBili Gaming to win 2-1
VCT 2025: China Stage 1 will take place from March 13 to May 4 in LAN format at the VCT CN Arena in Shanghai. Twelve partnered teams from VCT China will battle for three invitations to Masters Toronto, as well as valuable China Points required for qualification to the World Championship.
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