After a short break following the conclusion of Masters Bangkok, the competitive season is back, with the Chinese scene kicking things off first. Today, the qualifiers for VCT 2025: China Stage 1 have begun, with the first match already played. Tomorrow, the tournament will continue with a match between All Gamers and Trace Esports. Below, we analyze both teams’ current form and try to predict the winner.
Current Form of the Teams
Trace Esports
One of the favorites in their region, Trace Esports performed excellently in the VCT 2025: China Kickoff qualifiers, where they secured second place. This earned them a spot at Masters Bangkok, but they were among the first teams eliminated, finishing in 7th-8th place. In their last five matches, Trace Esports managed to win only one game against BiliBili Gamers, while suffering four losses against Nova Esports, EDward Gaming, T1, and G2 Esports.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Trace Esports | 0 - 2 | T1 |
| Trace Esports | 0 - 2 | G2 Esports |
| Trace Esports | 1 - 2 | Nova Esports |
| Trace Esports | 1 - 3 | EDward Gaming |
| Trace Esports | 2 - 1 | Bilibili Gaming |
Despite a rather weak performance on the international stage, the team remains one of the strongest in their region. Previously, they only lost to EDward Gaming, the current world champions, which solidifies their status as the second-best team in China at the moment.
All Gamers
The second team in this matchup, All Gamers, enters as the underdog. They spent the entire previous season finishing in the bottom ranks. Despite assembling a roster of 12 players, this does not necessarily mean an improvement in their strength. Just like Trace Esports, they have won only one of their last five matches, defeating TYLOO. Their four losses came against TYLOO, XLG Esports, Nova Esports, and Trace Esports.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| All Gamers | 0 - 2 | TYLOO |
| All Gamers | 1 - 2 | XLG Esports |
| All Gamers | 0 - 2 | Nova Esports |
| All Gamers | 0 - 2 | Trace Esports |
| All Gamers | 2 - 0 | TYLOO |
All Gamers continue to struggle with their status as outsiders. Even after making roster changes and expanding their squad to 12 players, their chances of victory in the upcoming match remain slim.
Team Map Pool
Expected Bans:
- Trace Esports are likely to ban Fracture.
- All Gamers will probably remove Pearl.
Expected Picks:
- Trace Esports are expected to pick Haven.
- All Gamers might choose Icebox.
Head-to-Head Matchups
In the last six months, the teams have faced each other only once at the Superb Cup, where Trace Esports secured a 2-0 victory.
Match Prediction
Considering the current form of both teams, it’s safe to say that Trace Esports are the clear favorites. They dominate not only within their region but also in direct matchups. Therefore, this is expected to be another easy win for them.
Predicted Result: Trace Esports win 2-0.
VCT 2025: China Stage 1 is taking place from March 13 to May 4 in LAN format at VCT CN Arena in Shanghai. Twelve partnered VCT China teams will compete for three slots at Masters Toronto, as well as China Points, which are crucial for qualification to the next world championship.
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