EDward Gaming win the VCT China Stage 1

After 470 days, EDward Gaming are back on top of China. On Sunday, the reigning world champions won the VCT China Stage 1 2026, and secured the region’s first seed for Masters London. They closed out their domestic run with a 3-2 victory over XLG Esports in the Grand Final with an impressive performance from the final MVP Zhang "Smoggy" Zhao. The result marks an important step for EDG, which had already built one of the strongest legacies in VALORANT by winning Champions but had struggled to translate that status into consistently dominant international performances since then.

EDG showed control across the stage, finishing the group phase with only one loss before moving through the upper bracket. Their playoff run confirmed that they were not just relying on reputation, as they defeated Dragon Ranger Gaming, All Gamers, and XLG twice on their way to the title.

In the Grand Final, XLG pushed them to five maps, but EDG still found the answers when it mattered most, closing the series on Pearl to claim the trophy. It was not a flawless run, but it was a dominant one in the moments that defined the tournament.

Now, EDward Gaming will arrive at Masters London as China’s number one seed, with expectations once again placed on their shoulders. After months of trying to recover the level that made them World Champions, EDG now have another chance to prove that they can still be one of the most dangerous teams in the world and add a Masters title to their belt.