China appoints VALORANT roster for Esports Nations Cup

China is set to be one of the most formidable contenders in VALORANT at the Esports Nations Cup. Featuring what effectively amounts to an all-star roster drawn from across VCT China, the nation has assembled five starters and two substitutes for the tournament, which will take place in Riyadh from November 8 to 15.

Led by current Dragon Ranger Gaming Head Coach Deng “NaThanD” Senqiao, the roster has been built around the core of EDward Gaming and three members of the squad that captured the VALORANT Champions 2024 title. The lineup consists of:

Unsurprisingly, the team is centered around EDward Gaming's core, which recently secured a top-three finish at Masters London and claimed the VCT China Stage 1 title. One notable omission, however, is Zhang “Smoggy” Zhao. Instead, the Chinese coaching staff opted to prioritize nobody's leadership and shot-calling abilities, alongside the exceptional individual talent of ZmjjKK and CHICHOO, both widely regarded among the strongest players in the world.

That trio will be joined by Knight, who has established himself as one of Bilibili Gaming's most impactful and consistent performers since joining the organization in 2023. The roster also includes slowly, TYLOO's standout player and arguably the team's most influential contributor despite the organization frequently finding itself in the middle of the standings.

K1ra of All Gamers and Lysoar of Xi Lai Gaming round out the squad. Listed as "Player 6" and "Player 7," the pair are expected to serve as substitutes, although no official confirmation regarding their exact roles has yet been provided.

There is little doubt that this roster possesses the talent necessary to compete with the very best teams in the world. In what appears to be a relatively open tournament without a clear overwhelming favorite, China could prove particularly dangerous thanks to the pre-existing synergy between its EDward Gaming trio, supplemented by two of the region's most accomplished players. On paper, it would be a surprise not to see them reach the playoff stage, and they may well emerge as one of the leading contenders for the title.