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XLG Esports Dominate Rare Atom in VCT China Ascension Grand Finals
XLG Esports are ascending next year to VCT China (CN) following their statement victory over Rare Atom in the Grand Finals of VCT Ascension China (CN). XLG or Xi Lai Gaming, swept the Grand Finals 3-0 today, securing their spot as the 12th team to join VCT CN and the 2nd after Dragon Rangers Gaming to earn a promotion to Tier 1.
XLG and Rare Atom Can’t Stop Meeting
Both Rare Atom and XLG Esports began their Ascension journey in Group A of the Group Stage. After both teams won their opening series, the pair faced off for the first qualification. Rare Atom won that first encounter 2-0.
XLG would survive by beating out the other two teams to qualify as the second team from Group A. In the Playoffs Stage, after beating their Round 1 opponent, XLG faced off against none other than Rare Atom. This time the series was closer and Rare Atom only managed to put XLG away 2-1.
Once again, XLG fought through the Lower Bracket and reached the Grand Finals. In this pivotal final matchup between the two teams, third times the charm magic prevailed and XLG finally defeated Rare Atom when it mattered most, securing themselves the Ascension spot.
XLG - An Unlikely Challenger
Much like last year, the team that eventually prevailed in China’s Ascension was not the team that everyone initially expected. XLG had been cobbled together as a team just months before this fateful encounter.
Following a disappointing run last year in the China Evolution Series (all three), XLG came into 2024 with a new roster, removing 5 of their members and bringing on 3 new players and a new head coach.
The effect was incredibly apparent, with XLG first winning 1st place in their own division (VALORANT China National Competition: Season 2 - North Division). They then went on to the next stage, which included 16 of the best Tier 2 Chinese rosters. XLG won first as well, securing themselves 200 NC (National Competition Circuit Point) and a ticket to Ascension as a result.
Not This Time Rare Atom
In a shocking twist, XLG’s adaptations over the many times they faced Rare Atom finally paid off in the Grand Finals. Not only did they win flawlessly 3-0, but they kept Rare Atom to single digit scores throughout the entire series (13-5, 13-5, 13-7), showcasing the brilliance and promise of this new Chinese roster.
XLG Full Roster (As Ascended)
- Arthur "Rarga" Churyumov
- "Satoshi"
- Deng "happywei" Minwei
- Savva "Kr1stal" Fedorov
- Chen "MrCANI" Ting-hsun
- Zhuo "MarT1n" Zhengjie
- Aleksandr "hvoya" Eremin (Head Coach)
- Chong "Fayde" Hoc Wah (Assistant Coach)
Rare Atom Fail to Deliver
In 2023's Ascension, few names were as highly regarded as Rare Atom. One of the few organizations that had fielded a roster that could actually answer EDG's reign of dominance. After failing to earn a partnership spot in VCT CN and losing in the Ascension tournament (they came 2nd), Rare Atom lost their entire roster to JD Gaming, who had been given a slot in VCT CN (can't really blame the players there).
Looking to rebuild in 2024, they put together another promising roster. After securing victories in two smaller tournaments near the start of the year, Rare Atom looked to be gaining momentum. Enter China National Competition: Season 2. Rare Atom finished in the quarterfinals in that tournament.
However, coming into Ascension, they flawlessly cleared the Group Stage and had a flawless Upper Bracket run to the Grand Finals. Their opponent was a team they had beaten already twice at this very event. And... they failed to deliver once again. It's unclear what Rare Atom's fate will be but in the harsh landscape of Tier 2 VALORANT, there are seldom prizes for second place.
Never a Better Time for Chinese VALORANT
Following EDG’s triumph at VALORANT Champions this year, the popularity and following for VCT CN continues to skyrocket, and the addition of a new promising challenger to the mix can only mean a more exciting league in 2025.
There's still plenty of VALORANT action ahead in the OFF//SEASON. So, check in with Strafe to catch all of the latest VALORANT news.
Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.
Credit: VCT CN
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