China Has a Team in the Playoffs
Xi Lai Gaming came in 0-1, reverse swept two teams, and are now in the Masters London playoff bracket.
Xi Lai Gaming are in the Masters London playoffs. Let that sit for a second.
They lost round 1 to NRG 0-2. Down 4-13 on Haven against Dragon Ranger Gaming in round 2, one map away from going home. And they still made it.
How They Got Here
The DRG match is the one I keep thinking about. XLG dropped Haven 4-13 in the first map. DRG were dominant — Nicc had a 1.91 rating, vo0kashu at 1.71. That scoreline doesn't suggest a team that's about to turn the series around. Then Happywei happened. 35 kills on Split, 2.28 rating, basically won the map by himself. XLG took Fracture clean and then closed Split 13-11. That reverse sweep should not have happened.
Against Global Esports in round 3, same pattern. Lost Haven 10-13, took Lotus 13-9, and on Breeze Lysoar put up 305 ACS and 25 kills to close it 13-10. Two different series, two different teams, same story: XLG lose the first map, find something, and come back.
What It Actually Means
CN region has been the conversation at international Valorant events for a while, and not in a good way. The teams come in, play some games, go home before the bracket. This isn't that.
XLG now face G2 in the upper quarterfinals on June 12. G2 won their direct seed. On paper it looks like the most comfortable opener for a first seed in the bracket. I'm not sure it is anymore.
Two teams picked the wrong format to get comfortable against Xi Lai Gaming this week.