On August 25th, the 2024 VALORANT Champions tournament, which lasted nearly a month, concluded at INSPIRE Arena. EDG, representing the VCT CN (China) region, and TH, from the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region, faced off in the final battle for this year’s highest VALORANT honor. EDG ultimately secured a 3-2 victory over their opponent, lifting the Champions trophy. This marks not only EDG’s first global VALORANT title but also sets a new record for the best international performance by the CN region.
As the top seed from the CN region, EDG continuously evolved and broke barriers throughout this year’s Champions tournament. After advancing to the top eight, EDG consistently set new records for both their team and the VCT CN region. They fought their way through TE, SEN, and LEV, advancing to the 2024 VALORANT Champions Grand Final with an undefeated record in the playoffs.
TH, who had finished as the runner-up at this year’s Shanghai Masters, showcased their resilience and strength. After losing to the top seed from the Americas, LEV, in the second round of the playoffs, TH dropped to the lower bracket. However, they battled back, defeating SEN and avenging their loss to LEV with a 3-1 victory in the lower bracket final on August 24th, securing their spot in the Grand Final.
On August 25th, EDG and TH clashed in a high-stakes showdown in the Grand Final. On the first map, Haven, EDG secured the pistol round and took an early two-round lead. However, TH mounted a fierce counter-attack, limiting EDG to just three rounds in the first half. Although EDG made a strong comeback in the second half, they fell short, losing the map.
On the second map, Sunset, EDG rebounded from their initial loss by winning the pistol round and went on to take nine consecutive rounds. Despite TH’s efforts to close the gap in the second half, standout plays from ZmjjKK (Zheng Yongkang) with an ace and Smoggy (Zhang Zhao) with a quadra kill secured the map for EDG, tying the series 1-1. Coach Muggle (Tang Shijun) emphasized the importance of this map victory for the team’s overall morale.
The third map, Lotus, saw EDG maintaining their momentum. After CHICHOO (Wan Shunzhi) secured an ACE, the teams traded rounds, ending the first half tied 6-6. The second half was tightly contested, but EDG ultimately won three consecutive rounds, thanks to a crucial clutch play by S1Mon (Xie Mengxun), securing the map and bringing the series to match point with a 2-1 lead.
On the fourth map, Split, TH came out strong, winning the pistol round and ending the first half tied 6-6. In the second half, TH surged ahead, taking a significant lead. Although EDG mounted a resilient comeback and briefly tied the score, TH managed to close out the map, tying the series at 2-2.
The final map, Bind, was a decisive battle. EDG quickly established control, leading 8-4 at halftime. In the second half, nobody (Wang Senxu) stepped up, extending EDG’s lead. Despite a valiant resistance from TH, ZmjjKK’s quadra kill sealed the victory for EDG, who won the series 3-2 and claimed the 2024 VALORANT Champions trophy. ZmjjKK was named the MVP of the Grand Final for his outstanding performance.
Looking back at the 2024 VALORANT Champions, while EDG ultimately took the crown, the sixteen top teams from around the world left a lasting impression on fans. From the Shanghai Masters to the Champions, TH’s players delivered memorable moments both on and off the stage. TE, a CN team making their international debut, emerged as a dark horse, winning against strong opponents and advancing to the top eight as the first seed in their group. Teams from different regions showcased their competitiveness and style on the global stage, embodying the youthful, energetic, and fearless spirit of VALORANT esports, inspiring countless viewers and fans.
Supernova Surge: Record-Breaking Viewership
2024 has been an incredible year for the VALORANT Champions Tour. The VCT CN region officially launched, bringing new energy and excitement to VALORANT esports. In its inaugural year, the global tournament reached a peak viewership of 2.36 million, with the VCT CN peaking at 1.84 million viewers. Over 30,000 tickets for the VALORANT Shanghai Masters sold out in just 33 seconds. By August 21st, the 2024 VALORANT Champions had already set a new record with a peak viewership of 3.45 million, despite time zone challenges for Western fans. These numbers make the VALORANT Champions the most-watched VCT event in history. VALORANT also achieved outstanding results in event and game integration, with strong sales for the 2024 Champions Bundle, high player enthusiasm in the Chinese and console versions, and new revenue streams. By the time of the final, over $35 million had been distributed to participating teams through the Champions Bundle and team bundles, meaning each team that advanced to the Champions tournament earned at least $1 million in revenue share.
From winning their first international match at last year’s Tokyo Masters to claiming their first world championship title, EDG has continually set new records for both their team and the CN region. In the inaugural year of the VCT, they lifted the Champions trophy, symbolizing VALORANT’s highest honor, and proved to the world that the CN region is on the rise. For the VCT CN region, this is both a peak and a new beginning, with more glory waiting to be pursued and surpassed.