China’s VCT partner field set to shrink ahead of 2027

Sheep Esports reports that eight organisations are expected to partner with VCT China in 2027 and 2028, as Riot Games reduces the number of partner teams from 10 to eight across its regions.

The reported lineup is EDward Gaming, JD Gaming, Bilibili Gaming, TYLOO, All Gamers, Trace Esports, Xi Lai Gaming and Weibo Gaming. The list is based on sources cited by Sheep Esports; Riot has not officially confirmed the teams or announced the full details of the China format.

XLG and Weibo among reported additions

Xi Lai Gaming is expected to move from a guest slot into the partner group after winning Ascension in 2024. Sheep Esports reports that the team has played at every international LAN since Masters Toronto 2025.

Weibo Gaming is also expected to return to the group. The organisation did not secure a partner slot in 2023 and later left VALORANT before returning to the scene in early 2026.

Four current partners are reported to miss the next cycle: FunPlus Phoenix, Nova Esports, Titan Esports Club and Wolves Esports. Dragon Ranger Gaming, which held a guest slot like XLG, is also reported to have been left out.

The reported changes would reshape which organisations have partner status, but losing that status would not necessarily end a team’s route to major events. The wider relationship between VALORANT’s Tier 1 and Tier 2 scenes remains relevant as Riot moves towards a more open competitive year.

A smaller partner group, with open routes ahead

The first VCT partnership cycle began in 2023 and concludes after the 2026 season. Riot is set to reduce partner numbers from 10 to eight in China, as in the other regions, while making the 2027 competitive year more open. The primary report says teams outside the partner group may still qualify for Cups and Masters events by building successful projects.

EDward Gaming is among the reported partners after winning Champions 2024, which Sheep Esports describes as China’s only international title since the current circuit began. Wolves, meanwhile, is set to miss out despite its surprise showing at Masters Toronto 2025. Chinese organisations’ recent competitive position also provides context for the reported partnership changes.

The route back for non-partner teams will depend on rules Riot has yet to spell out. Sheep Esports reports that China’s format may differ from those in the other three regions, leaving qualification mechanics unresolved; the lineup should therefore be treated as a report, not a confirmed Riot announcement.