Valorant Masters Shanghai 2025 (May 23 – June 9) was more than just a tournament—it was a turning point in the VCT (Valorant Champions Tour) legacy. Hosted at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, the event marked Riot Games’ first international VALORANT LAN in China.
Twelve of the world’s best teams clashed. When the dust settled, Gen.G Esports emerged as the first-ever Pacific team to win an international Masters title, defeating Team Heretics in a thrilling 3–2 grand final.
Tournament Overview
Event Dates: May 23 – June 9, 2025
Location: Shanghai, China
Format:
Swiss Stage (8 teams): Two wins to qualify, two losses to eliminate
Playoffs (8 teams): Double-elimination bracket
Top 4 Seeds: Automatically qualified for playoffs (based on regional performance)
Swiss Stage Highlights
The opening stage was full of surprises, upsets, and early exits:
Gen.G vs Leviatán
Gen.G edged out Leviatán in a close 2–1 battle. Meteor’s aggressive Jett plays and t3xture’s calm anchoring on defense set the tone.
🔹 G2 Esports vs T1
G2 started strong but fell short in OT to T1, whose disciplined executes and fast site rotations turned heads.
🔹 Paper Rex and EDward Gaming Struggled
Despite high expectations, PRX and EDG were eliminated early—signaling a potential shift in regional dominance.
Qualified from Swiss Stage:
Gen.G
100 Thieves
G2 Esports
FUT Esports
Grand Final: Gen.G vs Team Heretics (3–2)
The final was an epic best-of-5 showdown that showcased the finest tactical minds in Valorant.
Top 5 Players of the Tournament
| Rank | Player | Team | Notable Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | t3xture | Gen.G | MVP, 241.2 ACS, 1.36 K/D |
| 2 | Meteor | Gen.G | Flex entry/support hybrid |
| 3 | Wo0t | Heretics | 427 total kills, 3 clutches |
| 4 | Derke | Fnatic | Highest entry success rate |
| 5 | Cryocells | 100 Thieves | Cleanest Operator holds |
Must-Watch Highlights
Top 17 Plays | VALORANT Masters Shanghai
What’s Next?
Valorant Masters Bangkok – July 2025
Champions Los Angeles – August 2025
Regional Last Chance Qualifiers – August 2025
