China will have two direct invites to the VCT Masters Tokyo later this year

China is going big in the VCT this year.

2023 is the first year of the VALORANT Champions Tour with its officially partnered leagues and Riot Games is going all out. In a recent press statement released by the VALORANT Esports team, it has officially been confirmed that there will be two representatives from China.

What was initially revealed as a 10-team tournament, the VCT Masters Tokyo was supposed to feature the top three teams from the VCT-partnered leagues alongside the winner from the VCT LOCK//IN São Paulo. But China’s two direct invites puts the total invited competitors to 12.

Team distribution by region:

China could have also had an additional team to compete at the VCT Masters Tokyo if either one of FunPlus Phoenix or EDward Gaming could win the VCT LOCK/IN. But alas, both teams got knocked out in the first round of the tournament, putting an early end to that scenario.

The VCT Masters Tokyo will feature 12 teams competing in a double-elimination bracket, which also has higher and lower seeds. Team seedlings are yet to be determined but it will be much clearer as we get closer to the date from June 11 to 25.