EDward Gaming EDward Gaming China Rank #1 ZmjjKK Zheng Yongkang (郑永康) nobody Wang Senxu (王森旭) Muggle Tang Shijun (唐时俊) CHICHOO Wan Shunji (万顺治) Smoggy Zhang Zhao (张钊) Haodong Guo Haodong (郭浩东) have taken down Giants Gaming Giants Gaming Inactive Redgar Igor Vlasov Fit1nho Adolfo Gallego nukkye Žygimantas Chmieliauskas hoody Aaro Peltokangas Cloud Kirill Nehozhin in the decider match of Group A at Valorant Champions 2023. EDG becomes the first Chinese team to qualify for a Champions playoffs stage, while Giants' elimination ensures just two EMEA teams from five have advanced to the playoffs.

The showdown was a rematch of both teams' opening match, a captivating series that EDG managed to take in 2-1 fashion.

“I felt like the first matchup we weren't in our best form,” CHICHOO said. “But the second time around we were playing like we know we can.”

Giants chose Split for their map selection, opting to replay the first map of the previous series, one which went in favor of EDG and was one of the best maps of the event. Fit1nho contributed 34 kills in the loss, tying for the single map kill lead across the event.

EDG came out firing on all cylinders, springing out to a commanding 6-0 lead despite losing multiple first duels in that span. A fit1nho 3K with Raze's Showstopper provided a bit of solace, but nothing more as EDG continued their onslaught, bullying the site anchors from Giants time and time again.

A few salvaged rounds from Giants at the end of the half made it a 9-3 halftime score, but the defensive pistol and bonus win from EDG brought them to map point at 12-3. Cloud kept Giants in the game with a 4K and a clutch, but it was ZmjjKK who would deal the final blow with a remarkable 1v2.

“I felt that we had a good read on them coming into the first match on Split,” EDG coach AfteR said post-match. “When we got to play them again we knew what we had to do and take advantage of the space they were giving. Being able to attack first allowed us to set the pace and use our gameplan.”

The second map would move the teams to Fracture, a map that Giants avoided all season by making it their permanent ban on the season. Again, EDG quickly jumped ahead to a 7-2 on their defensive side. The Chinese squad got ZmjjKK's Operator online early, finding great value on both early peeks and retakes. That, combined with CHICHOO's Killjoy utility, provided an 8-4 lead for EDG at the half.

It looked as though Giants would put up a fight to continue their season after pulling the score line back to 10-7, but EDG's skill shone through, ending the series in dominating 2-0 fashion.

The kill differential in the series was +42 for EDward Gaming across just two maps. The entire roster from EDG finished positive in the series, spearheaded by CHICHOO's impressive 37-18 performance. On the other end, Cloud was the main reason the series was not more of a blowout. The Russian topped the lobby with a 1.43 rating, and was the only Giants player to finish positive.

“We didn't have our game today, the nerves kind of took us a little bit,” rhyme said post-match. “But EDG performed, especially CHICHOO. The guy was on fire, and their entire team turned up for the match.”

EDward Gaming will move on to play one of the first place teams from the group stage, with potential matchups against Evil Geniuses, FNATIC, and DRX.

It's an unfortunate end to the season for Giants in a difficult group, compounded by both losses coming at the hand of the same team.

“I think the season has been good,” rhyme said post-match. “This is just one of many for all of us. The season was a story of one step forward, two steps back and vice versa. Next time we will look to take more steps forward and keep improving.”