2 hours ago
9
A team that got its start through a Net Café Tournament just went toe-to-toe with the best VALORANT squads on the planet. Xi Lai Gaming, better known as XLG, wrapped up a 7th-8th place finish at VALORANT Masters London 2026, and the run included one of the tournament’s biggest upsets along the way.
The G2 upset that turned heads
On June 13, XLG pulled off a 2-1 victory over G2 Esports, the reigning champions from the Americas region.
The match opened on Lotus, where G2 took the map 13-7. On Ascent, XLG dominated with a 13-4 scoreline. Split, the decider, saw XLG close it out 13-9. The roster of WsLeo, Lysoar, NoMan, Rarga, and happywei, coached by hvoya and Steady, played with the kind of composure you don’t usually see from teams making their first deep international run.
From Net Cafés to the Copper Box Arena
Founded in 2023, XLG made history as the first team to qualify through a Net Café Tournament and go on to win VCT Ascension in the CN Nationals S2 North Division.
VALORANT Masters London 2026 ran from June 6 to June 21 at the Copper Box Arena in London, featuring a $1 million prize pool. XLG’s 7th-8th place finish means they captured a share of that purse, adding to career winnings that research pegs somewhere between $130K and $190K across various competitions.
Their path through the tournament also included matchups against EDward Gaming. The 2026 VCT season has seen XLG demonstrating consistent domestic strength prior to their international results.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
English (US) ·