Welcome to all Valorant fans and viewers! From September 12 to October 5, 2025, the biggest tournament of the year — VALORANT Champions 2025 — is taking place. Sixteen teams will battle for the title of “Global Valorant Champions” and a massive prize pool.
On the eighth day of the competition, we’ll focus on the upcoming Group C match between the European team Team Liquid and the Chinese team EDward Gaming (EDG). Both teams have already played one group match and both suffered defeats: Team Liquid lost to DRX 2-0, while EDG fell to NRG 2-0.
Coming off their opening losses, both squads will be more prepared for this next clash, which makes the matchup especially exciting — as the loser of this series will be eliminated from the tournament. As the teams get ready for this decisive battle, let’s take a closer look at the current form of the players and their squads, and share some betting insights.
How bookmakers see it: TL — EDG
According to most bookmakers, Team Liquid are considered slight favorites in their upcoming match against EDward Gaming at VALORANT Champions 2025. The odds reflect this: 1.86 for the European squad compared to 2.14 for the reigning champions from China. Both teams have already suffered one defeat in the group stage, making this clash decisive — a do-or-die match for survival in the tournament.
The winners of Champions 2024 have enough experience and individual talent to turn the tide of the game at any moment. That’s why this matchup promises to be extremely tense: both sides will be playing under immense pressure, and any mistake could cost them their spot in the championship.
Team Liquid form: What result can be expected from TL?
The team Team Liquid has remained one of the leading forces on the European Valorant scene for several years and consistently ranks among the region’s strongest squads. In the 2025 season, Liquid continue to hold their status as contenders for top positions despite the fierce competition in EMEA and the constant rise of new challengers. The team started the new year confidently, reinforcing their roster and improving their tactical depth, which has once again secured their place among the favorites.
The current Team Liquid roster features proven players: Ayaz “nAts” Akhmetshin — the leader and brain of the team, setting the strategy and dictating the pace; Patryk “paTiTek” Fabrowski — an initiator who opens up space for attacks and creates pressure on opponents; Nikita “trexx” Cherednichenko — a versatile player capable of adapting to any task or role; Georgio “Keiko” Sanassy — the controller who maintains balance and provides reliable map presence; and Kamil “kamo” Frąckowiak — a duelist and flex player who adds aggression and individual firepower. The squad is guided by head coach Ivo “LohaN” Albino, supported by analysts and assistants who help strengthen tactical depth and flexibility. Team Liquid roster: nAts, paTiTek, trexx, Keiko, kamo
In the first half of the 2025 season, Liquid delivered a confident run at VCT EMEA Stage 2, reaching the finals and defeating GIANTX 3-0 to claim the championship title. On the international stage, their start at VALORANT Champions 2025 was more difficult: in their opening group stage match, they fell to DRX 0-2. Nevertheless, the team proved they are capable of competing with the very best and remain serious contenders for a playoff spot.
Statistically, Liquid excel on maps where space control and disciplined micro-play are decisive. They look particularly strong on Ascent and Split, where their structured approach provides consistent results. However, they appear less confident on new maps such as Abyss and Corrode, where they still lack cohesion and experience.
Overall, Team Liquid can be described as a squad that combines strategic depth, experience, and aggression. They have a stable leader in nAts, versatile players who can cover weaknesses, and youthful firepower that brings energy to their play. If they can resolve their issues on the newer maps and maintain focus in high-pressure moments, Liquid have every chance to go far and challenge the world’s top teams at VALORANT Champions 2025.
EDward Gaming form: What result can be expected from EDG?
EDward Gaming remain the leading representatives of the Chinese Valorant scene, rising to global prominence after their historic victory at VALORANT Champions 2024, where they claimed their first international title. This triumph elevated Chinese Valorant to a new level and cemented EDG’s status as the symbol of their region.
The roster is built around their star player, Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang, better known as KangKang. His aggressive playstyle on Jett and Chamber has repeatedly been the deciding factor in EDG’s victories. Alongside him is Wang “nobody” Senxu, a versatile support who adapts to any composition and provides stability. Wang “CHICHOO” Shunzhi plays the role of controller, setting the tempo and dictating the team’s macro play. Zhao “Smoggy” Zhang brings flexibility and aggression, often taking on initiator roles or acting as a secondary carry, applying constant pressure across the map. The newest addition, Zhang “Jieni7” Juntai, replaced Haodong and introduced fresh draft options, revitalizing the team’s playstyle. Together, this lineup combines raw individual power with strict discipline, making EDG one of the most dangerous teams on the international stage. EDG roster: CHICHOO, nobody, ZmjjKK, Smoggy, Jieni7
In the 2025 season, EDG once again confirmed their status as China’s strongest team. In VCT China Stage 1 and Stage 2, they consistently reached the playoffs, showcasing discipline and tactical flexibility. On the international stage, they started with a victory in the Chinese qualifier and secured 3rd place at Masters Bangkok, falling only in the semifinals — a result that reinforced their reputation as title contenders.
Not everything has gone smoothly, however. For instance, at the China Evolution Series Act 3, EDG finished only 9th–12th, underlining their vulnerability against fast and aggressive playstyles. And at VALORANT Champions 2025, their opening match ended in a 0-2 defeat to NRG — a serious blow to their ambitions and a reminder that improvements are still needed to once again fight for the very top.
Even so, recent results tell a different story: with over 80% win rate in their last 11 matches, EDG have clearly regained their form and head into the decisive tournaments of the year in excellent condition.
At present, EDward Gaming look confident and ready for new challenges. Their style blends discipline and flexibility, and when needed, they can rely on KangKang’s individual brilliance or the unpredictability of Smoggy and Jieni7. Despite their early stumble against NRG, EDG remain firmly among the teams capable of challenging for another world title and keeping China at the top of the international Valorant scene.
Head-to-Head History
The rivalry between Team Liquid and EDward Gaming has already made its mark on the international Valorant stage. The teams first met at VALORANT Champions 2022, where Liquid secured a confident 2-0 victory. A year later, at VCT Masters Tokyo 2023, the European squad once again proved stronger, defeating EDG 2-1 and reaffirming their advantage.
However, in 2025 the situation shifted. At VCT Masters Bangkok 2025, EDward Gaming managed to take revenge, defeating Team Liquid 2-0 in the group stage and showcasing their progress as well as their ability to challenge Europe’s elite on equal footing.
As it stands, the head-to-head record still favors Team Liquid, but EDG have already proven they can put up a serious fight — and even outplay their renowned opponents. Their upcoming encounters promise to be tense and unpredictable.
Players to Watch
Team Liquid: nAts — the key figure of Team Liquid and one of the most recognizable players on the European Valorant scene. His playstyle on controllers and sentinels has long been his trademark: the ability to clutch, use utility effectively, and read opponents makes him indispensable for the team. The structure of Liquid’s game often revolves around nAts — he sets the rhythm on defense, stabilizes difficult rounds, and provides the team with the space needed to execute their attacking ideas.
EDG: ZmjjKK — The star of Chinese Valorant and the team’s primary weapon. His explosive Jett and Chamber play, along with clutch ability, made him key to EDG’s 2024 Champions win and still their biggest threat in 2025.
Probable Map Picks
In the upcoming BO3 between Team Liquid and EDward Gaming, the map pool is expected to play a decisive role. Team Liquid look strongest on Split (78%), Ascent (75%), and Lotus (70%), while they struggle significantly on Icebox and Corrode. EDG, on the other hand, show perfect results on Bind and Fracture, perform confidently on Ascent and Pearl, but drop off noticeably on Lotus and Icebox.
Most likely, Team Liquid will remove Fracture or Bind, where EDG remain undefeated, while EDG are expected to ban Split, one of Liquid’s best maps. For their picks, Liquid are likely to choose Ascent or Lotus, while EDG will aim for Bind or Fracture. If the series goes to a decider, the most probable options are Haven or Corrode, where both teams have relatively close performance stats.
Summary:
- Liquid pick — Ascent or Lotus
- EDG pick — Bind or Fracture
- Decider — Haven or Corrode
Anything else catch the eye?
The rivalry between Team Liquid and EDward Gaming on the international stage has always been closely contested, with TL holding the edge in head-to-head meetings. However, it was EDG in 2025 who managed to break that tradition, defeating the Europeans for the first time. This is what gives the upcoming match its unique status — for Liquid, it will be a test of their ability to recover from a crushing defeat, while for EDG, it’s another chance to prove themselves.
Match Prediction
The match between Team Liquid and EDward Gaming promises to be extremely exciting, as it will determine the fate of one of the two teams. Both squads have already made mistakes at the start of the group stage and cannot afford to slip up again. The European side relies on strategic depth and experience, while EDG traditionally lean on aggression and the individual brilliance of their players. However, in my opinion, EDward Gaming currently look stronger and more capable of imposing their playstyle, which makes their victory the more likely outcome.
Main prediction — EDG to win.
AlQadsiah Esports30.10.2509:20Bo3
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