Welcome back to DDenied's 2024: China 10, a countdown of the top 10 players in the China region for 2024. For fans of other regions, don’t worry—each International League has its own list, and there’s also a combined Global 20 for the year.
Disclaimer: All stats are sourced from VLR.gg, and any rating mentioned refers to VLR Rating 2.0. It's important to note that events held in China were not fully tracked by VLR, leading to missing statistics. As a result, the average ratings for each player are calculated only from events where VLR data is available, which excludes all events in China. This skews the yearly averages, particularly for players in the China league.
Kai: The Breakout Star Leading Trace Esports to New Heights
China Number: 5
Global Number: N/A
Rating: 1.10
Age: 20
Nationality: Chinese
Entering 2024, Kai was relatively unknown, having joined Trace Esports in September 2023 after a brief stint with Bilibili Gaming, where he was dropped before that season’s Champions. This year, however, Kai has emerged as a pivotal force for Trace Esports, excelling in both the Jett and sentinel roles, often swapping with his teammate FengF when the team opted for a different duelist.
Throughout the year, Trace Esports and Kai have come tantalisingly close to securing international spots, only to fall just short. At the Kickoff event, despite Kai’s standout performance as the top fragger, Trace was narrowly defeated by Edward Gaming in the semifinals. His performance in Stage 1 showed some decline compared to the Kickoff event, with solid contributions that were often overshadowed by FengF’s rising star. Once again, Trace fell short of qualifying for a Masters event, finishing 4th after a loss to Dragon Ranger Gaming, missing out on a chance to compete on home soil.
Stage 2 marked a turning point for Kai. His performances significantly improved, establishing him as the standout player on his team. Known for his hybrid Jett-Sentinel role, Kai proved to be a clutch performer, leading Trace to a well-deserved 3rd place finish in the playoffs. This success secured them a spot at Champions, where Kai showcased his talents on the global stage, helping his team achieve a 7th-8th place finish with a commendable 1.10 rating.
One of Kai’s most remarkable achievements this year was his performance against the legendary aspas, delivering what was considered the most significant Jett diff aspas has ever faced. This exceptional performance, combined with his consistent contributions throughout the year, has earned Kai the 5th spot in the China 10. His rise from obscurity to becoming a key player in China’s Valorant scene is a testament to his talent and dedication.
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