EDward Gaming EDward Gaming China Rank #1 S1Mon Hsien Meng-Hsun (谢孟勋) ZmjjKK Zheng Yongkang (郑永康) nobody Wang Senxu (王森旭) CHICHOO Wan Shunzhi (万顺治) Smoggy Zhang Zhao (张钊) thrashed T1 T1 Korea Rank #3 stax Kim Gu-taek (김구택) Meteor Kim Tae-O (김태오) Sylvan Ko Young-sub (고영섭) BuZz Yu Byung-chul (유병철) iZu Ham Woo-ju (함우주) in a dominant 2-0 victory to qualify for China's first appearance in the playoffs of an international event. After previously losing to T1 in the first round of games at Masters: Tokyo, EDG showed their growth as a unit in the rematch.

“We had very rapid improvement and adjustment,” said Haodong .

With this loss T1 has been eliminated from Masters: Tokyo and will look toward Champions 2023.

CHICHOO on stage EDG continue their Cinderella run at Masters: Tokyo. (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

“I rated EDG as the strongest of the eight teams in groups,” said T1 coach Autumn .

T1's fears of EDG were certainly warranted coming into the matchup as the kings of China obliterated the Koreans in the 2-0 series. Contrary to EDG's previous matchups, it was the team as a whole that came together to take the win. In particular, a drastic improvement in performance from CHICHOO was essential for EDG's win.

The Chinese sentinel was the highest rated player for his squad across both maps with a 1.44 rating, just narrowly ahead of ZmjjKK with 1.43.

“The biggest difference was CHICHOO's performance today… I want to give him praise,” said xeta .

Despite EDG's loss in the round, CHICHOO's newfound prowess was best represented by his 4K on round three of Haven.

After EDG's successful campaigns in the first pistol and following anti-eco, they established themselves in the post-plant on C, albeit with lesser weaponry. T1's utility and superior guns overwhelmed the EDG players playing on site leaving CHICHOO alone against four.

After winning an initial 1v1 duel against ban in garage with the Bulldog, he took the opportunity to take a Vandal and hold a superior angle on the players in site. CHICHOO quickly gunned down Carpe on the first peek and proceeded to swing into both Sayaplayer and a defusing xeta. Tapping down both remaining players with ease, CHICHOO collected the 4K but just narrowly missed out on winning the round as xeta defused a split second before.

CHICHOO nearly clutches the 1v4

This was a red hot EDG that had not been seen before at an international event. Viewers have long been used to ZmjjKK solo show that had plagued EDG in the past, but now all members of the team have contributed massively to their success.

While ZmjjKK has been an ever present star for EDG, the likes of Smoggy , CHICHOO, and Haodong have all stepped up massively for the squad. CHICHOO was the server's highest rated player with a 1.44 rating in the most recent series against T1, while in their series against Natus Vincere Natus Vincere Europe Rank #19 ANGE1 Kyrylo Karasov Shao Andrey Kiprsky it was Smoggy.

Haodong's in-game leading has also improved exponentially as EDG have begun to introduce a slower playstyle into their game plan. This more methodical, mid-round heavy style of play greatly benefitted the team in their Haven victory over T1. Seven of the ten successful rounds for EDG's offensive had the clock drawn to under one minute before large scale site executions came through.

ZmjjKK taunts T1 across the stage ZmjjKK can be happy to know his team has stepped up beside him. (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

EDG's complete shift in stature should be well-noted coming into the playoffs as the team that suffered repeated overtime losses in three-map series seems to be no more. Every member of EDG achieved a greater than 1.20 rating on at least one of the two maps played throughout the series in a true display of dominance from the Chinese team.

EDG will now move on to the playoffs at Masters: Tokyo and face off against Team Liquid Team Liquid Europe Rank #23 nAts Ayaz Akhmetshin Keiko Georgio Sanassy kamo Kamil Frąckowiak on Friday, June 16. When asked for comment on possible upcoming matchups, the squad as a whole seemed excited for the future as they have now secured the highest placing for a Chinese roster at an international event.

“We'll help CHICHOO to take his idol down, nAts ,” said ZmjjKK.