Crossfire (CS, but their league sold spots like LEC) werent large enough overseas was probably why.

Its sensible due to game's not being approved, for a similar applicable case PUBG and APEX has never managed to make the cut since the game release. Siege tried once but was rejected application (Yes, all still not released in China. So the way to play from Mainland is in somewhat "Grey" or "Semi Illegal")

Even TFT Riot has to make a spinoff version in CN the only Major title they get in was Wild Rift in July last year. The other major franchise is COD with their mobile version: Release Q3 2019, Govt approved them in Dec 2020 see how long was that

(Note: To get a game approved it can range from changing texture to make an entirely new lore, on top of that if the game is developed outside, they only approved as an Imported batch for only ONCE per year)

The only way XIA did not make the cut, is the lack of long-term visionary/plans or Financial issue (the parent acquisition dont always meant positive).

While yes, XIA is majority a one-game org but actually has more than that, it doesnt add any value yet (BLEED is excusable while they are one for now, their Financial is probably ahead of every1 in APAC). It's sensible to care that it will be TS, BLEED and a debut org to the game.

They have Three Thai teams, but no they are HQed in Jakarta

Its possible that due to the govt. has not approved a license for the game to go live and the game has to stay low profile all the time (this happens once with PUBG that it got hit so hard streaming platforms cant even publicly say "PUBG", rather you have to say "Chicken Game" to mean PUBG. Which that alone could happen to any unapproved titles)

China is likely okay that if they got left out due to game being late to approved

They probably going to just replicate LPL, KPL, PEL but for their own in VALORANT (where those three share same things: Being a league that is probably even larger, more prized than a S-Tier event, which is the true case for the latter 2)

Then regional league for the non-franchise the National Pride bragging in Asia are as tense as FR/ES/TR/BR

Add: KPL/PEL is mobile both are at $3M and $4M for a domestic league season, runs twice per year + Paid Franchising (the worlds event of both games are $10M and $4M respectively)

Playerbase maybe CF still higher, when they do hit 1M+ in concurrent while CS if you based on three PW servers the recent peak was 177k in december 2020
China scene only also CF. Well CN CF is a Franchise league with $1.5M Entry Fee that bundles a Mobile league and HD league spot together for 1-time buy, that would say a lot
Streaming wise CS has surpass CF

Its a sensible reason for CNVAL that they would be compared by CN netizens with CF instead of CS
much like how in Korea it was Sudden Attack.

So those two has its own lead
CF for being 15 years old, but loses on Streaming and International Comp
CS for more preferred on streaming and International Comp, but loses out on Domestic Comp in China