Dragon Ranger Gaming exits VCT Masters London after back-to-back losses
The Beijing-based esports organization finished 9-12th at Copper Box Arena, notably without any crypto sponsorship ties in a tournament landscape increasingly courting digital asset partners.
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Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jun. 9, 2026Dragon Ranger Gaming, one of China’s more established Valorant competitors, is heading home from London earlier than planned. The Beijing-based organization dropped both of its matches at VCT Masters London 2026, landing in a 9-12th place finish at the Copper Box Arena.
The elimination came in two swift acts. On June 6, Team Vitality dismantled DRG in a 2-0 sweep, winning 13-5 on Lotus and 13-3 on Breeze. Three days later, Xi Lai Gaming delivered the finishing blow in a closer but ultimately decisive 2-1 series, taking the final map 13-11 after DRG had claimed the opener 13-9.
AdvertisementA rough showing for a storied org
Founded in 2016, Dragon Ranger Gaming has built a respectable resume in competitive gaming, accumulating more than $2 million in career prize winnings across its history. The organization earned its spot at Masters through regional qualification, but the international stage proved to be a different beast entirely.
DRG’s run concluded on June 9 during the Swiss stage of the event, meaning the team never advanced to the bracket play that determines the tournament’s ultimate winner.
The crypto angle that isn’t there
In an esports landscape where crypto sponsorships have become increasingly common, DRG stands out for a complete absence of any digital asset partnerships or blockchain-related ties. No token sponsors on the jersey, no NFT collections tied to the team, and no exchange logos plastered across social media banners.
DRG’s lack of crypto connections likely reflects the regulatory environment in which the organization operates. Chinese esports organizations face a regulatory environment that has been notably skeptical of cryptocurrency, with Beijing’s crackdowns on crypto trading and mining making it far less likely that a China-based team would pursue, or even be able to accept, sponsorship from digital asset companies.
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