Team Resilience and ViCi Gaming first two teams to qualify for The International 2026

China has locked in its first qualifier teams for The International 2026.

With TI returning to China for the first time since 2019, the region's qualifier was expected to be a battle between familiar names. Vici Gaming entered as one of the favorites, carrying a roster filled with veterans and a season's worth of appearances at Tier 1 events. Yakutou Brothers were viewed as another strong contender despite entering through the Open Qualifiers following significant roster changes.

Instead, the biggest story belonged to Team Resilience.

Formed on April 5, the roster of Erika, Echo, niu, planet, zzq, and coach Super had barely existed for two months before beginning its TI run. Their results prior to the qualifier were promising but hardly overwhelming. The team won the DreamLeague Season 29 Open Qualifier before finishing third in the Closed Qualifier, captured ESL Challenger China Season 3 x ACL 2026, and narrowly missed qualification for the Esports World Cup.

At The International qualifier, however, they looked untouchable.

Team Resilience swept every opponent 2-0, including Yakutou Brothers in the upper bracket final, becoming the first team in the world to secure a place at TI 2026 through regional qualification. For a roster assembled in April, it marks one of the most remarkable rises of the season.

Yakutou Brothers looked destined to claim the second slot.

The roster featuring Lou, Setsu, and kaka had been one of the strongest teams throughout the qualifier. They swept Vici Gaming 2-0 in the upper bracket semifinals and advanced through much of the event without dropping a series before finally running into Team Resilience.

That defeat sent them into a rematch with Vici Gaming for the final ticket to Shanghai.

Unlike their first meeting, the deciding series went the distance.

After splitting the opening two maps, the teams battled through a dramatic 93-minute decider that appeared to be firmly in Yakutou Brothers' control. At one point, YB held a staggering 55,000 gold advantage and looked moments away from securing qualification. But Vici Gaming refused to break.

Despite being pushed to the brink, the veteran lineup continued finding ways to hold the map, drag the game deeper, and force mistakes. Then, 91 minutes into the match, Vici found the opening they had spent more than an hour waiting for, wiping Yakutou Brothers in a decisive teamfight. Two minutes later, they marched down the lane and ended the game.

The comeback secured Vici Gaming the final Chinese qualifier slot and completed one of the most dramatic reversals of the regional qualifier season.

The result means China now has three confirmed representatives for The International 2026: directly invited Xtreme Gaming alongside qualified teams Team Resilience and Vici Gaming.

For Team Resilience, qualification marks the culmination of a remarkable rise from newly formed stack to TI participant in just two months. For Vici Gaming, it is validation of a season spent competing against top international opposition and surviving when it mattered most.

With The International returning to China for the first time since 2019, the host region now has its first three teams ready for Shanghai. The last Chinese team to lift the Aegis of Champions was Wings Gaming in 2016. With TI returning to home soil for the first time in seven years, China will be hoping one of its representatives can finally end that drought.

The International 2026

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, TI 2026 will take place at the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China. Sixteen of the world’s best teams will battle through open qualifiers, regional qualifiers, and a Swiss-style group stage, with only eight ultimately advancing to the main event.

This marks only the second time The International has been hosted in China. The previous occasion came at TI9 in Shanghai, where OG defeated Team Liquid 4–1 to become the first in history to win two TI titles, claiming $15.6 million from a record-breaking $34.3 million prize pool.