Smoggy departs EDward Gaming ahead of 2027 season
Zhang "Smoggy" Zhao, a cornerstone of EDward Gaming’s global ascendancy, is set to leave the organization ahead of the 2027 VCT China season.
The 24-year-old VALORANT world champion is reportedly set to join Bilibili Gaming, formally marking the conclusion of a four-year tenure that helped define competitive Chinese VALORANT from its infancy to global prominence.
A Historic World Championship Legacy
Smoggy joined EDward Gaming in July 2022, serving as a versatile bedrock as the squad developed from domestic trailblazers into international contenders. The defining pinnacle of his tenure arrived at VCT 2024 - Champions 2024.
Competing alongside teammates Zheng "ZmjjKK" Yongkang, Wan "CHICHOO" Shunzhi, and Wang "nobody" Senxu, Smoggy helped orchestrate a historic tournament run, capped by an unforgettable 3-2 victory over Team Heretics in the Grand Final. This led to EDG hoisting China’s first world championship trophy.
Highs, Heartbreak, and Roster Dispersal in 2026
While EDG captured the VCT 2026 - China Stage 1 crown in May 2026 and secured third place at VCT 2026 - Masters London 2026, their momentum evaporated during the second half of the year.
At VCT 2026 - VALORANT Champions 2026, the team collapsed in front of their home crowd, suffering consecutive 2-0 sweeps against LOUD and Global Esports to exit the group stage winless.
That premature exit underscored deep tactical stagnation and prompted the total dismantling of EDG's championship foundation. Alongside Smoggy’s departure, ZmjjKK is transitioning to Xi Lai Gaming, while CHICHOO and nobody are moving to Trace Esports together.
Revitalizing Bilibili Gaming for 2027
In joining Bilibili Gaming, Smoggy aligns with a partnered organization seeking to recover from a frustrating 2026 campaign. Despite a late rally to third place in Stage 2, BLG missed both Masters tournaments and Champions, falling short of their 2025 heights.
Smoggy unites with BLG’s retained core-Wang "whzy" Haozhe, Marcus "nephh" Tan, and Yuxiang "Knight" Liu-injecting much-needed championship experience and composure to an already well-established roster.
For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.
Featured Image Source: EDward Gaming
I'm Kaustavmani Choudhury, or KC for short, or Zaibatsu, if you want. I'm an esports writer and enthusiast who's been working in the scene for 2 years now. Covering a range of games such as Counter-Strike, VALORANT and Rainbow Six Siege, among others, I believe I bring my own blend of expertise, storytelling, and insights into the world of Esports.
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