VALORANT Mobile set to launch first esports tournament in China

VALORANT Mobile is making its first official foray into esports with the announcement of the China National Open tournament, set for July 2025. This exciting development was revealed during a strategic partnership launch event between Riot Games and OnePlus phones, spotlighting the new OnePlus Ace 5 Ultra as the official device for VALORANT Mobile competitions.

Check out our guide to VALORANT Mobile release, including what we know so far about the game.

It’s a common trend in mobile esports for games to designate an official smartphone model for tournaments, similar to Wild Rift’s partnerships with Nubia and Redmagic phones.

Tencent and TJ Sports Take the Lead

Notably, the announcement was spearheaded by Tencent and TJ Sports - the esports studio responsible for all Riot esports in China, including major leagues like VCT CN, LPL, and WRL- rather than Riot China itself. It is to be noted that this VALORANT Mobile tournament is independent of the VCT circuit, and not related to VCT CN in any way.

At the OnePlus Ace 5 Ultra launch, TJ Sports’ leadership confirmed that Tencent would run the first official VALORANT Mobile esports event. This is especially significant as it will take place only a month after VALORANT Mobile’s initial public beta, underscoring Tencent’s commitment to building a competitive ecosystem for the game.

A Long-Term Vision for VALORANT Mobile Esports

This move reflects Tencent’s serious approach to mobile esports in China. Historically, Tencent has transformed closed or shuttered mobile games into thriving competitive titles, as seen when they redeveloped Apex Mobile for the Chinese market and quickly began organizing tournaments.

The VALORANT Mobile partnership with OnePlus also includes plans for a “Mass Event” in the second half of 2025 and an offline demo in Shanghai, indicating a broader, long-term strategy to establish VALORANT Mobile as a major player in the competitive mobile gaming space.

Mobile’s Edge Over Console in Global Reach

While console esports remain largely concentrated in North America, mobile esports like VALORANT Mobile have the advantage of tapping into huge player bases across Asia and other regions. With Tencent’s backing and strategic hardware partnerships like OnePlus, VALORANT Mobile is positioned to become a serious contender in the global mobile esports landscape.

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: VCT CN/Riot Games