Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang, the standout player from the VALORANT roster of EDward Gaming (EDG), recently shared his reflections on the team’s below-par performance at the year-end. He pointed to the rigorous schedule, packed with numerous competitions in a short span, as a significant factor contributing to the dip in performance.
Despite being recognized as China’s top team for years, EDG faced an incredibly challenging calendar, both in national and international competitions. The Chinese representatives participated in all three VALORANT international events this year in São Paulo, Tokyo, and Los Angeles, in addition to six national tournaments throughout the year.
The demanding schedule often takes a toll on the mental well-being of players, especially those relatively young. However, ZmjjKK was straightforward: “Do they expect me to maintain a 100% competitive state after playing five offline tournaments in two months? To be honest, if you think you can, come replace me at EDG.”
Out of the six Chinese events, four were held in-person in Shanghai, with three occurring in the last two months, during which the team secured victories in all three. This doesn’t even account for their participation in two off-season events in Seoul, the TEN VALORANT Global Invitational, and the AfreecaTV VALORANT League.
Expressing further frustration, ZmjjKK mentioned the physical toll the schedule took on him and his team: “This year, my hand hurts, and I’m very tired. I’m really not doing well. Honestly, it’s not about my mentality or anything like that. I feel unhealthy because I’ve played in so many tournaments this year,” he said.
To put it in perspective, EDward Gaming played a total of 54 official series this year, with 22 of them taking place in just the last two months. This included 10 events from February to December, totaling 135 maps played, not to mention the high-level scrimmages in China, which were likely intense.
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