Leviatán secured a decisive victory against Xi Lai Gaming with a score of 13-7 on Haven during the Lower Round 2 match at Valorant Masters London 2026. This defeat places the Chinese team on the brink, needing to win their next map to avoid elimination from the tournament.
XLG reached the Masters event after successfully navigating the Swiss stage, a challenging series of best-of-three matches designed to test the mettle of each team. This setting showcases the growing intensity and competition among international squads in the esports realm.
Although the outcome of the next map remains uncertain, XLG’s participation marks a significant advancement for the Chinese Valorant community. Qualifying for such a prestigious tournament itself is a noteworthy accomplishment and speaks volumes about the evolution of competitive gaming in the region.
What does the decline in cryptocurrency visibility mean for esports?
It's important to note the recent shift in cryptocurrency sponsorship within esports. The prevalence of crypto-related branding has diminished significantly compared to its prominence in 2022 and 2023. During those peak years, logos from cryptocurrency exchanges and blockchain-related companies prominently featured across esports broadcasts.
During the match between Leviatán and XLG, neither team displayed any cryptocurrency sponsorships, reflecting a broader trend observed at the Masters London event. While this may suggest a retreat from traditional sponsorships, crypto-related activity remains in action through platforms like Coinbase and Kalshi, where trading volumes have reportedly been in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. This indicates that while branding on jerseys may have decreased, the association between cryptocurrency and esports persists, albeit in a different form.