{{Short description|Chinese esports organization}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}{{Infobox sports team | name = Vici Gaming | short_name = VG | logo = Vici Gaming logo.png | logo_size = | alt = | caption = | parent_group = | founded = {{start date and age|df=yes|2012|09|21}} | folded = 2024 | city = Shanghai, China | ceo = Lu "HunTeR" Wenjun<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moser |first1=Kelsey |title=Vici Gaming CEO apologizes for insulting Bengi, then deletes his explanation |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/vici-gaming-ceo-apologizes-for-insulting-bengi-then-deletes-his-explanation-110639772.html |access-date=27 December 2019 |work=Yahoo Sports |date=13 March 2017}}</ref> | partners = HyperX, Biostar, HTC | sport_label = Divisions | sport = ''Counter-Strike: Global Offensive''<br>''Dota 2''<br>''Hearthstone''<br>''League of Legends''<br>''Wild Rift''<br>''Honor of Kings'' | website = | footnotes = }}
'''Vici Gaming''' ('''VG''') were a Chinese professional esports organization based in Shanghai. It had teams competing in ''Dota 2'', ''League of Legends'', ''StarCraft II'', ''WarCraft III'', ''FIFA'', ''Hearthstone'', ''Counter-Strike: Global Offensive'' and ''Honor of Kings''. Vici Gaming's ''Dota 2'' team had been a top contender in numerous tournaments, most notably as runners-up of The International 2014.
Vici Gaming officially exited esports as a whole after their ''Honor of Kings'' team, which competed in the franchised King Pro League, the top division of Chinese ''Honor of Kings'' esports, was sold to JD Gaming on 3 June 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Hongyu |title=JingDong Gaming Acquires Vici Gaming King Pro League Franchise |url=https://esportsadvocate.net/2024/06/jingdong-gaming-acquires-vici-gaming-king-pro-league-franchise/ |access-date=8 June 2024 |work=The Esports Advocate |date=6 June 2024}}</ref>
== ''Dota 2'' ==
=== History ===
==== 2012 ==== Vici Gaming was founded on 21 September 2012<ref name="Meet Vici Gaming">{{cite web|url=https://dotaland.net/2012/12/28/meet-vici-gaming/|title=Meet Vici Gaming|date=28 December 2012|access-date=18 August 2017}}</ref> with the help of "Fengdidi", who previously played in PanDarea Gaming under the name PanPan, handpicking skilled players that were highly ranked on the Chinese DotA ladder at the time.
The players had no previous professional experience at the time with the exception of sydm who had played under the banner of TyLoo. Their mid lane player Cty had shown promise by winning a 1v1 tournament organized by 2009, in which he beat famous players like Ferrari_430, Sylar, Hao, and other top Chinese players shortly before getting recruited.
The team qualified for the 2012 G-League Season 2 by beating Noah's Ark in the preliminaries.
==== 2013 ==== On 28 January, Vici signed Greedy, captained by the famous YaphetS as their online/backup squad. The rest of the team consisted of xiaotuji, Maybe, nL_Ks, and CaptainGiveMeBall. They were focused on Dota, although they have since expanded to Dota 2.<ref name="Vici Gaming revives YaphetS">[https://www.gosugamers.net/news/22704-vici-gaming-revives-yaphets Vici Gaming revives YaphetS] 28 January 2012. GosuGamers.net.</ref>
On 1 March, Vici signed ZSMJ, the founder of ''Dota 2'' squad.<ref name="Vici Gaming picks up ZSMJ">{{cite web |title=Vici Gaming picks up ZSMJ |url=https://www.gosugamers.net/news/22985-vici-gaming-picks-up-zsmj |access-date=16 December 2024 |website=GosuGamers.net}}</ref> It was believed that ZSMJ brought some of his teammates from his project with Chisbug to Vici Gaming, of which a member is Sgua_Li. In the following weeks, Vici Gaming made some roster adjustments, dropping some players in private while sending out a public notice for interested players to contact them.
On 28 March, it was announced that carry player ZSMJ replaced mid player sydm and that former carry Cty picked up the mid role.<ref name="ZSMJ promoted to Vici Gaming 1">{{cite web |title=ZSMJ promoted to Vici Gaming 1 |url=https://www.gosugamers.net/news/23406-zsmj-promoted-to-vici-gaming-1 |access-date=16 December 2024 |website=GosuGamers.net}}</ref>
In June 2013, following elimination from The International 2013 qualifiers and a disappointing finish outside playoff places in DSL, Vici Gaming announced the departure of team executive, PandaPanPan, and team manager, Nada. Their replacement was mikasa, who had played as a substitute for VG.
On 31 October, Sylar joined the team as the new carry player, but would not be in the starting lineup for almost two months due to contract terms and TuTu remains to play on the ongoing 2013 WPC Ace Dota 2 League.<ref name="Meracle to RisingStars, Sylar to Vici Gaming">{{cite web | url = http://www.joindota.com/en/news/13287-meracle-to-risingstars,-sylar-to-vici-gaming | title = Meracle to RisingStars, Sylar to Vici Gaming |author = Tezzeret | date = 31 October 2013 | website= joinDOTA| access-date = 31 October 2013}}</ref>
In December 2013, Vici Gaming traveled to Poland to compete in the Raidcall EMS Fall LAN finals, joining the ranks of teams like Alliance, Natus Vincere, and DK who were pioneers in east-west tournament participation.<ref name="Vici Gaming replaces DK in EMS One Fall due to visa issues">{{cite web|url=http://www.gosugamers.net/dota2/news/26152-vici-gaming-replaces-dk-in-ems-one-fall-due-to-visa-issues|title=VG confirmed as eighth team for EMS One Fall|date=4 December 2013 |access-date=18 August 2017}}</ref> Vici would go on to take first place at EMS One Fall. Following this, the team also traveled to the Kingston HyperX Dota 2 League in Las Vegas.,<ref name="Fnatic and VG to Sin City for D2L Finals">{{cite web|url=http://www.joindota.com/en/news/14185-fnatic-and-vg-to-sin-city-for-d2l-finals|title=Fnatic and VG to Sin City for D2L Finals « News|first=Freaks 4U Gaming GmbH|last=freaks4u.com|website=joinDOTA.com|access-date=18 August 2017}}</ref> but would subsequently fall from the top of Dota 2 due to a lack of direction and poor player performances. Despite placing at many events Vici would not achieve another title in the TI3 to TI4 season.
==== 2014 ==== [[File:Vici Gaming at The International 2014 04.jpg|thumb|Vici Gaming at The International, July 2014.]] On 16 April, it was announced that former EHOME player QQQ will be joining VG as a coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gosugamers.net/dota2/news/27471-qqq-357-of-ehome-and-dk-fame-joins-vg-as-coach|title=QQQ/357 of EHOME and DK fame Joins VG as Coach|date=16 April 2014 |access-date=18 August 2017}}</ref>
At the end of April 2014, Vici Gaming received an invitation to The International 2014, where they would go on to place first in the group stage and second overall. They lost to NewBee in the finals 3–1.
On 17 August, rOtK announced his retirement.<ref name="VG.Rotk Retires">{{cite web|url=http://www.liquiddota.com/forum/dota-2-general/465028-vgrotk-retires|title=VG.Rotk Retires|website=www.liquiddota.com|access-date=18 August 2017|archive-date=29 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729182633/https://www.liquiddota.com/forum/dota-2-general/465028-vgrotk-retires|url-status=dead}}</ref> 26 August {{En dash}} Sylar leaves the team, and Black^ and {{proper name|iceiceice}} join.<ref name="ACE Announces Chinese Transfers">{{cite web|url=http://www.liquiddota.com/forum/dota-2-general/465675-ace-announces-chinese-transfers|title=ACE Announces Chinese Transfers|website=www.liquiddota.com|access-date=18 August 2017|archive-date=4 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104190115/https://www.liquiddota.com/forum/dota-2-general/465675-ace-announces-chinese-transfers|url-status=dead}}</ref> VG looked very strong with their new lineup for the rest of the year, certainly the best Chinese team.
In mid December they travelled to Los Angeles to compete in The Summit 2 and as strong favorites they defeated Cloud9 for the Championship 3–1.
==== 2015 ==== VG had a strong 2015 season. In February, they reached the finals of Dota 2 Asian Championships ("the biggest event outside of The International") with not too much effort, but they lost shockingly 0–3 to Evil Geniuses in the Grand Finals, especially since they defeated them 2{{En dash}}0 the day before. With the next International being months away, this definitely shook up things for VG and they must've started analyzing their future and possibilities.
On 11 March, Hao joined VG, replacing Black^ in the Carry position, after a month of speculation and rumors going on.
On 15 March, the team announced the creation of a youth squad, VG.P.<ref name="VG announce VG.P">{{cite web|url=http://p.t.qq.com/longweibo/index.php?id=469080068311291|title=VG电子竞技俱乐部旗下Dota2青训队VG.P人员变动公告|website=p.t.qq.com|access-date=18 August 2017|archive-date=1 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501174304/http://p.t.qq.com/longweibo/index.php?id=469080068311291|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 27 April, Vici won Starladder XII after defeating Invictus Gaming 3–1.<ref>{{cite web|title=VG Bags Starladder XII Championship|url=http://esports.inquirer.net/home/6625/vg-bags-starladder-xii-championship/|first=Aileen "Chaos" |last=Cerrudo|date=28 April 2015|website=Inquirer.net|access-date=4 May 2015}}</ref> They were one of the officially invited teams for The International 2015 with a complete prize pool of $18,377,817 and on 2 July they confirmed that they've obtained their USA visas, needed to participate in the event. They ended losing to LGD Gaming to finish 4th and securing $1,562,114. During the first day of The International 2015, VG became the first team outside of Europe to obtain the Verified Tag on Facebook, and third after only Fnatic and Gambit Gaming. After the annual post-TI break/shuffle period, Hao returned to Newbee and VG acquired Xu "BurNIng" Zhilei and Yang "YJ" Pu. They finished 2nd in the Nanyang Championships, falling 2–3 to Secret in the Grand Finals. They would proceed to participate in the first ever Major by Valve in Frankfurt, Germany. They finished in 5th place with $205,000 in winnings.
===Final Roster === [[File:Press Conference for Vici Gaming.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Vici Gaming's ''Dota 2'' team at a press conference during The International 2014]]
{| class="wikitable" ! ID ! Name |- | Erika | Yang Shaohan |- | Setsu | Gao Zhenxiong |- | niu | Li Kongbo |- | fy | Xu Linsen |- | Yang | Zhou Haiyang |}
=== Active === {| class="wikitable" |+ !'''ID''' !Name !Position !Join Date |- | '''shiro''' |Guo Xuanang |1 |''2025-12-24'' |- |'''Xm''' |Guo Hongcheng |2 |''2025-10-06'' |- |'''Bach''' |Zhang Ruida |3 |''2026-01-24'' |- |'''planet''' |Lin Hao |4 |''2025-12-24'' |- |'''y`''' |Zhang Yiping |5 |''2025-12-24'' |- |Maps |Wang Yutian |Coach |''2025-10-06'' |}
=== VGJ === In September 2016, Vici Gaming signed an agreement with American basketball player Jeremy Lin and investment group China Digital Group to form another ''Dota 2'' team, called VGJ, meant to create a celebrity brand in esports.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/17579673/jeremy-lin-endorse-new-dota-2-team-vgj|title=Jeremy Lin endorses new Dota 2 team VGJ|work=ESPN.com|access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref> The team later split into two branches in 2017: VGJ.Thunder, based in China, and VGJ.Storm, based in North America.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thescoreesports.com/news/15043|title=Vici Gaming splits VGJ into Chinese and NA teams|access-date=16 May 2018|language=en-CA|archive-date=21 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321081412/https://www.thescoreesports.com/news/15043|url-status=dead}}</ref> In May 2018, VGJ.Storm won the GESC Thailand Dota 2 Minor tournament, while VGJ.Thunder qualified for The International 2018 with a top eight finish in the Dota Pro Circuit, with VGJ.Storm winning in the North American regional qualifiers to also gain an invite.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Belandrial|title=VGJ.Storm are the GESC: Thailand Dota 2 Minor Champions|url=https://www.vpesports.com/dota-2/vgj-storm-are-the-gesc-thailand-dota-2-minor-champions/|website=vpesports.com|access-date=19 May 2018|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926165050/https://www.vpesports.com/dota-2/vgj-storm-are-the-gesc-thailand-dota-2-minor-champions/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In September 2018, the VGJ organization announced an ending to the Vici Gaming partnership due to new Dota Pro Circuit team ownership rules. As a result, it disbanded VGJ.Thunder and rebranded VGJ.Storm as J.Storm, with the team focusing on the North American esports scene.<ref>{{cite web |title=J.Storm Dota Team |url=https://teamvgj.co/blog/2018/9/27/jstorm-dota-team |website=teamvgj.co |access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-date=28 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928082750/https://teamvgj.co/blog/2018/9/27/jstorm-dota-team |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== ''League of Legends'' ==
=== History === {{expand section|date=December 2019}}
On 1 December 2015, VG signed former SKT T1 mid laner Lee "Easyhoon" Ji-hoon to their roster.<ref name="Vici Gaming signs Easyhoon">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailydot.com/esports/vici-gaming-signs-easyhoon/|title=Easyhoon signs with Vici Gaming in deal reportedly worth $860,000|website=The Daily Dot |date=December 2015 |access-date=18 August 2017}}</ref>
On 2 January 2021, VG rebranded as Rare Atom.
=== Final roster === {{LoL roster header | team = Vici Gaming | game = League of Legends | role = yes | bg1 = #7EED5C | bg2 = #000000 }} <!-- list of players --> {{LoL player | handle = Cube | name = Dai Yi | role = Top | nat = CN}} {{LoL player | handle = Aix | name = Li Yang | role = Jungle | nat = CN}} {{LoL player | handle = Leyan | name = Lu Jue | role = Jungle | nat = CN}} {{LoL player | handle = FoFo | name = Chu Chun-Lan | role = Mid | nat = TW}} {{LoL player | handle = iBoy | name = Hu Xianzhao | role = Bot | nat = CN}} {{LoL player | handle = Hang | name = Fu Minghang | role = Support | nat = CN}} {{LoL player | handle = Maestro | name = Hu Jianxin | role = Support | nat = CN}} <!-- end of list players --> {{LoL roster footer | head_coach = Zhu "Loong" Xiao-Long | asst_coach = Xu "Endless" Hao | otherlegend = | roster_url = | access_date = 14 June 2020 }}
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * {{Twitter}}
{{League of Legends Pro League}} {{Professional Dota 2 competition}}
Category:Vici Gaming Category:2012 establishments in China Category:Companies based in Shanghai Category:Dota teams Category:Hearthstone teams Category:Esports teams based in China Category:FIFA (video game series) teams Category:League of Legends Pro League teams Category:Esports teams established in 2012 Category:Sports clubs and teams in Shanghai