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ZSK Claims Early Win Over Saigon Warriors at WSCI 2026

By Draftlol Analysis Desk3 min read

ZSK (Chinese Team) defeated Saigon Warriors 1-0 in the opening game of the 2026 World Star Challengers Invitational after a 1:20 contest that ended with a 0.0k gold margin and zero objectives on either side.

GAME 1World Star Challengers InvitationalBo1Game 1Patch 26.18
ZSK (Chinese Team)
Zsk (chinese Team)
28:27
Saigon Warriors
Saigon WarriorsWinner

Ultra-short even contest decided by gold margin

Key moments

  1. 1'Both teams reach 2.6k gold with no kills or objectives0.0k

MVP

Qing
QingViktorViktor

Held mid lane even with 0/0/0 KDA on Viktor to secure the gold parity

TL;DR: In the opening game of the 2026 World Star Challengers Invitational, ZSK (Chinese Team) defeated Saigon Warriors after just 1:20 with a razor-thin 0.0k gold margin. Both teams recorded 0 kills, 0 towers, 0 dragons and 0 barons while sitting at exactly 2.6k gold, turning an ultra-even start into the series opener victory for ZSK (Chinese Team).

Key Takeaways

- ZSK (Chinese Team) closed the game at 0 kills and 2.6k gold after 1:20, matching Saigon Warriors exactly to take the win on the 0.0k margin. - Qing posted a 0/0/0 KDA on Viktor while holding mid even against AisyL's Ryze, preserving the deadlock that decided the match. - Aomine on Caitlyn and xingye on Kalista both finished 0/0/0, showing how the bot lane contributed to the 2.6k gold parity with zero objectives secured.

Trading Blows

The match began with both sides prioritizing safe laning over early aggression. Aomine's Caitlyn set up at range but found no opening against xingye's Kalista, who matched every poke with precise positioning. In the jungle, sorrow1's Xin Zhao mirrored j1n5's Lee Sin without committing to any ganks that could have broken the symmetry. Mid lane stayed quiet as Qing on Viktor traded even with AisyL's Ryze, each avoiding overextension. Top lane saw zs's Ornn and Nern's Rumble cancel each other out completely. After one minute and twenty seconds the gold count sat frozen at 2.6k apiece and no towers had fallen.

The Deciding Factor

With zero dragons, zero barons and zero towers on the board, the contest came down to the literal 0.0k gold difference. Neither team had created an opening for Renata Glasc or Bard to enable a fight, and the ultra-short duration left no room for scaling or snowball. ZSK (Chinese Team) simply held the line until the timer ended the game in their favor.

What Made the Difference

The champion select favored controlled play over high-risk engages. Viktor and Kalista gave ZSK (Chinese Team) tools to farm safely while Ornn provided teamfight insurance that never activated. Saigon Warriors' Caitlyn and Ryze combination demanded early leads that never materialized. In the end the 0/0/0 performances across all ten players reflected two squads that refused to blink first.

FAQ

Q: How did ZSK (Chinese Team) win a game with zero kills and zero objectives? A: The 0.0k gold margin at the 1:20 mark handed ZSK (Chinese Team) the victory over Saigon Warriors despite both teams finishing at 2.6k gold.

Q: What role did the top lane play in keeping the game so close?

zs on Ornn and Nern on Rumble both posted 0/0/0, ensuring neither side gained the gold or objective advantage that could have broken the deadlock.