Rare Atom Add x9 to Roster Ahead of CS Asia Championships Qualifier

Rare Atom Sign x9 Ahead of CS Asia Championships Qualifier

Chinese Counter-Strike team Rare Atom have announced the signing of JiaMing “x9” Li, adding the 22-year-old rifler from FengDa and expanding their roster to six players ahead of the upcoming Asia-Pacific closed qualifier for the CS Asia Championships (CAC).

The move comes at a crucial moment for Rare Atom, as the qualifier represents a major opportunity for the team to secure a place at one of the region’s most important tournaments. By bringing in x9, the organization strengthens its depth and creates additional flexibility within the lineup for what could become a defining stage of the season.

Second Signing From FengDa

x9 becomes the second player Rare Atom have recruited from FengDa in recent months. In December, the organization signed Shengxuan “chengking” Zu, continuing a trend of targeting talent from China’s developing tier-two scene.

According to Rare Atom’s official announcement, x9 has spent a significant period competing in the domestic circuit, where he gained attention for standout individual performances and a number of highlight plays. The organization also highlighted his championship victories in smaller regional competitions such as POB and PNL, which helped establish his reputation as a promising competitor within China’s competitive ecosystem.

Building Depth for a Key Tournament

By signing x9, Rare Atom now field a six-man roster, a structure that allows the team to rotate players depending on map pool, roles, or form. This approach has become increasingly common in Counter-Strike as teams look to maintain competitive depth during long tournament runs and demanding schedules.

The expanded lineup is expected to give Rare Atom additional tactical options heading into the CAC Asia-Pacific qualifier, where teams from across the region will compete for a spot at the main event. With the qualifier potentially shaping the trajectory of their 2026 season, the organization appears determined to enter the tournament with maximum flexibility.

Rare Atom Current Lineup

Rare Atom’s roster now consists of:

• YuLun “Summer” Cai

• Junhao “ChildKing” Peng

• Yihang “L1haNg” Li

• Junbing “Tiger” Zhen

• Shengxuan “chengking” Zu

• JiaMing “x9” Li

Coach: Zhenghui “z8z” Liu

With a reinforced squad and growing investment in emerging domestic talent, Rare Atom will aim to convert their roster changes into results when they enter the Asia-Pacific qualifier for the CS Asia Championships.