The Morning AfterEpisode 18 LOUD beat Vitality 3–1 in the grand final, Summit 13–11, Lotus 8–13, Sunset 13–5, Haven 13–10. The sixteenth seed won Champions Shanghai, erde is the MVP, and no other org has two titles.
Read in 90 seconds ▸
Team Vitality
LOUDSummit 13–11 to LOUD, Lotus 13–8 to Vitality, Sunset 13–5 and Haven 13–10 to LOUD. The sixteenth and last team into the field won Champions Shanghai. It is LOUD’s second world title after Istanbul 2022, and no other org has two. erde is the MVP. Vitality finish runners-up.
Sixteenth into the field. Paper Rex, NRG, Vitality, Vitality again. The last Champions of the franchise era goes to the last team that got in.
Eighteen, on loan from KRÜ SPARK, in a grand final. The official short.
erde, the MVP, who said after beating Paper Rex on day one of the bracket: next up NRG. Then LOUD beat NRG too.
The MVP’s first post after the final. Rest in peace, mum, you deserve it.
The official short.
The official short from match point on Haven. The superteam that finished 7th–8th in EMEA Stage 2 finishes 2nd in the world.
Acend, Evil Geniuses, EDward Gaming and NRG have one each. LOUD missed the last two Champions entirely, took the sixteenth seat on a 3–2 over NRG, and went 6–1 in Shanghai.
Open qualifiers return in 2027. The last Champions under the partnership system was won by the last team that qualified for it, in an all-Americas-against-the-world final. Four Americas teams came to the playoffs; one of them left with the trophy.
Two Champions titles with Fnatic between them. The third did not come, but the superteam was two maps from it.
The official short.
Six wins, one loss, and the trophy.
The Pacific channel, from the grand final crowd.
The last opening ceremony of the franchise era. The official short.
The official short from the ceremony.
Mercedes-Benz Arena, Oct 18.
The Morning AfterEpisode 17 Vitality beat 100 Thieves 3–1 from a map down in the lower final; 100 Thieves finish 3rd. The grand final on Oct 18 is the third meeting of LOUD and Vitality this tournament.
Read in 90 seconds ▸
100 ThievesTeam VitalitySplit 13–5 to 100 Thieves, then Lotus 13–11, Ascent 13–9 and Summit 13–10 to Vitality. 100 Thieves finish 3rd, in the arena where this core was 4th at Masters Shanghai 2024. Vitality, the last team outside the Americas, play LOUD in the grand final on Oct 18, best of five.
The official short, after Summit.
Esports World Cup champions, Americas champions, 3rd at Champions. The peak ends one series short of the final.
The official short from match point on Summit.
The superteam that finished 7th–8th in EMEA Stage 2 is one series from the title. Derke has won it twice with Fnatic.
5–2 in Shanghai. Both losses were to the two finalists: G2 on day two of the bracket, Vitality in the lower final.
Vitality won 2–0 in the groups. LOUD won 2–1 in the upper final. The official short.
LOUD against Vitality, for the title. The sixteenth and last team into the field against the last team outside the Americas. Vitality won their group meeting 2–0; LOUD won the upper final 2–1.
Four maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
Four maps, three of them to Vitality.
Cryocells said the year ended with no regrets.
Hands in, one more time.
The EMEA channel, after Summit.
The last Champions of the franchise era had a showmatch before the lower final. The official short.
The Morning AfterEpisode 16 LOUD beat Vitality 13–11 on Haven for a grand final place on Oct 18, their first since Istanbul 2022. 100 Thieves beat G2 2–1 and play Vitality in the lower final at Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Read in 90 seconds ▸LOUDTeam VitalityLotus 13–8 to Vitality, Summit 13–5 to LOUD, Haven 13–11 to LOUD. The sixteenth and last team into the field is in the grand final on Oct 18, LOUD’s first since they won it in Istanbul in 2022. Vitality drop to the lower final against 100 Thieves on Oct 17, one loss from out.
Sixteenth into the field. Paper Rex, NRG and Vitality beaten in the upper bracket. Sunday is for the trophy.
The last team outside the Americas gets one more chance: 100 Thieves on Oct 17, for a place in the final.
The EMEA channel’s cut from the upper final.
G2 Esports100 ThievesLotus 13–10 to G2, Ascent 13–10 to 100 Thieves, Summit 13–7 to 100 Thieves. G2 finish 4th, their best Champions in three visits. 100 Thieves play Vitality in the lower final on Oct 17, still one loss from out, in the arena where this core finished 4th at Masters Shanghai 2024.
Winless at London, out in the groups at the Esports World Cup, 7th–8th at the last two Champions. This one ended two wins from the trophy.
7th–8th in 2024 and 2025. In Shanghai: 4–3, with both losses to the Esports World Cup champions and one to Vitality.
100 Thieves against Vitality for the other place in the grand final. The winner plays LOUD on Oct 18. The loser finishes 3rd.
The final three days moved here from Jing’an. Two years ago 100 Thieves finished 4th in this building at Masters Shanghai.
The EMEA channel.
The superteam, mid-series.
Four wins in the bracket since G2 sent them down on day two. Vitality next.
Three maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
The Morning AfterEpisode 15 100 Thieves beat NRG 14–12 in overtime and 13–4, and G2 beat T1 2–1. The reigning champions and Pacific’s last team finish 5th–6th. Four dark days before the last four.
Read in 90 seconds ▸100 Thieves
NRGSunset 14–12 in overtime, Haven 13–4. The reigning champions are out in 5th–6th, and no team has ever won Champions twice in a row. 100 Thieves, who beat NRG in the Esports World Cup final in August, play G2 in the lower semi on Oct 16.
The official short. Paris to Shanghai in a year.
Six reigning champions have come back to defend. None has made it past the lower bracket since. NRG finish 5th–6th.
The only player to win Champions twice leaves Shanghai without a third.
T1G2 EsportsLotus 13–11 to G2, Abyss 13–10 to T1, Ascent 13–6 to G2. T1 finish 5th–6th, the best Champions in the org’s history, and Pacific has no team left. G2 are guaranteed 5th–6th, better than the last two Champions, and play 100 Thieves in the lower semi on Oct 16.
Three visits ended in the groups. This one ended two wins from the final.
NRG came closer than most: 3–0 in the groups, a map off LOUD, an overtime map off 100 Thieves. Still 5th–6th.
LOUD against Vitality for a place in the grand final, then G2 against 100 Thieves. The loser of the second goes home; the winner plays the upper-final loser on Oct 17.
The official short from the last round on Ascent.
Pacific came to the playoffs with three teams. It leaves with none.
The Pacific channel, after T1’s exit.
Two wins over the champions in two months. G2 next, and still one loss from out.
The Pacific channel’s cut.
Three maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
The Morning AfterEpisode 14 LOUD beat NRG 13–3 on Summit and Vitality beat G2 2–0; they meet in the upper final on Oct 16. NRG and G2 drop to an elimination night against 100 Thieves and T1.
Read in 90 seconds ▸LOUDNRGHaven 13–9 to LOUD, Sunset 13–10 to NRG, Summit 13–3 to LOUD. The sixteenth and last team into the field is in the upper final against Vitality on Oct 16. The champions drop to the lower bracket, where 100 Thieves on Oct 11 is one loss from the end of the defense.
The official short from the series against the champions.
LOUD took the last place in the field with a 3–2 over NRG in São Paulo. They beat NRG again to reach the last three.
G2 EsportsTeam VitalityAbyss 13–11, Split 13–4. Vitality are 4–0 in Shanghai and play LOUD in the upper final on Oct 16, which guarantees a top-three finish for a team from outside the Americas. G2 drop to the lower bracket against T1 on Oct 11, one loss from out.
The official short. BABYBAY had four.
Paper Rex, NRG and three group wins. The only loss was to Vitality, who are waiting on Oct 16.
100 Thieves against NRG, a rematch of the Esports World Cup final, then T1 against G2. The loser of each goes home. The winners meet in the lower semi on Oct 16.
The same round, from the other side, in the official short.
The EMEA channel’s cut.
The superteam that finished 7th–8th in EMEA Stage 2 has not lost a series in Shanghai.
The only two-time Champions winner is one loss from the end of the defense. 100 Thieves next.
Both maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
The Morning AfterEpisode 13 T1 beat Paper Rex 13–11 on Summit for their first Champions playoff win, and 100 Thieves closed Nongshim out 13–1 on Ascent. Both losers finish 7th–8th.
Read in 90 seconds ▸
Paper RexT1Lotus 13–7 to T1, Ascent 13–6 to Paper Rex, Summit 13–11 to T1. It is T1’s first playoff win at Champions, in their first playoffs. Paper Rex, the team with the most points in the field, finish 7th–8th. T1 play an upper-bracket loser on Oct 11, one loss from out.
The official short from map one.
Pacific came to the playoffs with three teams. After tonight it has one.
Nongshim RedForce100 ThievesSummit 13–5 to 100 Thieves, Sunset 13–9 to Nongshim, Ascent 13–1 to 100 Thieves. Nongshim, the last of the five debutants, finish 7th–8th. 100 Thieves stay alive, one loss from out, against an upper-bracket loser on Oct 11.
The official short. He had promised a better 100 Thieves the night before.
TYLOO, JD Gaming, Global Esports and Karmine Corp left in the groups. The first-time orgs finish 3–10 at Champions.
LOUD against NRG, then Vitality against G2. The winners meet in the upper final on Oct 16. The losers drop to the lower bracket against 100 Thieves and T1 on Oct 11.
Two of the longest-serving players in Pacific, in the official short.
The Pacific channel’s cut.
Three visits ended in the groups. The fourth has a bracket win in it.
Ascent 13–1 to close it. Another day in Shanghai.
Three maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
The Morning AfterEpisode 12 Vitality beat Nongshim 14–12 in overtime on Haven to reach the upper bracket’s last four, and G2 beat 100 Thieves 2–0 in the all-Americas series.
Read in 90 seconds ▸Nongshim RedForceTeam VitalitySplit 13–8 to Vitality, Abyss 13–4 to Nongshim, Haven 14–12 to Vitality in overtime. Vitality are 3–0 in Shanghai and the only team outside the Americas in the upper bracket. They play G2 on Oct 10. Nongshim drop to the lower bracket against 100 Thieves on Oct 9, and the loser goes home.
The EMEA channel’s cut from Haven, the overtime map that kept the last EMEA team in the upper bracket.
The team that finished 7–8th in EMEA Stage 2 has not lost a series at Champions. G2 next.
G2 Esports100 ThievesAbyss 13–5, Ascent 13–11. G2 are 3–1 in Shanghai and play Vitality in the upper bracket on Oct 10. 100 Thieves drop to the lower bracket, where Nongshim on Oct 9 is one loss from the end of their Champions.
The official short from the all-Americas series.
Paper Rex, T1, Nongshim and 100 Thieves are in the lower bracket. Two of them go home on Oct 9.
The Pacific channel’s pick from Haven, before the extra rounds.
Paper Rex against T1, then Nongshim against 100 Thieves. Two Bo3s. The loser of each goes home.
The official short from Nongshim’s side of the series.
Nongshim on Oct 9. One loss from the end of the peak.
Five first-time orgs came to Shanghai. One is left, and 100 Thieves are next.
The Pacific channel, after the series.
Three maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
The Morning AfterEpisode 11 LOUD took Sunset 15–13 in overtime to put Paper Rex in the lower bracket, and NRG opened the playoffs 2–0 over T1. The champions have lost one map in three weeks.
Read in 90 seconds ▸LOUDPaper RexSplit 13–9, then Sunset 15–13 in overtime. The sixteenth and last team into the field knocked the team with the most points in it into the lower bracket. LOUD play NRG in the upper bracket on Oct 10. Paper Rex face T1 on Oct 9, and the next loss ends their Champions.
Five kills with the mic feed under it, on a night that still ended in the lower bracket. The official short.
NRGT1Lotus 13–11, Summit 13–7. The champions are 3–0 in Shanghai and play LOUD in the upper bracket on Oct 10. T1’s first Champions playoffs continue in the lower bracket against Paper Rex on Oct 9.
The official short from the first playoff match.
Karmine Corp took Ascent off them in the groups. Nobody else has taken anything. Two more series wins put them in a final.
The Pacific channel’s cut from the Paper Rex bench during the LOUD series.
100 Thieves against G2, then Vitality against Nongshim. The winners meet in the upper bracket; the losers drop to the lower bracket with Paper Rex and T1.
The Pacific channel’s pick from the overtime map.
Both maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
The Morning AfterEpisode 10 T1 beat FUT Esports and LOUD beat Global Esports in the final deciders. The bracket starts Oct 7 with NRG against T1 and Paper Rex against LOUD.
Read in 90 seconds ▸Three Champions, three exits in 9th to 12th. The fourth ends with a 2–0 over FUT Esports in the decider and a quarter-final against the reigning champions.
FUT EsportsT1Sunset 13–10, Ascent 13–10. T1 take the last spot from Group A and play NRG in the upper bracket on Oct 7. FUT Esports, the EMEA points leaders, finish 9th–12th.
Global EsportsLOUDSplit 13–8, Sunset 13–9. The sixteenth and last team into the field is in the playoffs and plays Paper Rex on Oct 7. Global Esports, the Pacific champions, go out 9th–12th at their first Champions.
From the Pacific channel, on the day T1 got it.
The 18-year-old again, with the mic feed under it. The official short.
TYLOO, JD Gaming, Karmine Corp and now Global Esports are out. Nongshim play Vitality in the upper bracket on Oct 8.
The bracket is set. Eight teams, two days of rest, then NRG.
Two dark days, then the upper bracket: the champions NRG against T1, and Paper Rex against LOUD. The loser of each drops to the lower bracket, where the next loss ends it.
Seven seconds, per the EMEA channel. It came in the week they went out.
The official short.
Sixteenth in, eighth into the playoffs. Paper Rex next.
The first Indian org at Champions leaves 1–2, with a win over EDward Gaming to show for it.
The Morning AfterEpisode 9 G2 swept Liquid to reach the playoffs, and Nongshim beat Karmine Corp from a map down to become the first debutant through. Six of eight spots are taken.
Read in 90 seconds ▸
The official short, from the final round on Abyss. G2 are in the playoffs, where the last two Champions ended for them in the first round.
Team LiquidG2 EsportsSplit 13–10, Abyss 13–7. G2 are through from Group C with Paper Rex. Liquid go out in the groups at 1–2 and finish 9th–12th.
Nongshim RedForce
Karmine CorpSunset 13–9 to Karmine Corp, then Summit 13–5 and Haven 13–6 to Nongshim. The Pacific runners-up are the first debutant org into the playoffs. Karmine Corp, 0–5 in April and EMEA champions in August, finish 9th–12th at their first Champions.
Karmine Corp took a map off NRG and a map off Nongshim and won neither series. The Group of Doom is settled: NRG and Nongshim go through, Karmine Corp and Xi Lai Gaming go home.
The veteran of the Nongshim roster, alone, in the decider. The official short.
TYLOO, JD Gaming and Karmine Corp are out. The two left are the two from the Pacific final, nineteen days after Global Esports beat Nongshim from 2–0 down.
Winless at Masters London, 7th–8th at the last two Champions. The team that took Leviatán’s seat is in the playoffs, where the choke question gets asked.
Global Esports against LOUD for the last spot from Group B, then T1 against FUT Esports for the last from Group A. The debutants, the last slot, and the team that has never left the groups.
The official short.
The first Champions for the org ends 1–2 in the group of doom.
Three maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
The Morning AfterEpisode 8 EDward Gaming and JD Gaming lost their elimination matches, so all four Chinese teams are out of the first Champions held in China. Global Esports and T1 survive to play deciders.
Read in 90 seconds ▸EDward Gaming and JD Gaming lost their elimination matches a day after TYLOO and Xi Lai Gaming lost theirs. The first Champions held in China goes to the playoffs without a Chinese team.
EDward GamingGlobal EsportsSummit 13–5, Sunset 13–6. The only Chinese team ever to win a world title is out at 0–2. Global Esports, the first Indian org at Champions, play LOUD in the Group B decider on Oct 4 for a playoff spot.
T1
JD GamingLotus 13–11 to T1, Abyss 13–3 to JD Gaming, Haven 13–5 to T1. JD Gaming’s first international ends in the groups. T1 play FUT Esports in the Group A decider on Oct 4, one win from leaving the groups for the first time.
Five kills on a save-round rifle, with the mic feed under it. The official short.
One T1 player, three to find. The official short.
TYLOO and JD Gaming are out. Global Esports, Karmine Corp and Nongshim each play one match for a playoff spot; Karmine Corp and Nongshim play each other.
The Pacific champions lost their opener to Vitality in three maps. LOUD next, for the playoffs.
Liquid against G2 for the last spot from Group C, then Nongshim against Karmine Corp for the last from Group D. Two go to the playoffs, two go home.
Three Champions, three group exits. The fourth comes down to one match with FUT Esports.
They took Abyss 13–3 in between. It was the only map a Chinese team won on the second elimination day.
Three maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
The Morning AfterEpisode 7 TYLOO lost 1–2 to Liquid and Xi Lai Gaming 0–2 to Nongshim on the first elimination night. Chinese teams are 0–6 at home, and the two left play for their lives tomorrow.
Read in 90 seconds ▸
Five kills on a pistol-round budget, with the home crowd behind a Chinese team. The official short.
Team Liquid
TYLOOSplit 13–8 to Liquid, Summit 13–7 to TYLOO, Lotus 13–2 to Liquid. TYLOO’s first international ends in the groups at 0–2. Liquid play G2 in the Group C decider on Oct 3 for the last playoff spot from the group.
Two series, one map won, a 13–2 to finish. SiuFatBB came from Wolves for this run; it ends in the groups of the first Champions held in China.
TYLOO and Xi Lai Gaming are eliminated. EDward Gaming face Global Esports and JD Gaming face T1 on Oct 2, and a loss ends the home run.
Nongshim RedForce
Xi Lai GamingSummit 13–11, Sunset 13–11. Xi Lai Gaming are out at 0–2, the second Chinese team eliminated at home in one night. Nongshim play Karmine Corp in the Group D decider on Oct 3.
Five kills with the pistol, on a night Xi Lai Gaming lost both maps by two rounds. The official short.
EDward Gaming against Global Esports, then JD Gaming against T1. The last two Chinese teams, the Pacific champions, and the team that has never left the groups. Two of them go home.
Two maps by two rounds each. Karmine Corp next, with a playoff spot on it.
Both maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
G2 next, in the decider.
The Morning AfterEpisode 6 The superteam needed the longest overtime at a global event since 2022 to beat LOUD, and 100 Thieves swept FUT Esports for their first Champions playoffs since 2022. Four of eight spots are taken.
Read in 90 seconds ▸
LOUD came back to force overtime on Summit and twelve extra rounds followed. Vitality closed it, and the superteam is in the playoffs. The official short is the final round with the comms.
LOUDTeam VitalityAscent 13–7, then Summit 19–17 in overtime. Vitality are through from Group B at 2–0. LOUD drop to the Group B decider on Oct 4 against the winner of EDG vs Global Esports, one loss from the last slot closing.
The two-time champion, on the twelve extra rounds. Official short.
The broadcast called it the longest overtime at a global VCT event since 2022. It decided a playoff spot.
Seventh in EMEA Stage 2. Second team through from Group B, four maps won, none lost.
FUT Esports100 ThievesSplit 13–5, Lotus 13–10. 100 Thieves are 2–0 and into the playoffs, their first at Champions since 2022. FUT Esports play the Group A decider on Oct 4 against the winner of JD Gaming vs T1.
Top eight, as Asuna put it. The playoffs start Oct 7.
Liquid against TYLOO, then Nongshim against Xi Lai Gaming. The loser of each is out of Champions. Two Chinese teams play with the home run on the line.
Thirty-six rounds in a short.
Both maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
Both maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
The Morning AfterEpisode 5 Paper Rex came back from a map down to beat G2, NRG did the same to Karmine Corp, and both losers now play a decider with their Champions on the line.
Read in 90 seconds ▸
Haven 13–11 and Lotus 13–9 after dropping Split. Paper Rex are the first team through from Group C, and the Pacific channel cut the desk’s reaction to the series.
G2 EsportsPaper RexSplit 13–9 to G2, then Haven 13–11 and Lotus 13–9 to Paper Rex. Paper Rex are in the playoffs at 2–0. G2 drop to the Group C decider on Oct 3 against the winner of Liquid vs TYLOO, one loss from a third straight Champions ending in the groups.
Four finals lost since 2022. The next one is at least three wins away, and the bracket starts Oct 7.
NRGKarmine CorpKarmine Corp took Ascent 13–7. NRG answered on Summit 13–11 and Haven 13–9. The champions are through from the Group of Doom at 2–0; Karmine Corp play the decider on Oct 3 against the winner of Nongshim vs Xi Lai Gaming.
Three clean shots from the only player to win Champions twice. The official short.
Two series, four maps won, one lost. The playoffs start Oct 7. No champion has ever won the title twice.
LOUD against Vitality for the first spot from Group B, then FUT Esports against 100 Thieves for the first from Group A.
Against G2, from the official short.
Three maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
Back-to-back playoffs, as mada put it.
The Morning AfterEpisode 4 100 Thieves swept T1 in their first Champions series since 2022, FUT Esports took Ascent 13–1 from JD Gaming, and all four Chinese teams have now lost their openers at home.
Read in 90 seconds ▸
Summit 13–8, Ascent 13–9. The Esports World Cup and Americas Stage 2 champions are 1–0 in the arena where this core finished fourth at Masters Shanghai 2024.
100 ThievesT1Summit 13–8, Ascent 13–9. 100 Thieves meet FUT Esports in the Group A winners’ match on Sept 30. T1 drop to the elimination match against JD Gaming on Oct 2; a loss there would be a fourth Champions without a playoff for T1.
FUT EsportsJD GamingAscent 13–1, then Summit 13–10. The EMEA points leaders needed twenty-four rounds for the first map and a real second one. JD Gaming, at their first international, face T1 in the elimination match; Chinese teams are 0–4 at home.
Pistols and a Sheriff against a full buy on match point. The official short.
TYLOO, Xi Lai Gaming, EDward Gaming and JD Gaming all lost their openers. Every one of them now plays a match where a loss ends their Champions. The first is Oct 1.
A dark day first. Then Paper Rex against G2 for the first playoff spot from Group C, and the champions NRG against Karmine Corp for the first from Group D.
Both maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
Both maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
T1’s fourth Champions. The elimination match against JD Gaming is on Oct 2.
The EMEA points leaders, one map short of a perfect night.
The Morning AfterEpisode 3 tkzin aced EDward Gaming three times in LOUD’s 2–0, Vitality needed all three maps to beat Global Esports, and Chinese teams are 0–3 at home.
Read in 90 seconds ▸
Two were not enough. The official short is the third. LOUD’s duelist is the youngest player the last slot has ever sent to Champions.
LOUDEDward GamingLotus 13–8, Summit 13–5. The last team into the field is 1–0 and plays Vitality in the Group B winners’ match on Sept 30. EDG, the only Chinese team ever to win a world title, drop to the elimination match against Global Esports on Oct 2. Chinese teams are 0–3 at home.
Four alive, one Vitality player, and the mic feed under it. Jamppi’s ace from the same series is in the archive.
Global EsportsTeam VitalityAbyss 13–10 to Vitality, Ascent 13–9 to Global Esports, Summit 13–11 to Vitality. The superteam needed three maps against the Pacific champions and got them. Vitality meet LOUD in the winners’ match; Global Esports face EDG in the elimination match, and the five debutants are 1–3.
Derke, Chronicle, Jamppi, PROFEK and Sayonara, on the night the superteam played its first Champions series together.
TYLOO 0–2, Xi Lai Gaming 0–2, EDward Gaming 0–2. JD Gaming, the last of the four, open tomorrow against FUT Esports.
Sixteenth into the field, first to win in Group B. The Stage 2 final they lost at home was three weeks ago.
100 Thieves against T1, then JD Gaming against FUT Esports. The team that beat the champions at the Esports World Cup, the team that has never left groups, and the last Chinese debutant.
The official short from the series opener.
The Pacific channel’s pick from the map the debutants won.
Both maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
The Morning AfterEpisode 2 NRG began their title defence 13–5, 13–10 over Nongshim, and Karmine Corp won their first Champions match in two maps. Chinese teams are 0–2 at home.
Read in 90 seconds ▸
The champions’ first round of note in Shanghai came from mada. The official mic feed runs under it.
NRGNongshim RedForceLotus 13–5, then Split 13–10. The reigning champions are 1–0 and play Karmine Corp in the Group D winners’ match on Sept 29. Nongshim, nineteen days after losing the Pacific final from 2–0 up, drop to the elimination match against Xi Lai Gaming.
Xi Lai GamingKarmine CorpSunset 13–3, Abyss 13–6. The team that went 0–5 in April won its first Champions match in two maps. Karmine Corp meet NRG in the winners’ match on Sept 29; Xi Lai face Nongshim in the elimination match, and Chinese teams are 0–2 at home.
Five kills, no round. It did not matter. Karmine Corp were never behind on either map.
TYLOO and Nongshim lost theirs. Global Esports play tomorrow against Vitality; JD Gaming are still to open.
Blue in Shanghai. Stage 1 went 0–5; the Stage 2 playoffs went 3–0; the opener here went 2–0.
No team has ever repeated. The first step took two maps.
The Pacific channel’s pick from Nongshim’s opener.
Both maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
Global Esports against Vitality, then LOUD against EDward Gaming. A debutant, a superteam that stumbled, the last team in, and the only Chinese world champions.
The Morning AfterEpisode 1 d4v41 finished Lotus with an ace for Paper Rex, and G2 swept TYLOO 13–6, 13–3 in the first Champions match a Chinese team has played at home.
Read in 90 seconds ▸
Photographed ahead of the first map of the tournament. Paper Rex took it 13–4.
Match point at 12–10, five Liquid players alive, and d4v41 takes all five. Paper Rex win Lotus 13–10 and the series 2–1.
Team LiquidPaper RexAscent 13–4 to Paper Rex, Haven 13–7 to Liquid, Lotus 13–10 with d4v41 ending it on an ace. Paper Rex are 1–0 and play G2 in the Group C winners’ match on Sept 29. Liquid drop to the elimination match against TYLOO the same day.
G2 EsportsTYLOOLotus 13–6, Sunset 13–3. The first international match TYLOO have ever played lasted two maps. G2 are 1–0 and meet Paper Rex in the winners’ match on Sept 29; TYLOO get Liquid in the elimination match, and a loss there ends their Champions.
Both maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
Five kills in one round against Team Liquid, in the opening match of the tournament. Paper Rex had two aces in the series; d4v41’s came on match point.
TYLOO were also the first of the five debutant orgs to play. Xi Lai Gaming go next on Sept 25 against Karmine Corp; EDward Gaming and JD Gaming follow.
The team that took Leviatán’s seat in the Americas points decider won its opener in two maps. Paper Rex next.
Nongshim RedForce against the champions NRG, then Karmine Corp against Xi Lai Gaming. Four teams, one group, the one nobody wanted.
The walk-in, the crowd and the stage at Jing’an Sports Center, cut by the VCT channel.
The Morning AfterThe story so far Sixteen teams, five first-timers, a champion nobody picked, and a Masters winner who isn't here.
Read in 90 seconds ▸
brawk was MVP. Ethan became the first player to win Champions twice. Since then: 3rd in Santiago, reverse-swept out of London, and beaten by 100 Thieves and LOUD in the same week.
11–13, 2–13, then 13–10, 13–5, 13–10 in Busan. UdoTan MVP, the first title for the org and for all five players. Different groups, so this only meets again in the playoffs.
A coaching change to ZE1SH, N4RRATE back from Sentinels, then a 4–1 group and a 3–0 sweep of the playoffs, ending 3–1 over Liquid in Badalona with dos9 as MVP. vlr called it one of the most remarkable mid-season turnarounds VCT has seen.
Karmine Corp, Nongshim, NRG and Xi Lai land together. Watch the full draw from the VCT Americas channel.
Four GSL groups of four, top two advance, then an eight-team double-elimination bracket. Bo3 throughout, Bo5 for the lower final and the grand final. The last Champions of the franchise era.
Santiago: 0–3 to Nongshim. London: 2–3 to Leviatán after beating them 2–0 in the upper bracket. Add the 2023 Champions final and Copenhagen 2022. They open against Team Liquid on day one.
TYLOO, JD Gaming, Global Esports, Karmine Corp and Nongshim RedForce have never been here. Five orgs from three regions.
stew arrives from JD Gaming, the team that knocked EDG out of the Stage 2 play-ins. ZmjjKK was Stage 1 MVP; EDG then lost to TYLOO despite an 11–1 all-time record against them. Fans questioned the timing.
Leviatán won London 3–2 over Paper Rex in June. Three months later they watch from home. G2 took the seat and open against TYLOO on day one.
Undefeated through the Esports World Cup, a 3–1 over NRG in the final with Cryocells as MVP. Then 3–2 over LOUD in São Paulo with Asuna as MVP.
DH returned in July after a car accident sidelined him in the spring. Group A gives them 100 Thieves, JD Gaming and FUT.
Runners-up in Stage 1, 4th at Masters London, then out of the playoffs early and qualified on points while sitting at home. Group B: Global Esports, LOUD and EDward Gaming.
Champions 2022 winners who missed the last two editions. tkzin, 18 and on loan from KRÜ SPARK, plays duelist. The final at home went 2–3 to 100 Thieves.
Group C opens the tournament. Two Bo3s: 17:00 and 20:00 Shanghai. Liquid bring a rookie and three roster changes. Paper Rex bring the most points in the field. TYLOO's first on stage with SiuFatBB's aura to lead the way.
No moments match that filter. They will, the moment something happens.
The fan-storylines of VALORANT Champions Shanghai. Updated after each match day.