Episode 2 · Sep 25 · Stories · Champions Shanghai

Ethan of NRG react onstage during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Group Stage Day 2 at Jing’an Sports Center on September 25, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗

Valorant Champions[ Frag — Die ]

Episode 2 · Sep 251 / 13

No upsets today! NRG and Karmine open Group D

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.

9moments

5stories moved

Clip2 / 13

mada’s 4k, with the comms

mada opens NRG’s title defence with a 4k, and the comms tell you how

The champions’ first round of note in Shanghai came from mada. The official mic feed runs under it.

NRG2–0NS

Lotus13–5Split13–10

vlr.gg ▸

StorylinesTitle Defense The Group of Doom

VALORANT Champions Tour · YouTube ↗

NRG

2–0Group D · Opening · Bo3

Nongshim RedForce

Result3 / 13

NRG beats Nongshim RedForce 2–0

Lotus 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.

NRG2–0NS

Lotus13–5Split13–10

vlr.gg ▸

StorylinesFirst Timers Title Defense The Group of Doom

Official result ↗

Post4 / 13

IVY

NS Ivy · @Ivy_vlrt

vs @NRGgg 0:2 lose gg They were a better team today. I’ll come back stronger

NRG2–0NS

Lotus13–5Split13–10

vlr.gg ▸

StorylinesReverse-Sweep Scar Tissue First Timers

NS Ivy · X ↗

Karmine Corp

2–0Group D · Opening · Bo3

Xi Lai Gaming

Result5 / 13

Karmine Corp beat Xi Lai Gaming 2–0

Sunset 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.

XLG0–2KC

Sunset3–13▶Abyss6–13▶

vlr.gg ▸

StorylinesChina at Home First Timers The Group of Doom

Official result ↗

Post6 / 13

LEW

KC LewN · @LewNvlr

2-0 @XLG_Valorant We’re starting our Champions journey with our first win! The arena and the atmosphere were absolutely incredible. Thank you so much for all your support! Desteğiniz için teşekkürler.❤️💙

XLG0–2KC

Sunset3–13▶Abyss6–13▶

vlr.gg ▸

StorylinesThe Turnaround First Timers

KC LewN · X ↗

Clip7 / 13

N4RRATE’s ace

N4RRATE aces against Xi Lai Gaming and still loses the round

Five kills, no round. It did not matter. Karmine Corp were never behind on either map.

XLG0–2KC

Sunset3–13▶Abyss6–13▶

vlr.gg ▸

StorylinesThe Turnaround First Timers

VALORANT Champions Tour EMEA · YouTube ↗

1–2First-time orgs at Champions

Stat8 / 13

1–2

Karmine Corp are the first debutant org to win a match in Shanghai

TYLOO and Nongshim lost theirs. Global Esports play tomorrow against Vitality; JD Gaming are still to open.

XLG0–2KC

Sunset3–13▶Abyss6–13▶

vlr.gg ▸

StorylinesFirst Timers The Turnaround

Via the Editor's Desk

Karmine Corp bow onstage during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Group Stage Day 2 at Jing’an Sports Center on September 25, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗

On stage9 / 13

Karmine Corp bow

Karmine Corp bow after their first Champions win

Blue in Shanghai. Stage 1 went 0–5; the Stage 2 playoffs went 3–0; the opener here went 2–0.

XLG0–2KC

Sunset3–13▶Abyss6–13▶

vlr.gg ▸

StorylinesThe Turnaround First Timers

A view of atmosphere during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Group Stage Day 2 at Jing’an Sports Center on September 25, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗

Next up10 / 13

Sep 26 · Group B opens

Global Esports vs Team Vitality, then LOUD vs EDward Gaming

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.