◆Stories of Champions Shanghai◆
Episode 15 · Oct 11

Morning After

◂ Storylines◂ Ep 1415 of 18Ep 16 ▸
keiko of NRG react onstage after being defeated during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Playoffs Day 5 at Jing’an Sports Center on October 10, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Yicun Liu/Riot Games)
Photo · Yicun Liu / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Valorant Champions[ Frag — Die ]
Episode 15 · Oct 111 / 14
The champions are out!

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.

10moments
1stories moved
100 Thieves100 Thieves
2–0Lower R2 · Bo3
NRGNRG
Result2 / 14

100 Thieves beat NRG 2–0

Sunset 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.

100T2–0NRG
Sunset14–12▶Haven13–4▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesTitle DefenseThe PeakAmericas Domination
Official result ↗
Clip3 / 14
From the top to heartbreak

Coming from the very top to the ultimate heartbreak

The official short. Paris to Shanghai in a year.

100T2–0NRG
Sunset14–12▶Haven13–4▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesTitle Defense
VALORANT Champions Tour · YouTube ↗
NRG react onstage after their loss during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Playoffs Day 5 at Jing’an Sports Center on October 10, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
On stage4 / 14
The champions walk off

The champions walk off

Six reigning champions have come back to defend. None has made it past the lower bracket since. NRG finish 5th–6th.

100T2–0NRG
Sunset14–12▶Haven13–4▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesTitle Defense
Post5 / 14
SKU
NRG skuba · @skubacs
chasing your dream looks amazing when you’re winning, it’s a lot harder to talk about when you’re not. a year full of 2nd, 3rd places, and early exits. so close yet so far. i can only be grateful for the opportunities i have been given and the support yall have showed me…
100T2–0NRG
Sunset14–12▶Haven13–4▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesTitle Defense
NRG skuba · X ↗
Coach bonkar and Ethan of NRG react onstage during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Playoffs Day 5 at Jing’an Sports Center on October 10, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Yicun Liu/Riot Games)
Photo · Yicun Liu / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
On stage6 / 14
Ethan and bonkar

Ethan and coach bonkar

The only player to win Champions twice leaves Shanghai without a third.

100T2–0NRG
Sunset14–12▶Haven13–4▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesTitle DefensePeople Who Moved
G2 EsportsG2 Esports
2–1Lower R2 · Bo3
T1T1
Result7 / 14

G2 beat T1 2–1

Lotus 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.

T11–2G2
Lotus11–13▶Abyss13–10▶Ascent6–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesNever Out of GroupsLast HopesRegional King, International Choker
Official result ↗
iZu of T1 reacts onstage after their loss during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Playoffs Day 5 at Jing’an Sports Center on October 10, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
On stage8 / 14
iZu, after Ascent

iZu. T1’s best Champions, and it still looks like this

Three visits ended in the groups. This one ended two wins from the final.

T11–2G2
Lotus11–13▶Abyss13–10▶Ascent6–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesNever Out of GroupsLast Hopes
Post9 / 14
MUN
T1 Munchkin · @MUNCHKING_
Finished 5th–6th in 2026. This season has been an incredibly tough one. Ever since Santiago, we knew what we were lacking, but we weren’t able to fix those issues for the rest of the season. That’s what hurts the most. This could be my last season, but nothing is decided yet.
T11–2G2
Lotus11–13▶Abyss13–10▶Ascent6–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesNever Out of Groups
T1 Munchkin · X ↗
0 of 6Reigning champions who repeated
Stat10 / 14
0 of 6

Acend, LOUD, Evil Geniuses, EDward Gaming, NRG. Nobody has gone back-to-back

NRG came closer than most: 3–0 in the groups, a map off LOUD, an overtime map off 100 Thieves. Still 5th–6th.

100T2–0NRG
Sunset14–12▶Haven13–4▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesTitle Defense
Via the Editor's Desk
Oct 16 · After four dark days, the last four
Next up11 / 14
Oct 16 · After four dark days, the last four

LOUD vs Team Vitality, then G2 Esports vs 100 Thieves

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.

LOUD2–1VIT
Lotus8–13▶Summit13–5▶Haven13–11▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesThe Last SlotSuperteam in a SlumpRegional King, International Choker
Via the Editor's Desk
?Knowledge check
Knowledge check12 / 14

Sunset between 100 Thieves and NRG went to overtime. What was the final score?

Always the BridesmaidChina at HomeFirst TimersThe Leviatán-Shaped HoleNever Out of GroupsRegional King, International ChokerReverse-Sweep Scar TissueSuperteam in a SlumpThe Last SlotThe PeakThe TurnaroundTitle DefenseAmericas DominationLast HopesAlways the Bridesmaid ended hereChina at Home ended hereFirst Timers ended hereThe Leviatán-Shaped Hole ended hereNever Out of Groups ended hereRegional King, International Choker ended hereReverse-Sweep Scar Tissue ended hereSuperteam in a Slump ended hereThe Last Slot ended hereThe Peak ended hereThe Turnaround ended hereTitle Defense ended hereAmericas Domination ended hereLast Hopes ended here
Always the BridesmaidChina at HomeFirst TimersThe Leviatán-Shaped HoleNever Out of GroupsRegional King, International ChokerReverse-Sweep Scar TissueSuperteam in a SlumpThe Last SlotThe PeakThe TurnaroundTitle DefenseAmericas DominationLast HopesAlways the Bridesmaid ended hereChina at Home ended hereFirst Timers ended hereThe Leviatán-Shaped Hole ended hereNever Out of Groups ended hereRegional King, International Choker ended hereReverse-Sweep Scar Tissue ended hereSuperteam in a Slump ended hereThe Last Slot ended hereThe Peak ended hereThe Turnaround ended hereTitle Defense ended hereAmericas Domination ended hereLast Hopes ended here
Where the stories stand · after episode 1513 / 14

1 story moved.

Always the BridesmaidChina at HomeFirst TimersThe Leviatán-Shaped HoleNever Out of GroupsRegional King, International ChokerReverse-Sweep Scar TissueSuperteam in a SlumpThe Last SlotThe PeakThe TurnaroundTitle DefenseAmericas DominationLast HopesAlways the Bridesmaid ended hereChina at Home ended hereFirst Timers ended hereThe Leviatán-Shaped Hole ended hereNever Out of Groups ended hereRegional King, International Choker ended hereReverse-Sweep Scar Tissue ended hereSuperteam in a Slump ended hereThe Last Slot ended hereThe Peak ended hereThe Turnaround ended hereTitle Defense ended hereAmericas Domination ended hereLast Hopes ended here
Title DefenseOver5
LOUDLOUD
VS
Team VitalityTeam Vitality
Upper Final · Bo3
–days–hrs–min
Next match day14 / 14

LOUD vs Team Vitality. G2 Esports vs 100 Thieves.

LOUD vs VIT2026-10-16T06:00:00Z

Upper Final · Bo3

G2 vs 100T2026-10-16T09:00:00Z

Lower Semi · Bo3

Episode 15 doneSpoiler-safe share
↑ ↓ · space
Morning After · every edition

All episodes

  1. 0Before ShanghaiSep 23
  2. 1Aces and a Sweep: Paper Rex and G2 open Group CSep 24
  3. 2No upsets today! NRG and Karmine open Group DSep 25
  4. 3ACES ON ACES ON ACES: Group B opensSep 26
  5. 4China goes 0–4: Group A opensSep 27
  6. 5Fan Favorites PRX and NRG are the first to playoffsSep 29
  7. 6Champions 2022 On the Mind!Sep 30
  8. 7China Can’t Seem to Pick up a Win!Oct 1
  9. 8China’s Storyline ENDSOct 2
  10. 9The Turnaround ends in the Group of DoomOct 3
  11. 10T1 leaves groups at last!Oct 4
  12. 11LOUD send Paper Rex down!!!Oct 7
  13. 12All of Pacific in Lowers!!Oct 8
  14. 13T1 end Paper Rex’s yearOct 9
  15. 14LET'S GET LOUD!Oct 10
  16. 15The champions are out!Oct 11
  17. 16LOUD reach the final!!!!Oct 16
  18. 17Vitality Go To Grands!!!Oct 17
  19. 18The Last Team in Wins It All!Oct 18

Storylines after this episode

Title Defense → Over
Always the BridesmaidChina at HomeFirst TimersThe Leviatán-Shaped HoleNever Out of GroupsRegional King, International ChokerReverse-Sweep Scar TissueSuperteam in a SlumpThe Last SlotThe PeakThe TurnaroundTitle DefenseAmericas DominationLast HopesAlways the Bridesmaid ended hereChina at Home ended hereFirst Timers ended hereThe Leviatán-Shaped Hole ended hereNever Out of Groups ended hereRegional King, International Choker ended hereReverse-Sweep Scar Tissue ended hereSuperteam in a Slump ended hereThe Last Slot ended hereThe Peak ended hereThe Turnaround ended hereTitle Defense ended hereAmericas Domination ended hereLast Hopes ended here

Next match day

◂ Episode 14 · LET'S GET LOUD!Episode 16 · LOUD reach the final!!!! ▸