◆Stories of Champions Shanghai◆
Episode 18 · Oct 18

Morning After

◂ Storylines◂ Ep 1718 of 18▸
LOUD lift the trophy onstage after being crowned champions of the VALORANT Champions Shanghai Grand Finals at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 18, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Shannon Cottrell/Riot Games)
Photo · Shannon Cottrell / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Valorant Champions[ Frag — Die ]
Episode 18 · Oct 181 / 14
The Last Team in Wins It All!

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.

10moments
6stories moved
LOUDLOUD
3–1Grand Final · Bo5
Team VitalityTeam Vitality
Result2 / 14

LOUD beat Vitality 3–1. LOUD are world champions

Summit 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.

VIT1–3LOUD
Summit11–13▶Lotus13–8▶Sunset5–13▶Haven10–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesThe Last SlotSuperteam in a SlumpAmericas Domination
Official result ↗
LOUD lift the trophy onstage after being crowned champions of the VALORANT Champions Shanghai Grand Finals at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 18, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Shannon Cottrell/Riot Games)
Photo · Shannon Cottrell / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
On stage3 / 14
World champions

LOUD lift the trophy at Mercedes-Benz Arena

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.

VIT1–3LOUD
Summit11–13▶Lotus13–8▶Sunset5–13▶Haven10–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesThe Last SlotEnd of an Era
Clip4 / 14
tkzin, ace number four

Inside the moment where tkzin secured his 4th ace of Champions Shanghai

Eighteen, on loan from KRÜ SPARK, in a grand final. The official short.

VIT1–3LOUD
Summit11–13▶Lotus13–8▶Sunset5–13▶Haven10–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesThe Last Slot
VALORANT Champions Tour · YouTube ↗
lukxo and erde of LOUD react onstage during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Grand Finals at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 18, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
On stage5 / 14
lukxo and erde

Emotions Go Big

erde, the MVP, who said after beating Paper Rex on day one of the bracket: next up NRG. Then LOUD beat NRG too.

VIT1–3LOUD
Summit11–13▶Lotus13–8▶Sunset5–13▶Haven10–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesThe Last Slot
Post6 / 14
ERD
LOUD erde · @erdeatovich
Descansa en paz mami te lo mereces🥰 https://t.co/rODUkAH2UF

The MVP’s first post after the final. Rest in peace, mum, you deserve it.

VIT1–3LOUD
Summit11–13▶Lotus13–8▶Sunset5–13▶Haven10–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesThe Last Slot
LOUD erde · X ↗
Clip7 / 14
erde, MVP

Asking erde how it feels to be the Champions Shanghai MVP

The official short.

VIT1–3LOUD
Summit11–13▶Lotus13–8▶Sunset5–13▶Haven10–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesThe Last Slot
VALORANT Champions Tour · YouTube ↗
Clip8 / 14
Vitality, the losing moment

The losing moment for Team Vitality

The official short from match point on Haven. The superteam that finished 7th–8th in EMEA Stage 2 finishes 2nd in the world.

VIT1–3LOUD
Summit11–13▶Lotus13–8▶Sunset5–13▶Haven10–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesSuperteam in a SlumpLast Hopes
VALORANT Champions Tour · YouTube ↗
Post9 / 14
CHR
VIT Chronicle · @chronicleEZ
1-3 vs LOUD another grandfinal lost. we did a lot of sacrifices and it helped us to get into top 2, and we are proud of that, but still sucks to lose, especially in a such close series we will comeback stronger, i will comeback stronger (hopefully not on neon ahahaha) ty
VIT1–3LOUD
Summit11–13▶Lotus13–8▶Sunset5–13▶Haven10–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesSuperteam in a SlumpLast Hopes
VIT Chronicle · X ↗
2Champions titles for LOUD. No other org has two
Stat10 / 14
2

Istanbul 2022, Shanghai 2026. The only org to win Champions twice

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.

VIT1–3LOUD
Summit11–13▶Lotus13–8▶Sunset5–13▶Haven10–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesThe Last SlotAmericas Domination
Via the Editor's Desk
End of an EraResolved
Alert11 / 14

End of an Era is resolved. The franchise era closes with LOUD as champions

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.

VIT1–3LOUD
Summit11–13▶Lotus13–8▶Sunset5–13▶Haven10–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
StorylinesEnd of an EraAmericas Domination
Via the Editor's Desk
?Knowledge check
Knowledge check12 / 14

Vitality took one map off LOUD in the grand final. Which one?

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 1813 / 14

6 stories 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
The Last SlotResolved100Superteam in a SlumpOver100Last HopesOver90Americas DominationResolved90End of an EraResolved79End of an Era is resolved. The franchise era closes with LOUD as championsPeople Who MovedOver55
Frag
or die生死无暇
Episode complete14 / 14

See you after the next match day.

Episode 18 doneSpoiler-safe share
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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

The Last Slot → ResolvedSuperteam in a Slump → OverLast Hopes → OverAmericas Domination → ResolvedEnd of an Era → ResolvedPeople Who Moved → 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
◂ Episode 17 · Vitality Go To Grands!!!