◆Stories of Champions Shanghai◆
VALORANT Masters Santiago – Features and B-roll

Never Out of Groups

T1 have never escaped the group stage at Champions. Three visits, three exits in 9th to 12th place.

Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
5Resolved
Heat5
StateResolved
Beats at Champions11
Next—

By the numbers

3Champions appearancesAll ended 9–12thsource ↗
3–3T1 in Shanghai

The cast

T1
T1
stax
staxT1
Meteor
MeteorT1
DH
DHT1

The arc

NowG2 beat T1 2–1
Oct 11 · Episode 15
Result
T1T1
1–2Lower R2 · Bo3
G2 EsportsG2 Esports

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 ▸
On stage
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)
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▶
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Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Post
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 ▸
On stage
T1 and G2 Esports walk off stage 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)
T1 and G2 walk off

T1 and G2 walk off. One of them is done

Pacific came to the playoffs with three teams. It leaves with none.

T11–2G2
Lotus11–13▶Abyss13–10▶Ascent6–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Oct 9 · Episode 13
Result
Paper RexPaper Rex
1–2Lower R1 · Bo3
T1T1

T1 beat Paper Rex 2–1

Lotus 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.

PRX1–2T1
Lotus7–13▶Ascent13–6▶Summit11–13▶
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On stage
T1 bow onstage after their victory during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Playoffs Day 3 at Jing’an Sports Center on October 09, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
T1, a playoff win

T1 bow. First playoff win at Champions

Three visits ended in the groups. The fourth has a bracket win in it.

PRX1–2T1
Lotus7–13▶Ascent13–6▶Summit11–13▶
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Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Oct 7 · Episode 11
Oct 4 · Episode 10
Alert
Never Out of Groups → Resolved

Never Out of Groups is over. T1 are in the playoffs at Champions for the first time

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.

T1
FUT0–2T1
Sunset10–13▶Ascent10–13▶
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Via the Editor's Desk
Result
FUT EsportsFUT Esports
0–2Group A · Decider · Bo3
T1T1

T1 beat FUT Esports 0–2

Sunset 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.

FUT0–2T1
Sunset10–13▶Ascent10–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
Post
MET
T1 Meteor · @Meteorvlrt
We finally made it to the playoffs🔥 Thank you for your supporting❤️ 😭🥺😭🥺😭😭🥺😭🥺😭🥺😭
FUT0–2T1
Sunset10–13▶Ascent10–13▶
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On stage
Meteor (L) and BuZz of T1 react onstage during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Group Stage Day 10 at Jing’an Sports Center on October 04, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Yicun Liu/Riot Games)
T1, through

Meteor and BuZz, out of the groups at last

The bracket is set. Eight teams, two days of rest, then NRG.

FUT0–2T1
Sunset10–13▶Ascent10–13▶
vlr.gg ▸
Photo · Yicun Liu / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Oct 3 · Episode 9
Next up
NS RedForce react onstage during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Group Stage Day 9 at Jing’an Sports Center on October 03, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
Oct 4 · The last two spots

Global Esports vs LOUD, then T1 vs FUT Esports

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.

GE0–2LOUD
Split8–13▶Sunset9–13▶
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Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Oct 2 · Episode 8
Result
T1T1
2–1Group A · Elimination · Bo3
JD GamingJD Gaming

T1 beat JD Gaming 2–1

Lotus 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.

T12–1JDG
Lotus13–11▶Abyss3–13▶Haven13–5▶
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Post
MET
T1 Meteor · @Meteorvlrt
I forgot the TP while doing the sound check after the round😅😅 vs JDG 2:1 GG. Thank you for your support☄️ https://t.co/pqCq4kXG6I
T12–1JDG
Lotus13–11▶Abyss3–13▶Haven13–5▶
vlr.gg ▸
On stage
T1 react onstage during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Group Stage Day 8 at Jing’an Sports Center on October 02, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
T1, still in

T1 after surviving

Three Champions, three group exits. The fourth comes down to one match with FUT Esports.

T12–1JDG
Lotus13–11▶Abyss3–13▶Haven13–5▶
vlr.gg ▸
Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Oct 1 · Episode 7
Next up
Fans show their support during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Group Stage Day 7 at Jing’an Sports Center on October 01, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
Oct 2 · Elimination day, again

EDward Gaming vs Global Esports, then JD Gaming vs T1

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.

EDG0–2GE
Summit5–13▶Sunset6–13▶
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Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Sep 27 · Episode 4
On stage
100 Thieves react onstage during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Group Stage Day 4 at Jing’an Sports Center on September 27, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
The Peak begins

100 Thieves open their first Champions since 2022 with a sweep of T1

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.

100T2–0T1
Summit13–8▶Ascent13–9▶
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Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Result
100 Thieves100 Thieves
2–0Group A · Opening · Bo3
T1T1

100 Thieves beat T1 2–0

Summit 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.

100T2–0T1
Summit13–8▶Ascent13–9▶
vlr.gg ▸
Post
IZU
T1 iZu+ · @iZuvlrt
GG 0:2 vs 100T I think the opponent's performance was better. We'll come back stronger for the next match. Thank you to everyone who supported me
100T2–0T1
Summit13–8▶Ascent13–9▶
vlr.gg ▸
On stage
iZu of T1 reacts onstage during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Group Stage Day 4 at Jing’an Sports Center on September 27, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Yicun Liu/Riot Games)
iZu, T1

iZu on stage

T1’s fourth Champions. The elimination match against JD Gaming is on Oct 2.

100T2–0T1
Summit13–8▶Ascent13–9▶
vlr.gg ▸
Photo · Yicun Liu / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Sep 26 · Episode 3
Next up
Fans in the audience during VALORANT Champions Shanghai Group Stage Day 3 at Jing’an Sports Center on September 26, 2026 in Shanghai, China (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
Sep 27 · Group A opens

100 Thieves vs T1, then JD Gaming vs FUT Esports

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.

100T2–0T1
Summit13–8▶Ascent13–9▶
vlr.gg ▸
Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Sep 23 · The story so far
Rewind
carpe T1 at VALORANT Masters Santiago on set during Features and B-roll in Santiago, Chile (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
Never Out of Groups

T1 come through the lower bracket, past DRX, Gen.G and VARREL, with DH back on the roster

DH returned in July after a car accident sidelined him in the spring. Group A gives them 100 Thieves, JD Gaming and FUT.

Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
2026-09-05Qualified on points after a lower-bracket run through DRX, Gen.G and VARREL. ↗
2026-07-05DH returns to the main roster. ↗
2025-10-019–12th. ↗
2023-08-209–12th.
2021-12-12Vision Strikers: 9–12th at the first Champions.

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