On stage
Ethan and bonkar
Ethan and coach bonkar
The only player to win Champions twice leaves Shanghai without a third.
100TPhoto · Yicun Liu / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
People Who Moved
An unusual number of players and coaches switched between teams that all qualified. Every one of them is a rivalry waiting for a bracket.
Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
55Over
Heat55
StateOver
Beats at Champions20
Next—
The cast
NRG
Team Liquid
Global Esports
Paper Rex
EDward Gaming
JD Gaming
Karmine Corp
Team Vitality
TYLOO
keikoNRG
PatMenGlobal Esports
stew
stewEDward Gaming
N4RRATEKarmine Corp
ChronicleTeam Vitality
DerkeTeam Vitality
SiuFatBBTYLOO
AutumnEDward Gaming
The arc
NowChronicle and Derke, the two who moved from Fnatic to Vitality, finish runners-up; every other move ended earlier in the bracket.
Oct 11 · Episode 15
Oct 7 · Episode 11
Result
LOUD2–0Upper R1 · Bo3
Paper RexLOUD beat Paper Rex 2–0
Split 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.
Result
NRG2–0Upper R1 · Bo3
T1NRG beat T1 2–0
Lotus 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.
Oct 4 · Episode 10
Result
Global Esports0–2Group B · Decider · Bo3
LOUDLOUD beat Global Esports 0–2
Split 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.
Oct 3 · Episode 9
Result
Team Liquid0–2Group C · Decider · Bo3
G2 EsportsG2 Esports beat Team Liquid 0–2
Split 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.
Post
NAT
Liquid nAts · @nAts__ss
It is what it is. Another international event, and once again we couldn’t make it out of the group stage 😞 On one hand, it’s very disappointing that we haven’t been able to perform the way we want to at international events. But on the other hand, it’s still such an amazing… pic.twitter.com/JmmPTRB5H2
StorylinesPeople Who Moved
Oct 2 · Episode 8
Post
SIU
TYLOO SiuFatBB · @SiuFat
I'm so sorry, it's a real shame. Returning to the international stage after a year, we didn't go any further, becoming the first team eliminated in the Shanghai Champions. I want to thank everyone who supported me , I can't reply to everyone's private messages individually,…
Result
EDward Gaming0–2Group B · Elimination · Bo3
Global EsportsGlobal Esports beat EDward Gaming 0–2
Summit 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.
Result
T12–1Group A · Elimination · Bo3
JD GamingT1 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.
Oct 1 · Episode 7
Result
Team Liquid2–1Group C · Elimination · Bo3
TYLOOTeam Liquid beat TYLOO 2–1
Split 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.
On stage
TYLOO, out
TYLOO walking off the Champions stage for the last time
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.
Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Post
NAT
Liquid nAts · @nAts__ss
2-1 vs @Tyloo_val Was a very important win today, especially last map performance. Playing vs @G2esports day after tomorrow 🐼 See you soon on the stage again 👀#VALORANTChampions #LetsGoLiquid pic.twitter.com/ckhL9ZpAk0
Sep 30 · Episode 6
Result
LOUD0–2Group B · Winners · Bo3
Team VitalityTeam Vitality beat LOUD 0–2
Ascent 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.
Sep 29 · Episode 5
Result
G2 Esports1–2Group C · Winners · Bo3
Paper RexPaper Rex beat G2 Esports 1–2
Split 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.
Result
NRG2–1Group D · Winners · Bo3
Karmine CorpNRG beat Karmine Corp 2–1
Karmine 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.
Sep 27 · Episode 4
Result
FUT Esports2–0Group A · Opening · Bo3
JD GamingFUT Esports beat JD Gaming 2–0
Ascent 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.
Sep 26 · Episode 3
Result
LOUD2–0Group B · Opening · Bo3
EDward GamingLOUD beat EDward Gaming 2–0
Lotus 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.
Result
Global Esports1–2Group B · Opening · Bo3
Team VitalityTeam Vitality beat Global Esports 1–2
Abyss 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.
Stat
0–3Chinese teams at home
Three Chinese teams have played at home. All three lost.
TYLOO 0–2, Xi Lai Gaming 0–2, EDward Gaming 0–2. JD Gaming, the last of the four, open tomorrow against FUT Esports.
Via the Editor's Desk
Sep 24 · Episode 1
Result
Team Liquid1–2Group C · Opening · Bo3
Paper RexPaper Rex beat Team Liquid 2-1
Ascent 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.
Sep 23 · The story so far
Rewind
China at Home
The only Chinese world champions replaced their controller four weeks before a Champions in China
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.
Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
2026-08-21stew: JD Gaming → EDward Gaming. ↗
2026-06-26SiuFatBB: Wolves → TYLOO. ↗
2026-03-17N4RRATE: Sentinels → Karmine Corp. ↗
2025-12-10PatMen: Paper Rex → Global Esports. ↗
2025-11-20Chronicle: Fnatic → Vitality, joining Derke. ↗
2025-11-12keiko: Team Liquid → NRG. ↗