Stat
5 / 16Orgs at their first Champions
TYLOO, JD Gaming, Global Esports, Karmine Corp and Nongshim RedForce have never been here. Five orgs from three regions.
StorylinesFirst Timers
Via the Editor's Desk
In Shanghai1–2series
Maps4–4
Group D3rdof 4
NextOut
Storylines they are in
Players · ◆ making waves
dos9
◆dos9Duelist · Stage 2 Finals MVPThe Turnaround
◆N4RRATEBack from Sentinels, March 2026People Who MovedThe Turnaround
ZE1SH
◆ZE1SHCoachThe Turnaround
LewN
LewN
Avez
Avez
SUYGETSU
SUYGETSU
Schedule
Follow
Xx.com/KarmineCorp ↗Instagraminstagram.com/karminecorp ↗TikToktiktok.com/@karmine_corp ↗YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCW5Ma_… ↗Twitchtwitch.tv/kamet0 ↗Websitekarminecorp.fr ↗Liquipedialiquipedia.net/valorant/Kar… ↗
Moments · newest first
Rewind
The Turnaround
0–5 in April. Champions of EMEA in August. First Champions ever
A coaching change to ZE1SH, N4RRATE back from Sentinels, then a 4–1 group and a 3–0 sweep of the playoffs, ending 3–1 over Liquid in Badalona with dos9 as MVP. vlr called it one of the most remarkable mid-season turnarounds VCT has seen.
Photo · Hara Amorós / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Next up
Sep 25 · Group D opens
Nongshim RedForce vs NRG, then Karmine Corp vs Xi Lai Gaming
Nongshim RedForce against the champions NRG, then Karmine Corp against Xi Lai Gaming. Four teams, one group, the one nobody wanted.
Photo · Yicun Liu / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Clip
Karmine Corp vs Xi Lai highlights
The highlights of Karmine Corp vs Xi Lai Gaming
Both maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
On stage
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.
Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Stat
1–2First-time orgs at Champions
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.
Via the Editor's Desk
Clip
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.
Post
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.❤️💙
Result
Xi Lai Gaming0–2Group D · Opening · Bo3
Karmine CorpKarmine 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.
Next up
Sep 29 · The winners’ matches
Paper Rex vs G2 Esports, then NRG vs Karmine Corp
A dark day first. Then Paper Rex against G2 for the first playoff spot from Group C, and the champions NRG against Karmine Corp for the first from Group D.
G2
Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
On stage
Ethan, 2–0
Ethan after the win
Back-to-back playoffs, as mada put it.
StorylinesTitle Defense
Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Clip
NRG vs KC highlights
The highlights of NRG vs Karmine Corp
Three maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
Post
MAD
NRG mada · @madafps
Back to back playoffs in champs pic.twitter.com/y1rWcAsOBZ
StorylinesTitle Defense
Stat
2–0NRG in Shanghai
The reigning champions are the first team out of the Group of Doom
Two series, four maps won, one lost. The playoffs start Oct 7. No champion has ever won the title twice.
StorylinesTitle Defense
Via the Editor's Desk
Clip
Ethan’s 1v3
Ethan wins a 1v3 against Karmine Corp
Three clean shots from the only player to win Champions twice. The official short.
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.
Next up
Oct 3 · The deciders
Team Liquid vs G2 Esports, then Nongshim RedForce vs Karmine Corp
Liquid against G2 for the last spot from Group C, then Nongshim against Karmine Corp for the last from Group D. Two go to the playoffs, two go home.
TLPhoto · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Clip
KC vs NS highlights
The highlights of Karmine Corp vs Nongshim
Three maps in a few minutes, from the official channel.
On stage
Karmine Corp, out
avez, after Karmine Corp’s last map
The first Champions for the org ends 1–2 in the group of doom.
StorylinesThe Turnaround
Photo · Colin Young-Wolff / Riot GamesFlickr ↗
Post
SUY
KC suy · @suygetsu
It’s been a mentally tough year for everyone on my team. We’ve been through a lot of negative emotions, but we never gave up and managed to win Stage 2. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made over these two years in KC. I want to thank my coaches @ENGHHHHHH and @ZE1SHH for… pic.twitter.com/qgdvdyt4yc
StorylinesThe Turnaround
Post
N4R
KC N4RRATE · @N4RRATE
Bittersweet ending to what was a dream run. I feel like I am capable of more at the international stage, and one day I'll show it. Thanks for everyone supporting my team and I throughout the highs and lows of the season and goodluck to everyone else in the tournament! pic.twitter.com/2h6vlTfhWT
Stat
2 of 5First-time orgs still alive
Nongshim are the first debutant into the playoffs. Global Esports play for it tomorrow
TYLOO, JD Gaming and Karmine Corp are out. The two left are the two from the Pacific final, nineteen days after Global Esports beat Nongshim from 2–0 down.
Via the Editor's Desk
Clip
Rb’s clutch
Rb clutches a round the broadcast called impossible
The veteran of the Nongshim roster, alone, in the decider. The official short.
Alert
The Turnaround → Over
The Turnaround ends in the Group of Doom
Karmine Corp took a map off NRG and a map off Nongshim and won neither series. The Group of Doom is settled: NRG and Nongshim go through, Karmine Corp and Xi Lai Gaming go home.
Via the Editor's Desk
Result
Nongshim RedForce2–1Group D · Decider · Bo3
Karmine CorpNongshim RedForce beat Karmine Corp 2–1
Sunset 13–9 to Karmine Corp, then Summit 13–5 and Haven 13–6 to Nongshim. The Pacific runners-up are the first debutant org into the playoffs. Karmine Corp, 0–5 in April and EMEA champions in August, finish 9th–12th at their first Champions.