Riot Games announced that all four Americas teams and three Pacific teams survived the VALORANT Champions Shanghai Group Stage, with the playoffs set to begin on the 7th.
VALORANT is a 5v5 character-based tactical PC shooter developed and published by Riot Games. The Group Stage was held from September 24 to October 4 at the Jing'an Sports Center in Shanghai, China.
From the Pacific region, Paper Rex (PRX), T1, and Nongshim RedForce (NS) secured spots in the playoffs. PRX defeated Team Liquid (TL) and G2 2-1 each in Group C, finishing the group stage undefeated as the only Pacific team to do so. Global Esports (GE), winner of VCT Pacific Finals Busan, failed to advance past the group stage in their Champions debut.
Although T1 and Nongshim RedForce lost 0-2 in their opening matches to 100 Thieves (100T) and defending champions NRG, respectively, both teams bounced back with two consecutive wins to join the playoffs. In the decider match, T1 defeated FUT Esports (FUT)—a team they had lost to twice at Champions 2023 Los Angeles—by a score of 2-0. Both maps ended 13-10, with iZu (Ham Woo-joo) making crucial plays in key moments. Nongshim RedForce reached the playoffs in their Champions debut. The team previously won Masters Santiago 2026 and finished as runner-up at VCT Pacific Finals Busan.
All four participating teams from VCT Americas survived. Having won Champions three times between 2021 and 2025, the region lost only 5 maps out of 22 total maps in this Group Stage. First seed 100T advanced to the playoffs without dropping a single map.
Conversely, all four teams from the host region, CN, were eliminated. EDward Gaming (EDG), the 2024 Champions winner, led by ZmjjKK (Zheng Yongkang), failed to win a single map. In EMEA, three teams were eliminated, including top seed Karmine Corp (KC), leaving only fourth seed Team Vitality (VIT) alive.
With a different team crowned champion every year since Champions launched in 2021, NRG, who advanced through Group D with a 2-0 record, aims to become the first back-to-back and two-time champion in tournament history. In the Pacific region, which has yet to produce a Champions winner, PRX, T1, and Nongshim RedForce are all seeking their first title. Pacific's previous best result was PRX's runner-up finish in 2023.
The double-elimination playoffs continue on the 7th with a match between T1 and NRG. Following that match, PRX will face LOUD, while Nongshim RedForce will take on VIT on the 8th.
