The future is LOUD: How a young squad defied all odds to conquer VALORANT Champions 2026

As the 2026 VCT season comes to a close, LOUD stands at the top of the world, crowned champions of VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Champions Shanghai. Few expected this outcome, as the Brazilian squad seemingly came out of nowhere to take down former world champions and conquer the biggest stage in VALORANT esports. But behind this unexpected triumph lies a story of young talent, fearless ambition, and a roster that rose to the occasion when it mattered most.

LOUD didn’t just win it all. They made history, shattered records, and proved that the next generation is ready to take over. Here’s a deep dive into LOUD’s path to becoming VCT Champions once again.

A brief look at LOUD's history

LOUD was long considered one of the best organizations in the Americas region and the best Brazilian team overall. From the time they joined the Valorant Champions Tour in 2022 to the beginning of 2024, LOUD consistently ranked among the top teams in the world, competing for both regional and international titles.

They made history when they were crowned world champions at VCT 2022 - Champions Istanbul, the last Champions event before franchising officially began. Back then, the squad was built around legends like Gustavo "Sacy" Rossi, Erick "aspas" Santos, and Matias "Saadhak" Delipetro.

The Champions win propelled LOUD to the top of the global scene, and they continued to perform, securing multiple top-three finishes on the global and regional stages in 2023 and into early 2024. However, things started to cool down for LOUD after VCT 2024 - Masters Madrid.

From April 2024 to July 2026, LOUD as an organization didn't qualify for a single international event. The current LOUD squad broke that streak by qualifying for Champions Shanghai. Their comeback was historic, as LOUD became the first organization to not only reach two Grand Finals at Champions events but also win both of them.

During Champions Shanghai, THESPIKE had the opportunity to speak with current IGL Roberto "erde" Lobos about the legacy that comes with playing for LOUD and whether it affected the team in any way.

erde: “No [there’s no pressure from LOUD’s past success], I think we have our own identity. As I said, I always do my job, I care a lot about myself. So I think in my whole life I’ve never thought about the past roster: ‘Okay, we have to do the same, we have to imitate that.’ I’m doing my own thing, my essence, and I think the guys are on the same page.”

A squad of youngsters

What makes LOUD’s win in Shanghai even more special is the players behind it. While the old LOUD roster was stacked with legendary players known by fans around the world, today’s squad is made up of young players who have only played together for a short time.

LOUD decided to make one final Hail Mary move before VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Americas Stage 2 to finish the year on a stronger note, and the gamble paid off. The roster was finalized in July when David "DaviH" Cruz joined, who previously played for CGN Esports in the EMEA, and Enzo "tkzin" Zimiani was loaned from KRÜ Spark. The players quickly found their footing in Stage 2 and surprised many by reaching the Grand Final and securing a spot at Champions.

In a previous interview with THESPIKE during Champions, tkzin explained that the move from the academy team to LOUD’s main roster came as a surprise to him, too.

tkzin: “I was playing in Tier 2, I even played in the Relegation. So, I thought this year wasn't going to be the year I'd go to the franchises [Tier1]. I thought I wasn't going to play in the franchises this year. I thought I was going to stay at KRÜ Academy, with the guys from KRÜ Academy. So, man, it was a surprise for me. It was a surprise that LOUD called me in the middle of the year. And, man, I think I really like to see the things that happen in my life as an opportunity, not as a challenge. And I think it was a great opportunity, and so I just came giving my all, giving my all every day, to be able to enjoy all the good moments we can have. That we can live in the championship, in the arena with the guys. So, for me, it's been incredible,” said the Brazilian ecstatically.

Handling the pressure

Champions Shanghai marked the first time any of the players had competed on the global stage, and they handled the pressure better than any other team. THESPIKE spoke to 18-year-old erde after the squad advanced from the Group Stage to the Playoffs. He explained that neither he nor his teammates let the pressure get to them.

erde: “To be fair, pressure is always there. But the thing is, you have to use it for your own advantage. So yeah, everyone feels pressure. I feel pressure, but it's not that hard, you know? I can do crazy things, I can carry everyone or I can do whatever they need me to do. So yeah, I'm pretty confident of myself. I don't feel too much pressure.”

Topping the leaderboards

That calm and collected mindset carried LOUD through the Playoffs, where they didn't drop a single match against the best teams in the world. They started by taking down fan favorites Paper Rex and continued to dominate one team after another. Even heading into the Grand Final, erde remained cool.

“The feeling [of going to the final] is good. Obviously, I think I'm feeling very good now because it was a very tight series. But apart from that, I don't know how to say it without sounding too bad, but I think it's quite normal. I've already been asked how I was feeling going to the grand final and I said I don't know, it's quite normal. I'm not feeling anxious, nor scared, nor very happy. Okay, continue with the work, that's how my mind is", said erde.

Looking at the stats for players who competed in at least 300 rounds, erde and Lucca "luk xo" Travaioli are tied at the top of the leaderboard for the highest-rated players in Shanghai. LOUD's players appeared near the top of several leaderboards throughout Champions Shanghai, reinforcing just how much individual firepower the team brought to the event.

tkzin also made Champions history by becoming the first player to record three aces in a single series during LOUD’s opening Group Stage match against EDward Gaming. If some claim that LOUD relied on luck throughout their run, the stats show otherwise. LOUD truly had some of the best players at the event.

Final Champions of the franchised era

Looking back at LOUD’s impressive journey and what the team has achieved together in such a short time, it’s clear that their championship run was no fluke. While LOUD’s history is marked by great success, a squad of young, fresh players was needed to repeat that success.

With an 18-year-old IGL, LOUD became the first organization to win the world championship twice, with the youngsters dominating on the server and staying composed throughout the biggest challenge of their careers so far.

Not only were the players under immense pressure to perform on the global stage, but they had also played together for only a few weeks ahead of Champs, during Stage 2. The final roster move, signing tkzin and DaviH, was the best gamble LOUD could have made for the end of the season as the squad quickly banded together to become world champions.

The LOUD roster also appeared on several leaderboards, proving that you don’t need years of experience on the biggest stage to reach the top. By breaking several records and earning another title, LOUD are the final champions of the franchised era.

The previous THESPIKE interviews with erde and tkzin were translated from Portuguese to English.

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Featured image source: Riot Games.