No room for Champions: NRG and T1 Champions Shanghai 2026 runs come to an end

With VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Champions Shanghai nearing its conclusion, the remaining teams are fighting to secure a place in the top four, while others see their tournament runs come to an end.

The VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Valorant Champions champions, NRG, were eliminated by fellow Americas team 100 Thieves, ending their hopes of becoming the first team to win the Champions title twice. Meanwhile, the Pacific region’s last remaining representative, T1, was also knocked out after losing to G2 Esports, bringing the region’s campaign to a disappointing end.

No back-to-back Champions titles

Once again, there will be no back-to-back Champions winners, as the season’s most prestigious event will crown a new champion in 2026.

The 2025 winners, NRG, were eliminated by 100 Thieves in a surprising 0-2 defeat in the Lower Bracket. Facing one of the tournament’s title favorites, the reigning champions struggled to recover after losing the first map and failed to build the kind of momentum needed to push the series to a decider.

VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Champions Shanghai

NRG

0

X

2

100 Thieves

Lower Bracket Round 2 of 4, Best of 3 - October 11, 2026 - 9:00AM

12

Sunset

14

4

Haven

13

NRG

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

brawk

1.07

224

31/31/13

0

1.00

73.8%

150.0

25%

80%

4

1

Keiko

0.89

201

31/31/6

0

1.00

52.3%

141.5

21%

50%

6

6

skuba

0.75

136

21/34/17

-13

0.62

68.0%

74.3

16%

33%

1

2

Ethan

0.74

164

19/33/20

-14

0.58

75.7%

113.8

17%

17%

1

5

mada

0.69

167

27/32/8

-5

0.84

56.1%

118.7

15%

29%

5

12

100 Thieves

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

Asuna

1.38

276

39/28/17

+11

1.39

84.5%

170.0

21%

60%

6

4

Timotino

1.11

206

34/27/10

+7

1.26

71.9%

138.2

25%

42%

5

7

vora

1.10

209

32/25/14

+7

1.28

85.4%

149.6

36%

75%

3

1

bang

1.09

194

29/26/16

+3

1.12

74.9%

125.7

35%

78%

7

2

Cryocells

0.89

164

27/23/7

+4

1.17

68.9%

103.6

20%

63%

5

3

As for T1, they carried the hopes of the entire Pacific region into what was always going to be a difficult matchup against G2 Esports. Their elimination further reinforced the trend of American teams dominating Champions Shanghai 2026.

Despite the odds, T1 delivered an intense series and gave fans an impressive comeback on the second map, keeping the contest alive.

However, the third map proved far less competitive than the first two. While the opening maps were closely contested, the decider turned into a one-sided affair on Ascent, with G2 Esports controlling the map and denying T1 any chance to take control of the match.

VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Champions Shanghai

G2 Esports

2

X

1

T1

Lower Bracket Round 2 of 4, Best of 3 - October 11, 2026 - 11:15AM

13

Lotus

11

10

Abyss

13

13

Ascent

6

G2 Esports

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

jawgemo

1.18

243

58/47/14

+11

1.23

72.8%

156.7

28%

65%

13

7

valyn

1.06

182

42/44/31

-2

0.95

76.2%

118.7

30%

62%

8

5

leaf

0.93

196

44/47/11

-3

0.94

63.9%

121.1

17%

38%

5

8

babybay

0.88

186

41/46/14

-5

0.89

71.7%

132.4

21%

38%

5

8

trent

0.87

173

36/38/26

-2

0.95

71.6%

123.0

35%

40%

2

3

T1

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

Meteor

1.18

249

60/44/9

+16

1.36

74.5%

157.1

32%

59%

10

7

iZu

0.97

195

47/41/11

+6

1.15

73.9%

122.0

32%

50%

2

2

stax

0.92

154

33/48/42

-15

0.69

73.5%

103.5

21%

67%

2

1

Munchkin

0.89

184

42/42/18

0

1.00

62.5%

114.8

33%

27%

4

11

BuZz

0.80

181

40/52/13

-12

0.77

63.6%

122.0

22%

52%

13

12

Although this result fell short of the Pacific team's expectations, T1 still achieved its best-ever finish at Champions in 2026. The team reached the Playoffs for the first time in its history, securing a 5th–6th-place finish and marking its deepest run at the tournament to date.

With T1’s elimination, the Pacific region no longer has any representatives left in the tournament.

What comes next?

For G2 Esports and 100 Thieves, a rematch awaits in the Lower Bracket, with a place in the tournament’s top three on the line. The two teams will face each other once again in the Playoffs after their first encounter ended in an unexpected 2-0 victory for G2 Esports.

The question now is whether 100 Thieves can continue their Lower Bracket run after securing two consecutive wins in elimination matches, or if G2 Esports will pull off another one of their signature performances.

Known for delivering unexpected results when it matters most, G2 Esports will look to silence the doubters once again and send one of the tournament favorites home.

In the Upper Bracket, LOUD and Team Vitality will face off for the first Grand Finals spot, with the winner moving just one match away from securing the trophy.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image by Yicun Liu/Riot Games