Paper Rex and NRG secure playoffs spots at VALORANT Champions Shanghai

Day 5 of the group stage of VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Champions Shanghai delivered two incredible series as Paper Rex and NRG became the first teams to lock in their spots in the double-elimination playoff bracket.

Now headed to the Mercedes-Benz Arena, both squads produced resilient 2-1 victories in their respective winners matches. They now wait in the upper bracket quarterfinals for the remaining 6 teams to round out the playoffs bracket.

How PRX and NRG Made It into Playoffs

Paper Rex claimed the tournament's first playoff berth by prevailing over G2 Esports in the Group C Winners Match. After dropping Map 1 on Split 9-13, Paper Rex staged an incredible reverse sweep by taking Haven 13-11 and closing out Lotus 13-9.

Wang "Jinggg" Jing Jie spearheaded the Pacific squad with a team-high 1.19 rating and 259 ACS, supported by Ahmad Khalish "d4v41" Rusyaidee bin Nordin's 1.12 rating and 57 kills. This result also extended Paper Rex's head-to-head dominance over G2 Esports, with the overall record now standing at 6-2 in favor of the Singaporean outfit.

In the second game of the day, NRG secured their playoffs spot from Group D by executing another reverse sweep against EMEA’s top seed, Karmine Corp. After losing Map 1 on Ascent 7-13, the Americas roster fought back to capture Summit 13-11 and Haven 13-9.

Two-time World Champion Ethan "Ethan" Cole Arnold led NRG with a 1.08 rating and 33 assists, alongside steady contributions from Adam "mada" Pampuch (200 ACS) and Brock "brawk" Somerhalder (199 ACS).

Sustained Excellence on the Global Stage

These qualifications highlight continuous top-level consistency for both organizations. For Paper Rex, this marks their third international playoff appearance of 2026 and their third overall Champions playoff qualification following 2023 and 2025.

For reigning World Champions NRG, securing an upper-bracket playoff slot ensures they remain in prime position to defend their title. By defeating their American and European rivals, both rosters give themselves some time to rest and practice as they transition into the main stage.

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Featured Image Source: Yicun Liu/Riot Games