Team Vitality knocked out of EMEA Stage 2 by Fire Flux

Team Vitality is officially out of VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Stage 2 without having faced a Tier 1 team in the playoffs. Down to their last life, Vitality faced Fire Flux Esports in the lower bracket and ultimately couldn’t show up on the server. Now they step away from Stage 2 a little early, and their chances of making it to VALORANT Champions Shanghai now depend on Championship Points.

Stage 2 started strong

Vitality started Stage 2 strong, losing just one match in the Group Stage. Their 4-1 record earned them a spot directly in the Playoffs, meaning they skipped the Play-Ins.

Their opening match in the Playoffs was against Tier 2 team Enterprise Esports, who had proven themselves to be a tough opponent in the Play-Ins. As the first Tier 2 team to make it to the Playoffs, they gave it their all and took the series 2-1.

Although they lost, Vitality’s IGL, Elias "Jamppi" Olkkonen, didn’t voice any concerns when he spoke to THESPIKE after the game.

“I have no doubts in my team at all that we can't bounce back and come back stronger. We know it.”

Couldn’t bounce back

However, this time, it was too difficult for the team to bounce back. Tier 2 team Fire Flux Esports were waiting for them in the lower bracket and put Vitality to the test. While the first map, Abyss, went to Vitality, Fire Flux took the other two and officially eliminated the French org.

A big part of the victory was the Turkish Duelist Samet "Kachoww" Arıcı, who dominated his opponents, finishing the series with a 74/51 K/D and an impressive 17 first bloods.

Sixth Tier 1 team sent home by Tier 2

With Vitality out of the tournament, a total of six Tier 1 teams have now been eliminated from Stage 2 by Tier 2 teams.

With orgs like Fnatic, Team Heretics, and Natus Vincere out of the season, EMEA truly takes on a whole different look as VALORANT Champions Shanghai approaches. Vitality currently stands in second place in terms of Championship Points and therefore still might have a chance to make it to Champions. But if they get passed in points, their entire season will come to a tragic end.

For more VCT news, stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG.

Featured image source: Sasha Safronova/Riot Games