Top 5 plays of VALORANT Champions Shanghai: The moves that defined the tournament

VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Champions Shanghai has come to an end, but the incredible moments and unforgettable plays will live on in the memories of fans. While LOUD lifted the trophy, plenty of other players delivered spectacular performances that made the tournament so entertaining. Here's a look at some of the best plays from VALORANT Champions 2026.

Honorable Mention

"El Dictador," as fans call Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza, delivered some incredible plays at Champions 2026, even though Global Esports failed to make it out of the Group Stage. During an unlikely eco round, PatMen pulled a rabbit out of his hat, securing a spectacular four-kill round when nobody expected his team to come out on top.

Throughout the tournament, PatMen delivered several other standout moments, including aces, impressive 3Ks, and plenty of other plays that could easily have earned a spot on this list.

5. One (G2) leaf is enough

There is no doubt that Nathan "leaf" Orf has built a reputation for pulling off incredible plays when nobody expects them. This time, he did it with Viper and an Operator in hand.

As G2 Esports looked to close out the map, leaf stepped up to deliver a round to remember. Armed with nothing but an Operator and a dream, the player caught his opponents off guard, eliminating everyone who crossed his line of sight, including those he barely even had a chance to see.

4. T1 style: Chaotic, but Effective

T1 is known for bringing its signature Pacific chaos to the international stage, and Champions 2026 was no exception. This time, Kim "Meteor" Tae-O delivered one of the nastiest Chamber aces of the tournament, combining Operator and Headhunter kills in a chaotic round against 100 Thieves.

The Korean player turned the mayhem into a spectacular five-kill round, showcasing T1's unpredictable but effective playstyle. He was also one of the team’s standout players throughout the tournament.

3. A standing ovation for Vitality's Jamppi

After nearly a decade competing in first-person shooters, from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to VALORANT, Elias "Jamppi" Olkkonen delivered one of the best performances of his career at Champions 2026. His experience, combined with a meta that suited his playstyle like a glove, allowed him to shine on the international stage and help his team reach the Grand Final.

Although he fell short of winning the tournament, the Finnish player gave us several standout moments, particularly on Phoenix. During the Grand Finals, Jamppi showed exactly why he excels on the Duelist, single-handedly securing a site before sealing the round with an ace on the biggest stage of all.

2. LOUD erde turns an impossible 1v4 into reality

There is a reason why Roberto "erde" Lobos was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Champions 2026. In what seemed like a lost round for LOUD, erde pulled off an incredible 1v4 clutch, turning the situation around and helping his team secure the series victory and a spot in the Upper Finals.

Beyond his impressive aim and positioning, the 18-year-old IGL once again demonstrated the composure and game sense that made him one of the standout players of the tournament.

1. tkzin delivers three aces for LOUD at Champions 2026

Few players can make an international debut as memorable as LOUD and Enzo "tkzin" Zimiani. At VALORANT Champions 2026, tkzin helped LOUD lift the trophy while setting a record with three aces in a single series, including two in the first half of a map. Beyond the numbers, each ace was a spectacular display of individual skill that made his performance even more impressive.

If Lee "Dambi" Hyuk-kyu's Neon was already impressive, the Brazilian player took things to another level, bringing the agent back into the spotlight with phenomenal aim, positioning, and movement on stage.

Admittedly, tkzin's three aces is a series of plays rather than a single play, but it earned the number one spot on our list all the same as it kickstarted LOUD's journey to the trophy with a bang.

VALORANT action continues after Champions Shanghai

The conclusion of VALORANT Champions 2026 also marks the end of the season. However, fans still have plenty of exciting competitions to look forward to during the off-season, including the most prestigious event in the inclusive scene and its only international tournament of the year, the VALORANT Game Changers 2026 - Championship.

The competition kicks off on October 22 and runs until November 1. You can find everything you need to know about the event here, including the participating teams, location, format, and in-game rewards available to fans.

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 Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games