VALORANT Champions 2026: Teams, Format and Favorites

VALORANT Champions 2026 begins in Shanghai on September 24. Sixteen teams from Americas, EMEA, Pacific and China will compete for the final trophy of the season and the title of VALORANT World Champion.

The tournament runs until October 18 and features a $2.25 million prize pool. Eight teams will survive the group stage before entering a double-elimination playoff bracket.

This year, there is no obvious favorite. Leviatán lead Riot’s Global Power Rankings but failed to qualify for Shanghai, leaving the tournament without the world’s current No. 1 team.

VALORANT Champions 2026 at a glance

• Dates: September 24 to October 18, 2026
• Location: Shanghai, China
• Teams: 16
• Prize pool: $2,250,000
• Group stage: September 24 to October 4
• Playoffs: October 7 to October 18
• Grand final: October 18
• Match format: BO3, with the lower final and grand final played as BO5

All qualified teams

Each international region sends four representatives to Shanghai.

Americas

• 100 Thieves
• LOUD
• NRG
• G2 Esports

EMEA

• Karmine Corp
• Team Liquid
• FUT Esports
• Team Vitality

Pacific

• Global Esports
• Nongshim RedForce
• Paper Rex
• T1

China

• TYLOO
• JD Gaming
• EDward Gaming
• Xi Lai Gaming

The lineup combines regional champions, international finalists and teams that qualified through Championship Points.

Tournament format

Champions Shanghai begins with four GSL-style groups. Each group contains one team from every region, and all matches are played as BO3.

A team advances after two victories and is eliminated after two defeats. Only the top two teams from each group reach the playoffs.

The remaining eight teams enter a double-elimination bracket. Most playoff matches are BO3, while the lower bracket final and grand final are BO5.

This format creates very little room for recovery. A favorite can lose one close opening series and immediately find itself playing an elimination match.

VALORANT Champions 2026 groups

Group A

• 100 Thieves
• JD Gaming
• FUT Esports
• T1

Opening matches:

• 100 Thieves vs T1
• JD Gaming vs FUT Esports

100 Thieves enter the group as the highest-ranked team, but T1 remain a dangerous international opponent. FUT and JD Gaming make this group less predictable than the rankings suggest.

Group B

• Global Esports
• LOUD
• EDward Gaming
• Team Vitality

Opening matches:

• Global Esports vs Team Vitality
• LOUD vs EDward Gaming

Global Esports are the highest-ranked participant at Champions, while LOUD arrive after reaching the Americas Stage 2 final. EDward Gaming will also have the advantage of playing in front of a home crowd.

Group C

• TYLOO
• Team Liquid
• Paper Rex
• G2 Esports

Opening matches:

• TYLOO vs G2 Esports
• Team Liquid vs Paper Rex

Group C gives us two of the most interesting opening matches. Paper Rex have been one of the most consistent international teams of the season, while G2 and Team Liquid both have enough experience to punish any mistake.

Group D

• Karmine Corp
• Nongshim RedForce
• NRG
• Xi Lai Gaming

Opening matches:

• Karmine Corp vs Xi Lai Gaming
• Nongshim RedForce vs NRG

This is the strongest candidate for the group of death. Nongshim RedForce, NRG and Karmine Corp are all inside the top nine of Riot’s latest Global Power Rankings. One serious title contender could therefore be eliminated before the playoffs.

Main favorites

Global Esports

Global Esports enter Champions as the No. 2 team in Riot’s ranking and the highest-ranked participant in Shanghai. They also finished the Pacific season by defeating Nongshim RedForce 3-2 in the regional final.

Their current form makes them a legitimate championship candidate, but Champions will be their biggest test of consistency.

100 Thieves

100 Thieves sit third in the global ranking and arrive after winning the Americas Stage 2 final against LOUD.

The roster combines individual firepower with strong recent results. Group A also gives them a realistic route into the playoffs, although T1 should not be underestimated.

Paper Rex

Paper Rex remain one of the safest international contenders. Riot’s ranking places them fourth, and their record includes two runner-up finishes at international events during the 2026 season.

They have the experience and mechanical ceiling required to win Champions. The biggest question is whether they can finally convert another deep run into the main trophy.

Nongshim RedForce

Nongshim RedForce are fifth in the global ranking and have already recorded an international tournament victory this season.

Their opening match against NRG could become one of the most important series of the group stage. The winner will immediately gain control of a very difficult Group D.

Riot’s latest ranking places Global Esports, 100 Thieves, Paper Rex and Nongshim RedForce from second through fifth globally, directly behind the absent Leviatán.

Teams that could surprise

LOUD should not be ignored after reaching the Americas final, while NRG have enough international experience to challenge any opponent.

Karmine Corp arrive as EMEA’s first seed, and Team Liquid could become a dangerous playoff team if they survive Group C. EDward Gaming are much lower in the global ranking, but the home crowd and experience of high-pressure matches make them a potential spoiler.

Opening day schedule

Champions begins on September 24 with two Group C matches:

• 09:00 UTC: Team Liquid vs Paper Rex
• 12:00 UTC: TYLOO vs G2 Esports

The first match immediately tests one of the main favorites. Paper Rex cannot afford a slow start against a Team Liquid roster with significant international experience.

The second series puts China’s leading seed against G2, giving the Shanghai audience an early opportunity to support a home representative.

Winio verdict

There is no dominant favorite at Champions Shanghai.

Global Esports and 100 Thieves enter the tournament with strong regional form. Paper Rex have the most convincing international consistency, while Nongshim RedForce have already proved they can win a global event.

Based on the current rankings and the group draw, these four teams form the leading tier of contenders. Paper Rex may have the highest proven international ceiling, but Group C gives them no easy matches. Global Esports have a difficult opening opponent in Vitality, while Nongshim must survive the tournament’s toughest group.

The absence of Leviatán makes this one of the most open Champions events in recent history. The team that adapts fastest to the map pool and avoids an early elimination match will have the clearest route to the trophy.

Winio will track every match using current form, map statistics, opponent strength and additional performance factors. Past trophies and famous logos do not receive bonus percentages.

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