VALORANT Champions 2026 has its Top 4, and the regional split is anything but subtle: LOUD, G2 and 100 Thieves represent VCT Americas, with Vitality alongside them. Pacific is out entirely after Paper Rex, Nongshim RedForce and T1 were eliminated, leaving the final bracket with a very different shape from the eight-team playoff field.
The next matches are Vitality against LOUD in the Upper Bracket Final and G2 against 100 Thieves in the Lower Bracket Semi-Final. That means one of Vitality or LOUD is already guaranteed a place in the Grand Final, while their opponents will have to survive the lower-bracket rematch route.
LOUD and Vitality take the upper route
LOUD booked the other spot with a 2-0 win over defending champions NRG, closing out the series with a commanding 13-3 final map. The result sends NRG out and puts an unexpected finalist within reach: both teams had exceeded expectations by getting this deep, according to Insider Gaming’s coverage of the bracket.
G2 and 100 Thieves now get another shot at each other after G2 upset 100T in Upper Bracket Round 1. Since then, 100 Thieves beat Nongshim RedForce 2-1 and eliminated NRG, while G2 fought past T1 2-1 to reach the Lower Bracket Semi-Final. The earlier upset gives G2 the head-to-head bragging rights, but the route back has not been a straight line for either side.
NRG’s path through the bracket included its match against T1, which ended in a 2-0 win for NRG. That series is one piece of the elimination run that has left the defending champions outside the final four.
Pacific’s playoff run ends without a Top 4 team
Pacific began the playoffs with three of the eight teams, but none made the Top 4. Paper Rex, Nongshim RedForce and T1 were all sent to the lower bracket in Upper Bracket Round 1; T1 was the only one to advance from the first lower-bracket round, where it faced Paper Rex. G2 then eliminated T1, ending the region’s run.
That early collision between Pacific teams is part of the path that left Paper Rex in the lower bracket before its eventual exit. Insider Gaming argues that the results raise questions about Pacific’s tactical depth and in-game adjustments compared with its opponents; that is the outlet’s assessment of the playoff showing, not a proven explanation for every series loss.
The contrast is stark: three Americas rosters remain, while Pacific has no representative at the tournament’s finish. All four teams now move to Shanghai’s 18,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Arena for the remaining matches.
The bracket moves to Mercedes-Benz Arena
The confirmed Top 4 matchups are:
| Bracket stage | Matchup |
|---|---|
| Upper Bracket Final | Vitality vs LOUD |
| Lower Bracket Semi-Final | G2 vs 100 Thieves |
The Upper Bracket Final winner goes straight to the Grand Final; the loser gets another chance through the lower bracket. G2 and 100 Thieves, meanwhile, face immediate elimination, with no match dates or start times listed in the available bracket information.
