The finish line of the 2026 season is in sight. With the event running from September 24 to October 18, the Valorant world championship in Shanghai is down to its last two series, and the picture at the top is clearer than it has been in weeks: LOUD have already booked their place in the grand final, while Team Vitality and 100 Thieves are about to meet in the lower final to decide who joins them.
LOUD Take the Upper Bracket Route
LOUD’s path through the upper bracket was clean and convincing. They opened with a 2-0 win over Paper Rex in the quarterfinals, edged NRG 2-1 in the semifinals and then beat Team Vitality 2-1 in the upper final. That last series was the closest of the three, and it sent Vitality to the lower bracket for a second chance. Having the grand final spot locked up gives LOUD a rare luxury at this stage of a tournament: extra rest and time to scout, while their opponent must win one more elimination match first.
100 Thieves Keep Rolling Through the Lower Bracket
The story of the lower bracket belongs to 100 Thieves. After falling to G2 in the upper quarterfinals, they dropped down and simply did not lose again: a 2-1 win over Nongshim RedForce, a 2-0 sweep of NRG, and then a 2-1 victory over G2 in lower round three. The G2 result carried extra weight, because G2 had beaten them earlier in the bracket and also knocked out T1 in lower round two. Revenge, in other words, was served in a very literal way, and the Thieves now carry plenty of momentum into the lower final.
Vitality Look for a Rematch With LOUD
Team Vitality have been one of the most consistent sides in Shanghai. They beat Nongshim RedForce 2-1 and swept G2 2-0 in the upper bracket before running into LOUD. A win over 100 Thieves would send them straight back to the grand final for a rematch against the team that just beat them, this time with the title on the line. After a one-map loss in a series they could have won, that is a motivating scenario.
Roster Stories in the Background
Not every storyline is about the trophy. T1 were eliminated by G2 in lower round two, and Munchkin has hinted that he could retire after the run. Paper Rex, meanwhile, were knocked out in the first lower round after T1 won the deciding map. Together with the tournament’s other early exits, these results show how thin the margin at Champions is: one bad map is often all it takes.
What It Means for Bettors
For anyone following the esports bookmakers and their Valorant markets, the final stretch offers two clear decisions: who wins the lower final, and who lifts the trophy. LOUD arrive rested and unbeaten in the upper bracket, but the grand final is a single series in which the lower-bracket finalist could be in better form. As always, odds shift quickly after each series, and it pays to compare offers. If you plan to place a wager, read our guide to welcome bonuses first, so you know the terms before you claim anything, and only stake what you can afford to lose.
With the lower final first and the grand final to follow on the closing day of the event, the 2026 Valorant season is about to crown its champion.
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