NRG and Karmine Corp Open Valorant Champions Shanghai With Clean Sweeps
Defending champions NRG avenged a Masters loss to Nongshim RedForce while Karmine Corp routed Xi Lai Gaming as Group D kicked off in Shanghai.
Day two of Valorant Champions Shanghai belonged to the favourites. On Friday, 25 September, defending champions NRG and EMEA title holders Karmine Corp (KC) both won their Group D openers 2-0, setting up a winners' match between the two on Tuesday.
NRG get their revenge on Nongshim RedForce
NRG's opener against Nongshim RedForce carried extra weight. The Korean side had beaten NRG in the upper final at Masters Santiago earlier this year, and the North Americans made sure there was no repeat in Shanghai.
- Lotus: NRG 13-5
- Split: NRG 13-10
- Sunset (decider): not needed
The first map was one-way traffic, and while Nongshim pushed harder on Split, NRG closed it out 13-10. According to VLR.gg, NRG leaned on comfort compositions, including a double-duelist Neon and Raze setup on Split.
Mada was NRG's standout, finishing the series with 34 kills, 23 deaths and 16 assists for a 1.39 rating, according to Hotspawn. He also posted a 9-3 first-blood record, per VLR.gg. Brawk (32 kills, 1.22 rating) and keiko (32 kills, 1.21 rating) gave strong support. For Nongshim, Xross led the way with 27 kills.
Nongshim coach SilKanoN told VLR.gg that his players "took a little bit longer to get warmed up" on Lotus, a map approach the team had not yet tested in competition.
Karmine Corp crush Xi Lai Gaming
Karmine Corp came to Shanghai on the back of their EMEA Stage 2 title and looked every bit the contender against Chinese side Xi Lai Gaming (XLG).
- Sunset: KC 13-3
- Abyss: KC 13-6
N4RRATE was the best player on the server, finishing with 39 kills, 19 deaths and 11 assists, a 1.62 rating and 313 average combat score, per Hotspawn. Avez added 33 kills with a 1.39 rating as KC dropped just nine rounds across two maps.
What happens next in Group D
Champions Shanghai uses a GSL-style group stage: four groups of four, with double elimination inside each group. All matches are best-of-three.
- Winners' match (Tuesday, 29 September): Karmine Corp vs NRG. The winner books a playoff place.
- Elimination match: Nongshim RedForce vs Xi Lai Gaming. The loser goes home.
The playoffs are an eight-team double-elimination bracket, with the lower bracket final and grand final played as best-of-five. Group and early playoff matches are at the Jing'an Sports Center, and finals weekend moves to the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Pudong. The event runs until 18 October, with a total prize pool of US$2.25 million, including US$1 million for the winner.
Group B takes the stage today
Saturday's action moves to Group B, with Global Esports taking on Team Vitality before LOUD face EDward Gaming. On Sunday, Group A begins with 100 Thieves vs T1 and JD Gaming vs FUT Esports. For Malaysian fans, the first Group B match starts in the late afternoon Malaysia time.
On Tuesday, Group C's winners' match between G2 Esports and Paper Rex will also be played. Paper Rex remain the main Southeast Asian interest in the event.
Key takeaways
- NRG beat Nongshim RedForce 2-0 (13-5 Lotus, 13-10 Split), avenging their Masters Santiago defeat.
- Karmine Corp beat Xi Lai Gaming 2-0 (13-3 Sunset, 13-6 Abyss), with N4RRATE posting a 1.62 rating.
- KC and NRG meet on 29 September for a Group D playoff spot; Nongshim and XLG play an elimination match.
- Champions Shanghai runs to 18 October with a US$2.25 million prize pool.
FAQ
Who won on day two of Valorant Champions Shanghai? NRG and Karmine Corp both won 2-0 in Group D, against Nongshim RedForce and Xi Lai Gaming.
How does the Champions group stage work? Each group of four uses GSL double elimination. Two wins sends a team to the playoffs, and two losses knocks it out.
When is the Valorant Champions 2026 grand final? The event ends on 18 October, with finals weekend at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai.
Sources: Hotspawn, VLR.gg, Dot Esports