Game Changers Championship: Liquid Brazil sink G2 Gozen as SK Nebula end FENNEL's run in São Paulo

Reigning champions Team Liquid Brazil are still alive at the Valorant Game Changers Championship 2026 after a 2-0 lower-bracket win over G2 Gozen in São Paulo on Monday. In the other lower-bracket match, SK Nebula beat FENNEL GC 2-0, ending the Japanese side's tournament two days after FENNEL had knocked out Gen.G GC. The upper-bracket semi-finals are next, with MIBR GC, Gentle Mates GC, Shopify Rebellion Gold and KRÜ BLAZE all two wins from the grand final.

Liquid's second-half surge on Sunset

The rematch carried history. Liquid had beaten G2 Gozen in the upper semi-finals on their way to the 2025 title in Seoul, and this time the loser was going home.

Liquid took G2's map pick, Split, 13-7. They led 8-4 at half-time and, after G2 closed to 8-6, finished the map without much trouble. Daiki was the best player on the map with a 1.57 rating.

Sunset looked like it would force a decider. G2 won the first four rounds and led 8-4 at the break, but Liquid then reeled off nine rounds in a row on attack and won 13-8. According to VAVEL Brasil, isaa topped the map with 23 kills, while Jelly finished the series with 38 kills and 12 first kills. G2 Gozen leave São Paulo in seventh-eighth place.

SK Nebula end FENNEL's comeback

FENNEL GC had dropped into the lower bracket after a 2-0 loss to MIBR GC in the opening round and responded with a 2-1 win over Gen.G GC. SK Nebula gave them no route back. They won Lotus 13-5 and held on to take Sunset 13-11, with rezq the top performer on both maps, according to VLR.gg.

SK Nebula had themselves fallen to the lower bracket after a 2-0 upper quarter-final defeat to Shopify Rebellion Gold.

Upper semi-finals and schedule

The upper semi-finals are on Tuesday 27 October in São Paulo, which is Wednesday morning in Malaysia:

• MIBR GC vs Gentle Mates GC: 2pm EDT (2am Wednesday, Malaysia time)
• Shopify Rebellion Gold vs KRÜ BLAZE: 5pm EDT (5am Wednesday, Malaysia time)

MIBR GC reached this stage with 2-0 wins over FENNEL and G2 Gozen, while Gentle Mates swept Liquid Brazil. Shopify Rebellion Gold beat SK Nebula 2-0, and KRÜ BLAZE edged Gen.G GC 2-1.

The two semi-final losers drop into lower round 3 on 28 October, where Liquid Brazil and SK Nebula are waiting. The upper final is on 30 October, the lower final on 31 October, and the grand final on 1 November at 1pm EST, which is 2am on 2 November in Malaysia.

What is at stake

The Game Changers Championship has a prize pool of US$500,000, with US$180,000 for the winners and US$100,000 for the runners-up. Nova Esports GC and Gen.G GC were the first teams eliminated, and FENNEL and G2 Gozen have now joined them. Liquid need to win four more series in a row through the lower bracket to defend their title.

Key takeaways

• Team Liquid Brazil beat G2 Gozen 2-0 (13-7 Split, 13-8 Sunset) to keep their title defence going.
• SK Nebula beat FENNEL GC 2-0 to eliminate the Japanese side.
• Upper semi-finals: MIBR GC vs Gentle Mates GC and Shopify Rebellion Gold vs KRÜ BLAZE, early Wednesday Malaysia time.
• The grand final is on 1 November in São Paulo.

FAQ

Is Team Liquid Brazil still in the Game Changers Championship 2026? Yes. They are in the lower bracket after beating Nova Esports GC and G2 Gozen, and play again on 28 October.

Who has been eliminated from the Game Changers Championship? Nova Esports GC, Gen.G GC, FENNEL GC and G2 Gozen.

When is the Game Changers Championship 2026 grand final? On 1 November at 1pm EST in São Paulo, which is 2am on 2 November in Malaysia.

Sources: VAVEL Brasil, VLR.gg, Valorant Esports