Game Changers Championship: Gentle Mates and SR Gold stay unbeaten to set up São Paulo upper final

The Valorant Game Changers Championship 2026 is down to two unbeaten teams. Gentle Mates GC beat MIBR GC 2-0 and Shopify Rebellion Gold (SRG) swept KRÜ BLAZE 2-0 in Tuesday's upper-bracket semi-finals in São Paulo (27 October local time). The two winners meet in the upper final on Friday, with a grand final place at stake.

Gentle Mates keep their debut run going

Gentle Mates are at their first Game Changers Championship and have yet to drop a series. They opened with a 2-0 quarter-final win over Team Liquid Brazil, the reigning champions, and then took care of MIBR GC.

The first map was one-sided. Gentle Mates won Ascent 13-4 behind Marti and Nami, who had 20 kills each in a 17-round map. Haven was much tighter. MIBR pushed the European side all the way before Gentle Mates closed it out 13-11, with safiaa top-fragging on Sova with 26 kills.

According to VLR.gg's recap, Marti led the series with 43 kills and an average damage per round of 219. MIBR GC had reached the semi-finals by beating FENNEL GC and G2 Gozen, both 2-0. They now drop into the lower bracket.

SR Gold too sharp for KRÜ BLAZE

The other semi-final was the first meeting between SRG and KRÜ BLAZE, even though both organisations have attended every Game Changers Championship since 2023. SRG won Lotus 13-7 and Sunset 13-6.

Dodonut drove the North American side's attack. She had 16 of her 20 Lotus kills on the attacking half, posted 18 kills on Sunset and finished the series with 11 first bloods. SRG's lineup of alexis, dodonut, Noia, vanitas and glowstick reached the last four with a 2-0 quarter-final win over SK Nebula. The team is now chasing a third Game Changers Championship trophy.

KRÜ BLAZE, who beat Gen.G GC 2-1 in their quarter-final, also move to the lower bracket.

Lower bracket: four teams, two eliminations next

Six teams are still in the US$500,000 event at the Riot Games studio in São Paulo. MIBR GC and KRÜ BLAZE join SK Nebula and Team Liquid Brazil in the lower bracket, and each lower-bracket series from here sends the loser home.

Wednesday's lower-bracket third round, as listed on VLR.gg:

• MIBR GC vs SK Nebula, about 2am MYT on Thursday 29 October
• KRÜ BLAZE vs Team Liquid Brazil, about 5am MYT on Thursday 29 October

Liquid Brazil, the defending champions, are trying to win the title from the lower bracket on home soil. Since losing to Gentle Mates they have beaten Nova Esports GC and G2 Gozen, both 2-0.

Upper final and road to the title

Gentle Mates vs SRG is scheduled for Friday 30 October, which is around 2am MYT on Saturday 31 October. The winner goes straight to the grand final. The loser drops to the lower final, scheduled for Saturday 31 October in Brazil (early Sunday 1 November in Malaysia). The grand final is set for Sunday 1 November local time, early Monday 2 November MYT.

The champions take US$180,000 of the prize pool and the runners-up get US$100,000. Gen.G GC, Nova Esports GC, FENNEL GC and G2 Gozen are already out.

Key takeaways

• Gentle Mates GC beat MIBR GC 13-4, 13-11. Shopify Rebellion Gold beat KRÜ BLAZE 13-7, 13-6.
• Gentle Mates, playing their first Game Changers Championship, and SRG are the only unbeaten teams left.
• Marti led the Gentle Mates series with 43 kills. Dodonut had 11 first bloods for SRG.
• MIBR GC, KRÜ BLAZE, SK Nebula and Team Liquid Brazil are fighting through elimination-only lower-bracket series.
• The champions receive US$180,000 from the US$500,000 prize pool.

FAQ

When is the Game Changers Championship 2026 upper final in Malaysia time? Gentle Mates GC vs Shopify Rebellion Gold is listed for Friday 30 October in Brazil, which is around 2am MYT on Saturday 31 October.

Who has been eliminated so far? Gen.G GC and Nova Esports GC went out first (9th-10th), followed by FENNEL GC and G2 Gozen (7th-8th).

When is the grand final? The grand final is scheduled for Sunday 1 November in São Paulo, early on Monday 2 November in Malaysia.

Sources: VLR.gg, Hotspawn, Sheep Esports