LOUD beat Vitality 2-1 to reach Valorant Champions Shanghai grand final as 100 Thieves knock out G2

LOUD are into the Valorant Champions Shanghai grand final after coming from a map down to beat Team Vitality 2-1 in the upper bracket final on Friday, 16 October. Later that day, 100 Thieves knocked G2 Esports out with a 2-1 win in the lower bracket semi-final. Since Shanghai shares Malaysia's time zone (UTC+8), fans here get the closing weekend at friendly hours. 100 Thieves and Vitality meet in the lower bracket final on Saturday, 17 October, at 3pm Malaysia time, and the winner plays LOUD for the title on Sunday, 18 October, at 2pm.

LOUD recover after losing Lotus

On Lotus, Vitality's pick, the European side turned a level first half into a 13-8 win, with Elias "Jamppi" Olkkonen shutting down LOUD's attacks after the switch. The Brazilians answered on Summit with a dominant display led by Lucca "lukxo" Travaioli, who went 26/12 on the map. Vitality forced some early rounds, but LOUD pulled clear and took the series to a decider.

The decider on Haven stayed close throughout. LOUD's aggressive defence caught Vitality off guard, and they closed out the map 13-11. Over the series lukxo got 16 first kills, more than anyone else in the match. Roberto "erde" Lobos and Sebastián "Darker" Cicuamia also posted solid numbers.

LOUD reached the final unbeaten in the playoffs, having swept Paper Rex 2-0 and edged NRG 2-1 before this win.

100 Thieves survive again

100 Thieves have spent almost the whole playoff stage one loss from elimination. G2 swept them 2-0 in the upper bracket quarter-finals, and since then they have beaten Nongshim RedForce 2-1, holders NRG 2-0 and now G2 2-1.

G2 won the opening map, Lotus, 13-11. 100 Thieves levelled with a 13-10 win on Ascent, then took Summit 13-7. Matthew "Cryocells" Panganiban led the way with 59 kills across the three maps, including a 13-kill second half on Summit, while Timothée "Timotino" Lavigne Dupont had a team-high 11 first kills. Andrej "babybay" Francisty and Nathan "leaf" Orf were the best performers for G2, who leave Shanghai in fourth place.

What comes next

The lower bracket final puts Vitality, the last EMEA team left, against 100 Thieves at 3pm Malaysia time on Saturday, 17 October. Vitality beat Nongshim RedForce and G2 in the upper bracket before losing to LOUD. Whichever side wins will play a third series in three days.

The grand final is set for Sunday, 18 October, at 2pm Malaysia time at the 18,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Arena. LOUD are chasing a second world title. Organisers have set the total prize pool at US$2.25 million, with US$1 million for the champions and US$400,000 for the runners-up.

With LOUD and 100 Thieves both still in the event, the Americas are guaranteed a team in the grand final. No team from VCT Pacific made the top four: Paper Rex, Nongshim RedForce and T1 all went out in the lower bracket.

Where to watch

Riot broadcasts the playoffs on the official VCT channels on Twitch and YouTube, and regional VCT channels and approved co-streamers also carry the matches. Since Shanghai and Malaysia are on the same clock, the times listed by the venue apply here too.

Key takeaways

• LOUD beat Vitality 2-1 (8-13 Lotus, a win on Summit, 13-11 Haven) to reach the grand final.
• 100 Thieves eliminated G2 2-1 (11-13 Lotus, 13-10 Ascent, 13-7 Summit); G2 finish fourth.
• Vitality v 100 Thieves, lower bracket final: Saturday 17 October, 3pm Malaysia time.
• Grand final: Sunday 18 October, 2pm Malaysia time, with US$1 million for the winner.

FAQ

When is the Valorant Champions 2026 grand final in Malaysia time? It starts at 2pm Malaysia time on Sunday, 18 October, at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai.

Who will LOUD play in the final? The winner of the lower bracket final between Team Vitality and 100 Thieves, which starts at 3pm Malaysia time on Saturday, 17 October.

How much does the Valorant Champions 2026 winner receive? The champions take US$1 million out of a total prize pool of US$2.25 million. The runners-up receive US$400,000.

Sources: Hotspawn, Dot Esports, esports.gg, Strafe, Esport Now