Champions are made under pressure. In an intense Grand Finals, Karmine Corp GC staged a remarkable comeback to defeat GIANTX GC 3–2 in the VALORANT VCT Game Changers EMEA Stage 2 final. Having fallen behind in the series, KC turned things around to secure their second consecutive championship and establish themselves as the queens of EMEA.

They had already beaten them in the upper final two days earlier. This time, the gap was closer, and this rematch was a true test. The teams traded maps: GIANTX took Split 13–9 and Icebox 13–8, while Karmine responded by winning Haven 13–10, Lotus 13–1, and the deciding Sunset 13–8.

The Blue Wall’s star Azra “Alkyia” Erin was named Match MVP. Alkyia led Karmine’s offence with 79 kills, achieving an impressive Average combat score of 235 (ACS) and an Average damage per round (ADR) of 155. The team’s cohesion backed up her fragging. For example, Safia “Safiaa” Leghzal and Anastasia “Anesilia” Ivanova each contributed 78 and 81 kills across maps. Ultimately, Karmine’s duelist-heavy strategy and late-game discipline overcame GIANTX’s early pressure in the series.

One Step Short, But All Heart …

For their part, GIANTX showed they belong among EMEA’s elite. The Spanish squad had stormed through the lower bracket with a 3-1 win over SK Nebula to reach the final, and they pushed KC to the limit. Carry players Yağmur “Smurfette” Gündüz and Neslişah “Ness” Demir led the charge, Ness topped GIANTX with 23 kills on Icebox with Sova, and Nur “eva” Çakır also posted 23 kills on Haven with Iso. Smurfette and Ness delivered consistent high-impact plays and had numerous multi-kill rounds on Skye and Neon that kept GX competitive.

Even in defeat, GIANTX's impressive individual statistics and tenacious performance indicate that they are closing the gap on the region's top teams. Their run to the final and this valiant performance suggest that they will continue to be a formidable opponent in the EMEA Game Changers competition.