G2 qualify for Champions after defeating LEVIATÁN in VCT Americas

G2 Esports have qualified for VALORANT Champions Shanghai after defeating LEVIATÁN with the score of 2-1 in the lower bracket of VCT Americas Stage 2 on Sunday, August 30. The victory eliminated LEVIATÁN from the regional playoffs and secured G2's place at the final international event of the 2026 VCT season through Championship Points.

The result also keeps G2's playoff run alive. The team will face LOUD in the lower bracket on September 4, with a place in the lower final on the line. With the defeat to G2, LEVIATÁN remain alive in the Champions race, with the only scenario in which they would fail to qualify being a Stage 2 Grand Final between 100 Thieves and LOUD.

The series began on Split, LEVIATÁN's map pick. The Argentine organization took control of the opening map and secured a 13-10 victory, putting G2 on the brink of elimination. G2 responded on Abyss. After a competitive first half, the North American team pulled away and closed out the map 13-9, forcing a deciding third map.

The final map was played on Summit, where G2 completed the comeback, closing out the map 13-8, to secure the series 2-1. The victory eliminated LEVIATÁN from the playoffs and sent G2 through to Round 3 of the lower bracket.

Unlike the two teams that will qualify directly through the Stage 2 Grand Final, G2's place at Champions was secured through the Americas Championship Points system. The top two teams that do not qualify directly through Stage 2 by reaching the Grand Final earn places at Champions based on their Championship Points totals.

G2 entered Stage 2 with 17 Championship Points, sitting second in the Americas standings behind LEVIATÁN. NRG followed in third with 16 points, while 100 Thieves, FURIA and MIBR were the next teams in contention.

With the playoff results now leaving G2 guaranteed to remain among the two highest-ranked teams in the Championship Points race that are not directly qualified through the Stage 2 standings, the victory over LEVIATÁN secured their ticket to Shanghai. G2 now join NRG as the two Americas teams already guaranteed a place at Champions.

The qualification extends G2's run of international VCT appearances to eight consecutive events. The organization will now have another opportunity to compete for a world championship.

VALORANT Champions Shanghai is scheduled to take place from September 24 to October 18, with 16 teams from the four VCT regions competing for the world championship.