LOUD and T1 secure final Champions 2026 playoff spots

LOUD and T1 secured the final two spots in the VALORANT Champions Shangai 2026 playoffs on the last day of the group stage. LOUD defeated Global Esports (GE) 2-0, delivering a strong performance led by in-game leader Roberto “erde” Lobos, while T1 swept FUT Esports to keep its championship hopes alive.

With the results, T1 joined Paper Rex and Nongshim RedForce as the representatives from Asia to qualify for the playoffs. The group stage is now complete, with the remaining teams set to compete for the Champions title.

LOUD secured its playoff spot with a 2-0 victory over Global Esports, highlighted by an outstanding series from erde. The Brazilian team took control of both maps after competitive openings, closing out the series without allowing GE to force a third map.

On Split, the teams traded rounds in a closely contested first half. However, LOUD found another level after switching sides, winning eight consecutive rounds on attack to take control of the map and secure a 13-8 victory.

The second map, Sunset, saw LOUD establish an advantage much earlier. Starting on attack, the Brazilian side put together a dominant first half to build a 9-3 lead. GE attempted to respond after the side switch, but LOUD maintained its advantage and closed the map 13-9 to complete the sweep.

T1 also secured its place in the playoffs with a 2-0 win over FUT Esports. The South Korean team prevailed in two competitive maps, both ending 13-10, to eliminate FUT and complete the Asian playoff lineup alongside Paper Rex.

The series opened on Sunset, where T1 and FUT remained close throughout the map. T1 eventually pulled ahead to secure a 13-10 win, with Ham “iZu” Woo-ju delivering a particularly strong performance to help his team take the lead.

Ascent followed a similar pattern, with FUT once again challenging T1 but ultimately falling short. T1 maintained its composure in the closing rounds to claim another 13-10 victory and seal the 2-0 result.

LOUD now will face Paper Rex in the playoffs. T1, meanwhile, will take on NRG in the other playoff series, with both teams looking to secure a place in the next stage of the tournament. The loser of either series will not yet be eliminated yet, but will drop to the lower bracket of the VALORANT Champions Shanghai playoffs.