In the VALORANT Paris Champions Grand Final, NRG and Fnatic engaged in a five-map duel characterized by control, disruption, and dramatic momentum shifts. NRG sprinted to a 2–0 lead with a precise performance, before Fnatic staged a stunning comeback, headlined by a 1–11 turnaround on Abyss, that forced a decider on Sunset. There, NRG re-established their dominance to win the series 3–2 and lift the trophy.
From slow matches to the best Champions final
From the outset on Corrode, NRG imposed a methodical framework that constricted Fnatic’s space. Executions were deliberate, and post-plants were cleared without haste. Opposing retakes were consistently defused through disciplined utility. At the heart of it, Brock "brawk" Somerhalder dictated the mid-round tempo with his Odin, while Adam "mada" Pampuch and Logan "skuba" Jenkins shut down lurk paths. Fnatic tried to rally after the interval but never managed to disrupt the North American structure, and the map concluded swiftly at 13–3.
Photo by Liu YiCun/Riot Games
On Lotus, Fnatic tried to slow the pace and pivot around late splits, but
NRG anticipated their intentions and maintained their positional advantage in the key zones.
Ethan "Ethan" Arnold exerted influence in the middle of the rounds with well-timed utility that neutralized Fnatic’s attempts to take space, while
Sam "s0m" Oh stabilized the end of the rounds. The Europeans found a few openings on defense, but could not convert them into sustained runs. NRG maintained the initiative and won the round 13–6, taking a 2–0 lead.
The definitive turning point of the final
Trailing 1–11 and on the brink, the Europeans resuscitated the series by clawing back round after round, patient retakes, sharper timing on area control, and improved conversion of even-numbered situations. Emir "Alfajer" Ali Beder produced several high-impact moments in late rounds, and Fnatic forced overtime before prevailing 15–13. The comeback reopened the contest and transformed the atmosphere at the Accor Arena: a reverse sweep felt genuinely within reach.
Following Abyss, Fnatic finally imposed their rhythm on Ascent. Mid-control became their anchor, ultimate usage was better sequenced to seal entries, and Timofey "Chronicle" Khromov, alongside Alfajer, secured the pivotal duels that had eluded them earlier. Jake "Boaster" Howlett capitalized on a crucial pistol to stabilize the economy, and the map closed 13–8 with level at two apiece, with everything to be decided on the fifth.
Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
The decider reset to NRG’s fundamentals: controlled post-plants, refusal of rash duels, and clean closures against Fnatic’s attempted accelerations. Skuba and Ethan sustained the march to eleven rounds, before mada sealed the retake that delivered both the map and the trophy. Sunset ended 13–5, the series 3–2, and NRG were crowned 2025 world champions.
Brock "brawk" Somerhalder was named MVP of Champions 2025, reflecting consistent impact throughout the event and a final in which he frequently set NRG’s metronome. And Ethan became the first player in VALORANT history to win two Champions titles (2023, 2025), establishing a significant individual landmark for the scene.
Header Credit Photo: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
