This Thursday,
VALORANT Champions 2026 will get underway in Shanghai for around four weeks of competition. On October 18, the sixth champion in the history of the competition will be crowned, bringing the 2026 season to a close. Sixteen teams are on the starting line, all looking to succeed NRG and be crowned world champions.
Between returning teams and newcomers, favorites and outsiders, Sheep Esports has compiled its team power ranking ahead of the competition, ranging from the team with the highest expectations to the biggest underdog.
VALORANT Champions 2026 Power Rankings. Credit: Sheep Esports
1# 100 Thieves (1,63)
Having won the last two tournaments they competed in, 100 Thieves are also among the main favorites for the competition. After their triumph at the Esports World Cup, the American team carried that momentum into VCT Americas Stage 2, where they prevailed through a combination of composure and individual talent. They were particularly dominant in the playoffs, comfortably defeating NRG before showing their resilience against LOUD in the grand final. With their veteran players in the best form of their careers and two rookies who have integrated perfectly into the lineup, 100 Thieves enter as clear favorites in their group.
2# Nongshim RedForce (2,13)
The Masters Santiago winners return to international competition with a new status. The Korean team has shown throughout the year that they should not be taken lightly. Coming very close to winning their first VCT Pacific title in Stage 2, the team suffered a reverse sweep against Global Esports in the final. Despite that disappointment, it does not change their status as one of the favorites. With some of the best firepower in the world and players capable of carrying games from every role in a meta that suits them well, Nongshim could cause plenty of damage, despite having a very challenging group to begin the competition.
3# Paper Rex (4,13)
Far more disappointing during Stage 2, the region's multiple-time champions still have plenty of arguments in their favor this season. The team has already reached two international event finals this year, but fell just short of winning on both occasions. Paper Rex have never won Champions despite making deep runs at every edition, and they will try their luck again this season. Despite their difficult end to Stage 2, the team still carries the status of one of the teams to beat at the tournament.
4# NRG (4,25)
The defending world champions are putting their title on the line with just one change to their roster from last year, with Georgio "keiko" Sanassy joining the team. Consistently finishing third since the beginning of the season, the team still reached the EWC final after a disappointing run at Masters London. Building momentum as the season progressed, NRG seemed to have found their best form during Stage 2 before collapsing in the final stretch of the playoffs. That is unlikely to derail them completely, but their group is demanding enough that they will need to be at their best from the very beginning of the competition.
5# Karmine Corp (5,50)
The new EMEA champions have come a long way after a disastrous start to the season. Led by a red-hot Marshall "N4RRATE" Massey and Ahmed "ZE1SH" Sheikh in his first split as Head Coach, the team dominated VCT EMEA Stage 2 from start to finish. Competing at Champions for the first time in their history, the French team appears to be in the best form of its life and could well be the surprise package of the tournament. They will find out immediately whether they can make it out of their group, which also features NRG and NS.
6# LOUD (6,00)
The 2022 world champions are returning to the competition after two years away. With a completely revamped and much younger roster, the team will be presenting a new identity on the international stage. Led by the duo of Lucca "lukxo" Travaioli and Roberto "erde" Lobos, the team impressed throughout the playoffs, notably defeating G2 Esports and then NRG to reach the grand final and secure their spot in Shanghai. With limited international experience, the team will have to rely on its individual talent to make its mark in a balanced group.
7# Global Esports (7,88)
The Indian team, which won its first VCT title in Stage 2, arrives as a surprise No. 1 seed from its region. Although they improved throughout the season, is that enough to consider them among the competition's favorites? The team's first international experience at Masters London proved more difficult than expected, and while they are now a stronger team, they will face more experienced and better-prepared opponents in their group. Their individual talent, however, could still be enough to overcome them.
8# EDward Gaming (8,38)
The usual representatives of the VCT China region appear ready to do their region proud in front of their home crowd. Although EDG rediscovered some of their best form by winning Stage 1 and finishing in the top three at Masters London, the rest of the season proved more complicated. The team decided to bring in Korean player Park "stew" Young-chan just before the competition, a high-potential player whom fans have been waiting to see on a major international project for some time.
9# TYLOO (8,75)
China's current No. 1 seed and first-time VCT champions are making their Champions debut. Strengthened by the addition of Pong "SiuFatBB" Ka Hei ahead of Stage 2 and featuring individual talents such as Sun "slowly" Kelun and Moses "Splash" Jonathan, TYLOO, previously a mid-table team, have reached another level in VCT China. Playing at home, they will now have to replicate that success against the best teams in the world, which can sometimes be much more difficult without previous international experience. They nevertheless have all the qualities required to make it out of their group.
10# Team Vitality (9,88)
VCT EMEA Stage 1 finalists and a top-four team at Masters London, Team Vitality appeared to have become the super team everyone expected at the beginning of the year. Stage 2, and particularly the playoffs, have nevertheless been the blemish on the team's season, with two losses against Tier 2 teams. That said, the roster features players who have proven themselves time and again internationally, and even in a challenging group, they cannot easily be counted out from the outset.
11# FUT Esports (11,13)
The Turkish team, which also competed in London, lived up to expectations in the VCT and qualified with the highest Championship Points total in the region. However, the team appears to be struggling to break through its ceiling. For example, they have never managed to beat Team Vitality throughout the year and were outplayed by KC and TL in the Stage 2 playoffs. Despite this, they surprised many with their talent in London and could repeat that performance in a group that appears within their reach, even with a hostile home crowd against them.
12# G2 Esports (11,75)
G2's international reputation is beginning to work against them, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the same expectations for their chances of winning. Especially since, as reported by Sheep Esports, Jacob "valyn" Batio and Andrej "babybay" Francisty will no longer be part of the team next season. In this context, it is difficult to have the same expectations for G2 as in the past. Nevertheless, the core that has been together for some time, combined with the players' individual talent, could still allow them to overcome some of the best teams if everything clicks.
13# Team Liquid (12,00)
VCT EMEA Stage 2 finalists, Team Liquid surprised many by choosing to replace Semyon "purp0" Borchev with Ognjen "GSR" Bondžić. Frequently criticized for his attacking phases, this change could pay off and prove to be what the team needed, but it remains a risky move and raises a major question mark over the team's current level. With highly experienced EMEA players who are accustomed to international tournaments, TL will not be easy to take down, but their potential performance is difficult to predict at this point.
14# T1 (13,13)
Often capable of both their best and their worst, T1 ultimately secured their place at Champions through Championship Points while still appearing somewhat inferior to their VCT Pacific counterparts. Aside from Masters Bangkok in 2025, the team has struggled to make an impact at international events for the most part. Led by Kim "Meteor" Tae-oh and Yu "BuZz" Byung-chul, the latter having competed at every edition of Champions, T1 will look to make their mark in an open group where a playoff spot could be fiercely contested.
15# Xi Lai Gaming (14,63)
The Chinese team recently achieved its best-ever result at an international competition with a fifth-sixth-place finish at Masters London. However, while the mental block may no longer be an issue for the team, the level of opposition could prove to be. Drawn into the group of death against Karmine Corp, NRG and Nongshim RedForce, XLG will need plenty of courage to make their mark on the competition, especially after a difficult Stage 2. The team certainly does not lack individual talent or local support, but they will have to hold their nerve to live up to their potential.
16# JD Gaming (14,88)
VCT China Stage 2 finalists, JD Gaming remain a new and inexperienced team on the international stage, with the exception of Chang "BerLIN" Po-lin. For many of the players, as well as the organization itself, this will be their first Champions appearance. The team achieved strong results for the first time in its history to qualify, notably defeating EDward Gaming and Bilibili Gaming, but will that be enough at the international level? They enter the competition as the least heralded team in the field, but could surprise if they can maintain the same momentum.
