Top Regional VALORANT Teams Ahead of Champions Shanghai

Please note: The individual metrics and statistics for players have been compiled from VLR.gg, current as of September 7, 2026. This data encompasses the comprehensive Rating (2.0), Average Combat Score (ACS), Kill/Death ratio (K:D), Average Damage per Round (ADR), Kills Per Round (KPR), and the Kill, Assist, Survival, and Trade (KAST) rate.

Few rosters demonstrate finding their stride at the ultimate moment better than 100 Thieves.

This powerhouse from North America achieved a fourth-place finish during Stage 1, failing to secure tickets to both Masters tournaments. Nonetheless, they discovered their peak form during the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 qualifiers, locking in their presence with a dominant 3–0 sweep of LOUD.

Playing before a live audience in Paris for the EWC 2026 bracket stage, 100 Thieves took down MIBR 2–1, edged out Nongshim RedForce 2–1, and ultimately defeated NRG 3–1 to secure the championship. Leading the charge was Matthew ‘Cryocells’ Panganiban, who walked away with MVP honors.

Confirming that their EWC 2026 run was no stroke of luck, 100 Thieves subsequently claimed the top spot in Group Omega during VCT 2026 Americas Stage 2, finishing with a strong 4–1 match record.

During the postseason, Jordan ‘vora’ Pulwer guided his squad to flawless 2–0 victories against Leviatán and NRG in the upper half of the bracket to guarantee a place in the finals. Following an intense, grueling series, 100 Thieves managed to overpower LOUD 3–2, capturing the premier seed for the Americas region at Champions Shanghai.

Currently, 100 Thieves occupy third place in the Global Power Rankings (GPR) with 1,449 points and a 17–8 record. This places them second locally in the Americas region, trailing only Leviatán, a roster that ultimately missed out on qualifying for the year-end Champions event.

The title of MVP for the VCT Americas Stage 2 grand finals went to Asuna.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the metrics recorded by the 100 Thieves lineup.

Holding the second spot in the world and first within the Pacific region thanks to a 16–12 record and 1,455 points, Global Esports stands as my premier choice for this territory. Apologies to the supporters of Paper Rex!

Over the course of the season, Global Esports has steadily gathered pace. They started with a 7th–8th placement at the VCT Pacific Kickoff, followed by a third-place finish in Stage 1, which punched their ticket to Masters London (where they ended up 9th–10th). Despite an early exit at EWC 2026, they rallied impressively in the subsequent weeks.

Securing a decent 3–2 showing in Group Alpha during VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 2, Global Esports elevated their play in the postseason. They overcame DRX 2–1 and shut out VARREL 2–0 before being dropped 1–2 by Nongshim RedForce. A subsequent 3–1 win over T1 secured their ticket to the grand final matchup.

When Nongshim RedForce established a dominant 2–0 advantage, Global Esports looked cornered, yet they engineered one of the most stunning comebacks ever witnessed in competitive VALORANT. By securing three consecutive map victories, they pulled off an unforgettable reverse sweep.

Overcoming a two-map deficit to claim the Stage 2 title demonstrated exceptional psychological resilience on the grand stage, which should provide Global Esports with massive confidence heading to Champions Shanghai.

The MVP honors for the VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 2 finals were awarded to South Korea’s star player, Go ‘UdoTan’ Kyung-won.

Take a closer look at the Global Esports lineup by exploring their individual statistics below.

Even though they missed out on invitations to both Masters Santiago and Masters London, TYLOO commands the top ranking in China and sits at 13th worldwide on the GPR, boasting an 18–10 record and 1,321 points!

Displaying vastly improved play in Group Alpha during Stage 2, TYLOO registered a strong 4–1 performance to secure their playoff spot, though they stumbled in the seeding game against tournament favorites XLG Esports.

Following a win over Titan Esports Club, TYLOO was sent to the lower bracket by JD Gaming, who subsequently defeated Bilibili Gaming 2–0 to claim a grand final slot.

The squad showed immense fortitude when facing tournament elimination, embarking on an incredible lower-bracket run by sweeping All Gamers 2–0, NOVA Esports 2–0, and delivering a clean 3–0 win against Bilibili Gaming.

Although the opening map of the grand final went to JD Gaming, TYLOO found their footing and swept the following three maps to secure a 3–1 series win and hoist the trophy.

The Indonesian competitor, Moses ‘Splash’ Jonathan, secured four MVP designations over Stage 2, playing a vital role in carrying his squad to Champions.

Review the individual performance metrics for the active TYLOO roster to see how they fared during VCT 2026 China Stage 2.

Holding the ninth global position and ranking first in EMEA on the GPR, Karmine Corp carries 1,384 points alongside an 8–9 record. They were unable to book spots at either Masters Santiago or Masters London earlier in the year.

Initial outings at the Kickoff and Stage 1 tournaments were disappointing for Karmine Corp. Following a low 9th–12th placement at EWC 2026, many wrote off their competitive year. Nevertheless, they engineered a turnaround in VCT EMEA Stage 2, showing remarkable growth in both player performance and strategy.

Karmine Corp led Group Omega with a strong 4–1 showing. In the upper segment of the postseason bracket, Hazem ‘avez’ Khaled guided his lineup to a 2–1 victory against Enterprise Esports and a convincing 2–0 victory over FUT Esports.

Facing off against the highly favored Team Liquid in the grand final, Karmine Corp dominated the match, securing a convincing 3–1 victory to capture the title.

Representing Kazakhstan, standout player Dastan ‘dos9’ Zhumagali earned MVP honors in the grand final after relentlessly pressuring the Team Liquid defense.

To examine how individual players on Karmine Corp performed over VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 2, refer to the detailed table below.