On Sunday, October 4, LOUD alongside T1 claimed the remaining two positions in the VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026 bracket stage, rounding out the top eight contenders after claiming 2-0 victories against Global Esports and FUT Esports respectively.
Two straight-map victories determine the remaining contenders
Reports from Sheep Esports indicate that LOUD booked their spot in the playoffs via a 2-0 triumph over Global Esports, winning Split with a 13-8 scoreline and Sunset at 13-9. The roster from Brazil navigated a tight opening half on Split prior to capturing eight straight rounds on offense, subsequently establishing a 9-3 advantage on Sunset which they successfully defended to seal the victory.
LOUD’s campaign was spearheaded by their in-game leader Roberto “erde” Lobos, while T1 similarly wrapped up their qualifying fixture without dropping a map. The South Korean squad defeated FUT with identical 13-10 scores on both Sunset and Ascent, highlighted by a standout showing from Ham “iZu” Woo-ju.
These outcomes brought the group phase to a close and locked in the final bracket participants. Both victorious lineups keep their hopes for the Champions trophy alive, whereas Global Esports and FUT saw their journeys end in these high-stakes deciders.
The final eight playoff contenders established
The final lineup features four squads representing the Americas, three from the Pacific region, and Team Vitality carrying the flag for EMEA. T1 lines up alongside fellow Pacific organizations Paper Rex and Nongshim RedForce in the bracket, marking the very first time they have reached the final eight across their three appearances at Champions.
- Americas: 100 Thieves, G2 Esports, LOUD, and NRG
- Pacific: Nongshim RedForce, Paper Rex, and T1
- EMEA: Team Vitality
The initial bracket encounters will see LOUD go head-to-head with Paper Rex, while T1 is scheduled to battle NRG. This final stage gathers organizations from three global territories after an intense group stage filtered out the remaining hopefuls. The structural blueprint of Champions Shanghai defines the upcoming bracket path, with pre-tournament favorites setting the stage for these cross-regional clashes.
The upcoming matches
In the first round of the bracket, LOUD is slated to challenge Paper Rex, and T1 will square off against NRG. Defeat in these initial matches will not mean instant elimination, as the falling teams will drop into the lower bracket, preserving their path to the championship but intensifying the pressure of future matches.
T1 entering the final eight of Champions for the first time places the franchise in the bracket stage next to veteran competitors, whereas LOUD aims to carry the momentum from their strong group stage finish. Additionally, G2 Esports secured their progression, extending a run that was detailed throughout G2’s path in the Champions 2026 group stage.
