LOUD Defeat Reigning World Champions NRG to Secure Top 3 at VALORANT Champions 2026

LOUD have secured a top-three finish at VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026. On Saturday, October 10, the Brazilian squad defeated reigning world champions NRG 2-1 to advance to the upper bracket final of the VALORANT tournament.

The victory guarantees LOUD at least third place and puts them just one series away from the Grand Final. It is the organization's best Champions result since 2023.

NRG entered Shanghai hoping to defend the world championship they won by defeating Fnatic in the 2025 Grand Final. That title defense is now under threat, as the North American squad must fight its way through the lower bracket to stay in contention.

LOUD Take Down NRG in Three-Map Series

The upper bracket semifinal between LOUD and NRG opened on Haven, NRG's map pick. LOUD took control early, building a 9-3 halftime lead. Although the North American side fought back after switching sides, the Brazilians held on to win 13-9.

NRG responded on Sunset, but had to overcome another LOUD lead. The Brazilians were ahead 10-7 and closing in on a 2-0 series victory when NRG won six consecutive rounds to take the map 13-10 and force a decider.

LOUD left no room for another comeback on Summit. The Brazilians dominated the first half 11-1 and went on to close out the map 13-3, securing their place in the upper bracket final.

Lucca "luk xo" Travaioli was one of LOUD's standout players, finishing the series with 63 kills and 33 deaths. He also led the team in kills on Haven, while erde recorded 17 kills and just five deaths on the deciding map.

LOUD Reach Their First Champions Top Three Since 2023

LOUD last finished among the top three at Champions in 2023. Three years later, a new roster has matched that result and remains undefeated in the upper bracket of the playoffs.

Before taking down NRG, the Brazilians defeated Paper Rex 2-0 in the playoff quarterfinals, coming from behind on both maps to secure their place in the semifinals.

LOUD are also still in contention for their second VALORANT world championship. The organization's first title came in 2022, when they defeated OpTic Gaming in the Champions Grand Final in Istanbul.

When Is LOUD's Next Match at VALORANT Champions 2026?

LOUD will return to action on Friday, October 16, at 2 AM ET / 8 AM CEST in the upper bracket final. They will face the winner of the semifinal between G2 Esports and Team Vitality.

The winner will advance directly to the Champions 2026 Grand Final on October 18. The losing team will have one more opportunity to reach the final through the lower bracket.

Meanwhile, NRG will face 100 Thieves on Sunday, October 11, at 5 AM ET / 11 AM CEST. Another defeat would eliminate the defending world champions from the tournament.

Follow the full VALORANT Champions 2026 schedule on Strafe for upcoming matches, results, and tournament updates.

Follow Strafe Esports for the latest VALORANT news, and check out our X account for more updates and coverage. You can also visit the Strafe YouTube channel for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured image credit: Riot Games

Read more:

Paper Rex Eliminated from Champions Shanghai after Tragic Collapse

Americas Dominates Pacific as LOUD and NRG Win in Champions 2026 Playoffs

VALORANT Champions 2026 Playoffs Pick'Ems Guide & Bracket Predictions