Paper Rex and NRG Reverse Sweep Opponents to Make VALORANT Champions Playoffs

VALORANT Champions 2026 has given fans two of the best VALORANT games yet, leading Paper Rex and NRG to officially advance to the playoff stage. Battling through a fierce group stage, both powerhouses demonstrated true grit by pulling off hard-fought 2-1 victories in their groups’ winners’ matches. 

By claiming top seeds in Groups C and D, both teams have guaranteed upper-bracket spots as the tournament heads toward the playoff stage in Shanghai.

VALORANT Champions 2026 Group Stage bracket Day 5 (Image Source: Riot Games)

How PRX and NRG Reached Champions Shanghai Playoffs

Paper Rex opened their Shanghai run with a 2-1 win over Team Liquid before clashing with rivals G2 Esports in the Group C Winners Match. 

Despite losing their map pick Split 9-13, Paper Rex rallied behind stellar performances from Jinggg and d4v41 to claim Haven 13-11 and Lotus 13-9. The victory extended Paper Rex’s long-standing head-to-head win streak against G2 Esports to 6-2 and earned them the very first playoffs berth of the event.

Reigning World Champions NRG navigated Group D with equal composure. Following a clean 2-0 opening victory against Nongshim RedForce, NRG faced EMEA’s number one seed next, Karmine Corp. 

After dropping Ascent 7-13, NRG pulled off a thrilling reverse sweep by clinching Summit 13-11 and Haven 13-9. Two-time World Champion Ethan delivered a standout performance with a 1.08 rating, while mada and brawk provided vital firepower to dethrone EMEA's top seed.

Maintaining Momentum

Qualifying for the Shanghai playoffs carries significant weight for both organizations. For Paper Rex, this marks their third international playoffs berth of 2026, as well as their third career Champions playoffs appearance alongside 2023 and 2025. 

Meanwhile, NRG's advancement makes a strong argument for their title defense, as well as marks their third international playoffs qualification of the year (including EWC). Both teams have proven they can overcome early map deficits against world-class opposition.

With playoff spots locked in, Paper Rex and NRG have set a high benchmark for Champions Shanghai. Both squads now await their playoffs opponents as the fight for the trophy intensifies in China.

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Featured Image Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

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