LOUD Sends NRG to Lower Bracket at Champions Shanghai

LOUD defeated NRG 2-1 in the upper-bracket semifinal at VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026 on Saturday, October 10. The result guarantees LOUD at least third place and sends NRG, the reigning world champion, into the lower bracket.

The series opened on Haven, NRG’s map pick. LOUD led 9-3 at halftime and held off NRG’s response after the side switch to win 13-9.

NRG forced a third map on Sunset. LOUD held a 10-7 lead, but NRG won six consecutive rounds to take the map 13-10.

LOUD controlled the decider on Summit from the start. The Brazilian team led 11-1 at halftime and closed the map 13-3. Lucca “luk xo” Travaioli led the series with 63 kills and 33 deaths. LOUD’s erde recorded 17 kills and five deaths on Summit.

The result gives LOUD its best Champions finish since 2023, when the organization also reached the top three. The team has reached this stage through the upper bracket after defeating Paper Rex 2-0 in the quarterfinals.

LOUD will play in the upper-bracket final on Friday, October 16, at 2 a.m. ET. Its opponent will be the winner of the semifinal between G2 Esports and Team Vitality. The upper-bracket final winner will advance to the Grand Final on October 18. The loser will enter the lower-bracket final.

NRG will face 100 Thieves in the lower bracket on Sunday, October 11, at 5 a.m. ET. A loss would eliminate NRG from the tournament.

LOUD won the 2022 VALORANT world championship after defeating OpTic Gaming in the Grand Final in Istanbul. NRG won the 2025 title against Fnatic.

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