Vitality, LOUD set for VALORANT Champions 2026 final

Team Vitality and LOUD will play in the VALORANT Champions 2026 final at Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benz Arena on Oct. 18. The best-of-five series will decide the world champion and close the 2026 international season.

The teams have met twice at the tournament, with one win each. Their third meeting will break the tie and determine the champion.

Vitality opened the event with two group-stage wins, including one against LOUD. The French team then defeated Masters Santiago 2026 champion Nongshim RedForce and G2 Esports in the upper bracket.

LOUD beat Vitality in the upper-bracket final to become the first team to qualify for the final. Vitality secured its place in the championship match by defeating 100 Thieves in the lower bracket.

LOUD had a more difficult group stage after losing to Vitality. The Brazilian team responded with wins over Global Esports, Paper Rex and NRG, the 2025 VALORANT Champions winner, before beating Vitality again in the upper-bracket final.

All five LOUD players are making their international debuts at Champions. The roster is the youngest to reach a Champions final. LOUD are seeking their first international title since 2022, while Vitality are pursuing their first international championship.

Neither team won a regional title in 2026. LOUD finished second in VCT Americas Stage 2, and Vitality finished second in VCT EMEA Stage 1.

Vitality’s lineup includes international players Elias “Jamppi” Olkkonen, Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev and Timofey “Chronicle” Khromov. The team will look to start rounds strongly, control the pace of play and limit the impact of LOUD’s aggressive players, including Lucca “lukxo” Travaioli.

LOUD will seek early advantages through opening duels. Roberto “erde” Lobos Parada’s mid-round calls and the team’s varied attacking plans could test Vitality’s defensive setups.

The map veto could affect the series. Vitality may ban Sunset, while LOUD could remove Ascent. Vitality may select Lotus, and LOUD could choose Summit. Split and Abyss are common bans for both teams. LOUD will have an extra ban after reaching the final through the upper bracket.

Fan predictions are narrowly split, with 52% backing Vitality and 48% choosing LOUD. The match prediction is a 3-2 win for LOUD.

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