Because the mud settles on the 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Stage 2 occasions, we flip our consideration to the crowning occasion of the 12 months: Champions Shanghai. On the coronary heart of the discussions is one easy query: which groups are the strongest in every area?
Constructing on an earlier evaluation of the strongest VCT areas in 2026, I’ve recognized 4 groups main the race earlier than Champs. Earlier than I spotlight essentially the most spectacular squads, although, right here’s how I made a decision which of them to function.
How the “strongest” VCT groups had been determined
Many followers would possibly disagree with my picks and would slightly see fan favourites equivalent to Paper Rex or NRG named. As a substitute, I chosen the VCT 2026 Stage 2 winners because the strongest groups in every area.
On the highest stage of esports, groups that peak on the proper time typically put themselves in competition for titles. With that in thoughts, triumphing at Stage 2 provides every regional champion priceless momentum heading into VALORANT Champions 2026.
The elephant within the room is “recency bias” – principally, overvaluing latest occasions whereas ignoring historic context. Nevertheless, latest outcomes maintain vital weight as indicators of participant type and the way groups tactically adapt to the present meta.
Final however not least, Riot Video games makes use of Stage 2 efficiency and Championship Factors to seed the draw, which determines Champions teams. You may not agree with the reasoning for selecting these groups because the “strongest,” and that’s completely effective.
Notice: Particular person participant scores and stats had been sourced from VLR.gg and are correct as of Sep. 7, 2026. I’ve included the general Ranking (2.0), Common Fight Rating (ACS), Kill: Loss of life (Ok:D), Common Injury per Spherical (ADR), Kills Per Spherical (KPR), and Kill/Help/Survive/Commerce (KAST) proportion.
100 Thieves (Americas)
There’s no higher instance of hitting peak type on the excellent time than 100 Thieves.
The North American juggernaut completed 4th in Stage 1 and missed qualification for each Masters occasions. Nevertheless, they hit their stride on the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026, incomes a spot by sweeping LOUD 3–0 within the qualifiers.
In entrance of a crowd in Paris throughout the EWC 2026 playoffs, 100 Thieves went on to beat MIBR 2–1, Nongshim RedForce 2–1, and eventually NRG 3–1 to carry the trophy. Matthew ‘Cryocells’ Panganiban was the spearhead of the assault, incomes the MVP award.
Proving that their success at EWC 2026 wasn’t a fluke, 100 Thieves proceeded to high Group Omega in VCT 2026 Stage 2 Americas with a 4–1 document.
Within the playoffs, Jordan ‘vora’ Pulwer led his group to decisive 2–0 wins over Leviatán and NRG within the higher bracket to safe a grand ultimate spot. In a slugfest of a sequence, 100 Thieves took down LOUD 3–2 to earn the highest Americas seed going into Champions Shanghai.
100 Thieves maintain the #3 spot on the World Energy Rankings (GPR), with a 17–8 document and 1449 factors. They’re technically 2nd within the Americas, behind Leviatán, who did not earn a spot at Champs.
- Peter ‘Asuna’ Mazuryk
- Matthew ‘Cryocells’ Panganiban
- Timothée ‘Timotino’ Lavigne Dupont
- Sean ‘bang’ Bezerra
- Jordan ‘vora’ Pulwer (IGL)
- Laurynas ‘Nbs’ Kisielius (Coach)
Asuna was named the MVP of the VCT Americas Stage 2 grand ultimate.
100 Thieves participant stats
Discover the person participant stats for the 100 Thieves roster outlined under.
| Participant | Ranking | ACS | Ok:D | ADR | KAST | KPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asuna | 1.19 | 243 | 1.22 | 160.5 | 77% | 0.83 |
| Cryocells | 1.05 | 191 | 1.17 | 126.1 | 73% | 0.71 |
| vora | 1.05 | 187 | 1.09 | 122.9 | 74% | 0.66 |
| bang | 1.05 | 178 | 1.04 | 114.5 | 73% | 0.66 |
| Timotino | 1.02 | 221 | 1.12 | 141.6 | 71% | 0.77 |
World Esports (Pacific)
Ranked #2 globally and #1 in Pacific with a 16–12 document and 1455 factors, World Esports is my high choose for the Pacific area. Sorry, Paper Rex followers!
World Esports has been slowly gaining momentum all year long. On the VCT Pacific Kickoff, they completed seventh–eighth, and in Stage 1, they completed third, qualifying for Masters London, the place they completed ninth–tenth. Whereas World Esports dropped out early at EWC 2026, they bounced again in type.
After a strong 3–2 document in Group Alpha of VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 2, World Esports powered up throughout the playoffs. They defeated DRX 2–1 and VARREL 2–0, earlier than struggling a 1–2 defeat by the hands of Nongshim RedForce. A 3–1 victory over T1 earned World Esports a spot within the grand ultimate.
Nongshim RedForce took a commanding 2–0 lead and, with their backs towards the wall, World Esports delivered one of many biggest comebacks in VALORANT esports historical past. They received the final three maps in a row to finish a historic reverse sweep.
Bouncing again from a 0–2 deficit to win Stage 2 confirmed unbelievable big-match temperament and will give World Esports all the boldness they might want going into Champions Shanghai.
- Savva ‘Kr1stal’ Fedorov
- Go ‘UdoTan’ Kyung-won
- Kale ‘autumn’ Dunne
- Patrick ‘PatMen’ Mendoza
- Xavier ‘xavi8k’ Juan (IGL)
- Daniel ‘Platoon’ Zhou (Coach)
South Korean famous person Go ‘UdoTan’ Kyung-won was named the Finals MVP of VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 2.
World Esports participant stats
Get acquainted with the World Esports roster by testing varied stats.
| Participant | Ranking | ACS | Ok:D | ADR | KAST | KPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xavi8k | 1.13 | 208 | 1.11 | 138.7 | 74% | 0.72 |
| PatMen | 1.07 | 221 | 1.10 | 143.3 | 72% | 0.79 |
| UdoTan | 1.03 | 222 | 1.07 | 146.8 | 70% | 0.77 |
| Kr1stal | 1.01 | 175 | 0.97 | 119.9 | 75% | 0.61 |
| Autumn | 0.99 | 192 | 1.06 | 126.1 | 69% | 0.70 |
TYLOO (China)
Regardless of not qualifying for both Masters Santiago or Masters London, TYLOO maintain the #1 spot in China and #13 globally on the GPR, with an 18–10 document and 1,321 factors!
TYLOO produced improved type in Group Alpha of Stage 2, recording a formidable 4–1 document to earn a spot within the playoffs, however misplaced the seeding match towards one of many favourites, XLG Esports.
After defeating Titan Esports Membership, TYLOO acquired knocked all the way down to the decrease bracket by JD Gaming, who went on to beat Bilibili Gaming 2–0 for a spot within the grand ultimate.
TYLOO impressed me with their resilience getting ready to elimination, making a dominant lower-bracket run as they eradicated All Avid gamers 2–0, NOVA Esports 2–0, and Bilibili Gaming 3–0.
Regardless of JD Gaming taking the opening map of the grand ultimate, TYLOO stabilised and received the subsequent three in a row to assert the trophy with a 3–1 victory.
- Solar ‘slowly’ Kelun
- Zhang ‘Scales’ Zhen
- Moses ‘Splash’ Jonathan
- Shen ‘Erv’ Zhiwei
- Pong ‘SiuFatBB’ Ka Hei (IGL)
- Xie ‘hypnotizing’ Haozhi (Coach)
Indonesian participant Moses ‘Splash’ Jonathan picked up 4 MVP awards throughout Stage 2, making a “splash” to assist his group qualify for Champs.
TYLOO participant stats
Take a look at the person participant stats for the present TYLOO roster for an outline of their performances at VCT 2026 China Stage 2.
| Participant | Ranking | ACS | Ok:D | ADR | KAST | KPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| slowly | 1.22 | 250 | 1.30 | 161.7 | 73% | 0.88 |
| splash | 1.19 | 247 | 1.20 | 161.2 | 74% | 0.84 |
| Erv | 1.10 | 184 | 1.03 | 121.9 | 77% | 0.64 |
| Scales | 1.06 | 196 | 1.06 | 133.5 | 71% | 0.69 |
| SiuFatBB | 1.03 | 165 | 1.01 | 111.8 | 75% | 0.60 |
Karmine Corp (EMEA)
Ranked #9 globally and #1 in EMEA in response to the GPR, Karmine Corp has 1,384 factors and an 8–9 document. They didn’t handle to earn a spot at Masters Santiago or Masters London.
Karmine Corp carried out poorly at each the Kickoff and Stage 1 occasions. After ending ninth–twelfth at EWC 2026, their season seemed past restoration. Nevertheless, they bounced again in VCT EMEA Stage 2, exhibiting enhancements in each particular person type and tactical depth.
Karmine Corp topped Group Omega with a 4–1 document. Within the higher bracket of the playoffs, Hazem ‘avez’ Khaled led his group to a 2–1 win over Enterprise Esports and a formidable 2–0 sweep of FUT Esports.
Within the grand ultimate towards Staff Liquid, one of many favourites, Karmine Corp confirmed no mercy, profitable convincingly 3–1 to carry the trophy.
- Dmitrii ‘SUYGETSU’ Iliushin
- Dastan ‘dos9’ Zhumagali
- Burak ‘LêwN’ Alkan
- Marshall ‘N4RRATE’ Massey
- Hazem ‘avez’ Khaled (IGL)
- Ahmed ‘ZE1SH’ Sheikh (Coach)
Kazakhstani star Dastan ‘dos9’ Zhumagali was named the MVP of the grand ultimate, testing Staff Liquid at each flip.
Karmine Corp participant stats
For an outline of Karmine Corp’s participant performances all through VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 2, take a look at the desk under.
| Participant | Ranking | ACS | Ok:D | ADR | KAST | KPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N4RRATE | 1.21 | 235 | 1.34 | 153.1 | 76% | 0.85 |
| Avez | 1.14 | 200 | 1.19 | 132.6 | 75% | 0.72 |
| LewN | 1.10 | 239 | 1.25 | 151.9 | 71% | 0.86 |
| dos9 | 1.06 | 186 | 1.09 | 121.2 | 76% | 0.66 |
| SUYGETSU | 0.88 | 164 | 0.93 | 110.7 | 72% | 0.59 |
