VALORANT Champions 2026 Group Stage Recap: Paper Rex and NRG Qualify Unbeaten as G2 and Nongshim Win the Deciders
The VALORANT Champions 2026 Group Stage has wrapped up for Groups C and D, with four more teams securing their places in the playoffs. Paper Rex and G2 Esports advanced from Group C, while NRG and Nongshim RedForce survived Group D. The results also brought the Champions runs of Team Liquid and Karmine Corp to an end.
VALORANT Champions 2026 Group C: Paper Rex Remain Unbeaten as G2 Recover
Group C opened with G2 Esports defeating TYLOO 2-0, while Paper Rex edged Team Liquid 2-1. The results immediately set up a winners' match collision between the two international contenders.
That meeting ended with Paper Rex defeating G2 Esports 2-1, making PRX the first team from Group C to secure a playoff spot. The Pacific representatives showed their ability to withstand G2's pressure across three maps and maintained their unbeaten record in the group.
G2 were forced into the decider after the loss, while Team Liquid and TYLOO met in the elimination match. Liquid kept their Champions run alive by defeating TYLOO 2-1, eliminating the Chinese representatives from their home tournament.
The final battle for the second playoff spot came down to G2 Esports and Team Liquid. G2 left little room for another upset, sweeping Liquid 2-0 in the Group C decider to secure their place in the playoffs. Liquid finished their tournament run in the 9th to 12th range.
Group C Final Standings
Paper Rex — Qualified
G2 Esports — Qualified
Team Liquid — Eliminated (9th to 12th)
TYLOO — Eliminated (9th to 12th)
VALORANT Champions 2026 Group D: NRG Survive, Nongshim Complete the Comeback
Group D followed a similar pattern, though the road to qualification was considerably more dramatic.
Karmine Corp started their campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over Xi Lai Gaming, while NRG defeated Nongshim RedForce 2-0 in the other opening match. That put NRG and Karmine Corp into the winners' match, with the winner guaranteed a direct playoff berth.
The defending champions came out on top. NRG defeated Karmine Corp 2-1, finishing the upper bracket with a 2-0 record and becoming the first team from Group D to qualify for the VALORANT Champions 2026 playoffs.
Meanwhile, Nongshim RedForce faced Xi Lai Gaming in the elimination match and responded strongly, winning 2-0 to set up a rematch with Karmine Corp in the decider.
The final series of Group D proved to be the most competitive of the two groups. Karmine Corp had come within one series of qualification, while Nongshim had to win two consecutive elimination matches to advance. In the end, Nongshim RedForce defeated Karmine Corp 2-1, completing one of the more difficult paths through the group stage and joining NRG in the playoffs. Karmine Corp were eliminated in 9th to 12th place.
Group D Final Standings
NRG — Qualified
Nongshim RedForce — Qualified
Karmine Corp — Eliminated (9th to 12th)
Xi Lai Gaming — Eliminated (9th to 12th)
VALORANT Champions 2026 Playoffs: Who Moves On
With Groups C and D now complete, Paper Rex, G2 Esports, NRG, and Nongshim RedForce join the previously qualified teams in the VALORANT Champions 2026 playoff bracket.
Paper Rex and NRG both qualified without dropping a series, establishing themselves as the strongest performers in their respective groups. G2 and Nongshim, meanwhile, had to fight through the decider after falling in their winners' matches — a harder road but the same destination.
The VALORANT Champions 2026 playoffs begin on October 7 in Shanghai, where the full eight-team bracket will now battle for the world championship and the $1,000,000 first-place prize.
