Riot Games reveals group seeding for Valorant Champions 2026

Yesterday marked the conclusion of the final two Stage 2 events: one in the Pacific region, where Global Esports defeated Nongshim, and one in the Americas, where 100 Thieves beat LOUD. Following these matches, the organizers of Valorant Champions 2026 held a draw and announced the group pairings for the upcoming tournament.

Group D looks like the strongest group in the draw. NRG walk in as the reigning world champions. Nongshim RedForce won Masters Santiago 2026. Karmine Corp are the story of the year in EMEA: they went 0-5 in Stage 1, then tore through Stage 2 to win the region outright. Xi Lai Gaming rounds out the group and looks like the clear underdog next to three teams that have all lifted a trophy in 2026.

Group A

• 100 Thieves
• JD Gaming
• FUT Esports
• T1

Group B

• Global Esports
• LOUD
• EDward Gaming
• Team Vitality

Group C

• TYLOO
• Team Liquid
• Paper Rex
• G2 Esports

Group D

• Karmine Corp
• Nongshim RedForce
• NRG
• Xi Lai Gaming

The other groups don't seem much weaker. Paper Rex, which regularly competes in international events and finishes in the top spots, and Group C puts them right back against G2 Esports. Group B has EDward Gaming, the 2024 world champions and one of the few Chinese rosters with a track record of winning on the biggest stage. Group A has 100 Thieves, who ran through their own Stage 2 group at 4-1 and then swept both LEV and NRG in the playoffs on their way to the Americas title, on top of an Esports World Cup win earlier this year.

Champions Shanghai runs September 23 through October 18. The group stage and early playoff rounds take place at Jing'an Sports Center. Finals weekend moves to the Mercedes-Benz Arena, the same venue that hosted Masters Shanghai in 2024. 16 teams from four competitive regions will compete for the $2,250,000 prize pool and the title of world champion.