Vitality end 100 Thieves’ Champions run and set up a final against LOUD

Team Vitality are one win away from the Valorant Champions 2026 title. The EMEA side beat 100 Thieves 3-1 in the lower-bracket final in Shanghai on 17 October, recovering from a heavy defeat on the opening map to win three in a row. They will face LOUD in the grand final on 18 October.

For 100 Thieves, the defeat ends a strong campaign. Third place is the organisation’s best-ever finish at a Champions event, THESPIKE.GG notes.

Map by map

The series began badly for Vitality. 100 Thieves took Split 13-5, and the North American side looked ready to complete their comeback run through the lower bracket. Vitality responded on Lotus, the map they had also won against LOUD in the upper-bracket final, and edged it 13-11 to level the series.

From there, Vitality found their rhythm. THESPIKE.GG describes some of the wildest set-up plays of the tournament, combined with sharp aim, international experience and an impressive read on 100 Thieves’ approach. Vitality took Ascent 13-9 and closed the series on Summit 13-10 without needing a fifth map.

Series statistics

Ștefan “Sayonara” Mîtcu led Vitality with a 1.30 rating over the four maps, according to VLR.gg. For 100 Thieves, Timotino and Cryocells both finished above a 1.10 rating, but the rest of the line-up could not keep pace.

Derke led all players with 16 first kills, which helped Vitality win the opening duel often enough to dictate the pace on the last three maps.

100 Thieves’ run

100 Thieves arrived in Shanghai as one of the favourites. They had success at the Esports World Cup 2026 and reached the VCT Americas Stage 2 grand final against LOUD. An unexpected loss to G2 Esports dropped them into the lower bracket early, and from there they beat Nongshim RedForce and NRG before taking revenge on G2.

That run took them one series from the grand final, but they could not carry the momentum into the meeting with Vitality.

Vitality’s path

Vitality’s own route has been the more demanding one. According to VLR.gg match pages, they beat Global Esports and LOUD in the group stage, then Nongshim RedForce in the upper-bracket quarter-final and G2 Esports in the semi-final. The 1-2 defeat to LOUD in the upper-bracket final sent them to the lower bracket, where 100 Thieves were waiting. Over the event, Vitality have now won five of their six series, and the one defeat came against the team they will meet in the final.

Vitality against LOUD, part three

The grand final will be the third meeting between Vitality and LOUD in Shanghai. Vitality won the group-stage match 2-0, including a 19-17 win on Summit, while LOUD won the upper-bracket final 2-1 by taking Summit 13-5 and Haven 13-11 after losing Lotus 8-13.

THESPIKE.GG frames it as a renewal of one of esports’ oldest rivalries, Europe against the Americas. A Vitality win would bring the Champions trophy back to EMEA for the first time in five years and make Chronicle the second player after Sacy to win both a Masters and a Champions title. A LOUD win would make them the first organisation to win Champions twice.

Final details

The grand final is on 18 October at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, and Riot Games will reveal a new agent live on the broadcast before the match. Champions 2026 also marks the end of the competitive season for most teams, so the result will shape the off-season transfer market. EsportsSignal will report the outcome after the final.

Sources: THESPIKE.GG, VLR.gg match page, Dot Esports