Team Vitality keep EMEA hopes alive, beat Nongshim 2-1

The sweep streak of playoffs is over, and the sole team from EMEA is still in the upper bracket. Team Vitality Team Vitality Europe Rank #1 Jamppi Elias Olkkonen PROFEK Dawid Święć Derke Nikita Niko Sirmitev Chronicle Timofey Khromov Sayonara Ștefan Mîtcu defeated Nongshim RedForce Nongshim RedForce Korea Rank #1 WoohyuN Moon Woo-hyun (문우현) Xross Jeonghwan (정환) Rb Goo Sang-min (구상민) Francis Kim Mu-bin (김무빈) Dambi Lee Hyuk-kyu (이혁규) Ivy Park Sung-hyeon (박성현) 2-1 in the final upper quarterfinal game of Valorant Champions 2026.

Map one was Split, a historically good map for Nongshim at internationals. While both teams ran the same comp of double-Duelist with Neon and Yoru alongside double-Controller of Omen and Viper, the Vitality side reintroduced Chronicle on Neon. Vitality earned the first pistol win, but Nongshim used Bandits to immediately convert the eco. That placed Vitality in a horrid spot financially, as Francis and Rb seized that lead. Vitality were able to balance the round as much as they could, only down 7-5 at the half.

Though, when Vitality took the second-half pistol, the only round they lost in the second half was the bonus round. Everyone on Vitality had their time to shine, as the EMEA representatives finished map one 13-8.

Abyss was a footnote in this best-of-three, as despite this being a Vitality map pick, Nongshim wiped the floor with them. Once again, Vitality won the opening pistol and were immediately ecoed, but Nongshim truly pushed that advantage on this map. Ivy on Omen was cooking, and Xross on the attack side was to be feared. Despite losing pistol, Nongshim entered the half up 8-4, and ended the second half perfectly to complete a quick map two 13-4.

The final map of Haven was an interesting final map, as Nongshim were clearly favored on it over Vitality based on previous matches. Vitality did change their comp up for the match, running double-Duelist with Neon and Yoru alongside Derke on Chamber, but the true factor was their pistol round dominance. Taking the first, Vitality was able to hold in a half that Nongshim looked strong on, attacking B site as frequently as the team did against Karmine Corp. Vitality were able to keep the half moderately close, entering the half down only 7-5.

Then, with another pistol round win and a bonus conversion, Vitality just needed to keep the pressure on the Santiago champions to secure the map and series. An eco from Nongshim offered hope, then a 9-9 tie was followed up by a late Francis A long hold to revitalize the Pacific squad. Rounds kept trading back and forth, reaching another tie at 11-11 with Nongshim on a force that could lose them the series. A hero would rise, and while Jamppi started with a 1v1 post-plant, a genius Killjoy ultimate took the map to overtime, punishing the positioning from Vitality.

Derke survives and thrives against Nongshim in OT.

Overtime began with Derke living longer than anyone expected, nailing shots with the Operator to push EMEA ahead. Nongshim tried to match that with two glass cannon Operators on defense, but an early spam kill shut that down. Vitality earned a victory on Haven 14-12, taking the 2-1 series win with an entertaining map three.

With this win, Vitality will move on to face G2 Esports G2 Esports North America Rank #3 jawgemo Alexander Mor BABYBAY Andrej Francisty trent Trent Cairns valyn Jacob Batio leaf Nathan Orf in the upper semifinals, while Nongshim falls to lowers to face 100 Thieves 100 Thieves North America Rank #1 Cryocells Matthew Panganiban Asuna Peter Mazuryk vora Jordan Pulwer Timotino Timothée Lavigne Dupont bang Sean Bezerra .

NS SilKanoN on the team troubles throughout the series: “First map, it was our pick, and on the attack side, we weren't able to show what we wanted to show. We weren't able to get the pistol rounds overall throughout the day, and that was the beginning of the snowball. Our team, when we win, we win hard, and when we lose, we fall hard.”

NS Rb on the upcoming match against 100 Thieves in the lower bracket: “All Americas teams making it into the playoffs is enough proof that they are the strongest region in Champions right now. As for our next opponent, 100 Thieves, I don't know how the match is going to go, but all I know is that it is going to be one interesting game.”

VIT Sayonara on his performance at the tournament: “It's very nice to play so good at Champs, but it's all about playing good as a team. In Stage 2 we weren't playing good as a team, but the air in Shanghai is different. We play so much better as a team, and individuals get to show that.”

Valorant Champions 2026 will continue with the first round of the lower bracket before continuing with the upper bracket.