Fnatic have secured their spot in the VALORANT Champions 2025 grand final, taking down DRX 3–1 in the lower bracket final. The European giants will now get their rematch against NRG, who previously sent them down to the lower bracket in the upper final yesterday.
For DRX, the loss ends what was one of the most remarkable lower bracket runs in recent history. After losing their opening playoff match to Fnatic, the Korean squad bounced back in style, defeating three No. 1 seeds — Paper Rex, G2 Esports, and Team Liquid (twice) — to secure a guaranteed top-three finish. This matches their best-ever performance at an international event, having placed third at Champions 2022.
Map Veto and Series Setup
The veto process hinted at a tightly contested series. Fnatic banned Abyss while DRX removed Lotus. Fnatic chose Sunset as their first pick, while DRX countered with Corrode. Fnatic’s second pick was Haven, with DRX selecting Bind for the fourth map. Ascent was left over as the potential decider.
For Fnatic, Sunset was an interesting gamble: it had been one of DRX’s weaker maps at Champions, while they themselves had yet to play it. DRX, meanwhile, doubled down on Corrode, a map that had served them well against Team Liquid.
Sunset: DRX Strike First
Starting on defense on Fnatic’s pick, DRX immediately seized control of the map. With Waylay and Yoru providing early information and openings, DRX stormed to a 4–1 lead and expanded their advantage to finish the half 8–4.
Fnatic showed some life after the side swap, winning pistol and the anti-eco, but DRX steadied themselves with composed site holds and key multikills. HYUNMIN and Flashback dominated for the Korean side, combining for 42 kills, seven first kills, and a +14 differential between them. Their firepower proved too much as DRX closed out Sunset 13–8, taking a 1–0 lead in the series.
Corrode: Fnatic Respond in Style
DRX’s pick of Corrode backfired as Fnatic came out swinging. A flawless pistol round on attack set the tone for the map, and Fnatic snowballed their momentum to a commanding 6–0 lead. Alfajer opened multiple rounds with clean entry kills, and Fnatic’s coordination with Fade and Vyse ultimates made DRX’s defensive setups crumble.
Even after DRX invested into an Operator and called timeouts, Fnatic’s aggression couldn’t be stopped. Crashies found a stunning 1v3 clutch to put Fnatic up 9–0, finishing the half at an overwhelming 11–1. DRX managed to string together the pistol and anti-eco after the half, but it was too little, too late. Fnatic closed the map 13–3, tying the series at 1–1. Crashies and Chronicle led the way with 290+ ACS and 18 kills each.
Haven: Fnatic Take the Lead
Haven had history between these two sides: DRX had a 10–2 record on the map but had lost to Fnatic 13–11 earlier in the playoffs. This time, DRX came out on attack and quickly surged to a 5–0 lead. However, Fnatic clawed their way back into the game, tying the score at 5–5 off the back of sharpshooting from Kaajak’s Sheriff heroics.
The half ended 6–6, but Fnatic slowly began to assert themselves after the swap. Crashies again came up clutch with a pivotal 4K to put Fnatic ahead 10–7. The European squad pushed to 12–8, but DRX fought tooth and nail to close the gap to 12–11. Ultimately, Fnatic denied overtime, winning 13–11 to take a 2–1 series lead.
Bind: Fnatic Dominate to Close the Series
DRX turned to Bind, but Fnatic on attack set the tone early with a 4–0 start. Chronicle and Alfajer carved through DRX’s defenses with ease, and the map quickly spiralled out of control. Fnatic entered halftime with a stunning 10–2 lead, effectively sealing DRX’s fate. Though DRX managed to win the pistol and anti-eco to keep their hopes alive, Fnatic immediately shut down any comeback attempt thanks to Chronicle’s massive 4K that swung momentum back in their favor, and Fnatic stormed to a 13–4 victory to close the series 3–1.
Fnatic’s victory was built on the backbone of Crashies, who posted a +24 kill differential across the series while consistently delivering high-impact rounds. Chronicle and Alfajer also shone, both crossing the 200 ACS mark and anchoring Fnatic’s mid-round control.
For DRX, HYUNMIN and Flashback were the bright spots on Sunset, but across the rest of the series Fnatic’s preparation and counter-strats neutralized DRX’s firepower. Despite boasting a tournament-high 79% win rate in 1v1 duels, DRX failed to replicate that dominance on Corrode and Bind.
The Grand Final of Valorant Champions Paris: NRG vs FNC
Fnatic’s victory ensures them their best-ever placement at a Champions event, with a grand final rematch against NRG awaiting them. The stakes couldn’t be higher: Fnatic already finished second this year at Masters Toronto, and now have another chance to secure the elusive Champions trophy.
For NRG, who head into the grand final with the advantage of a double map ban, the veto process looms large once again. For Fnatic, overcoming that hurdle will require sharp preparation, flawless execution, and redemption against the team that sent them to the lower bracket.
As for DRX, their incredible lower bracket run ends in third place — matching their historic finish at Champions 2022. While heartbreak lingers, their resilience and upset victories over multiple top seeds will be remembered as one of the highlights of VALORANT Champions Paris.
Tomorrow, it’s NRG versus Fnatic in a best-of-five showdown for the most prestigious trophy in VALORANT. Will Fnatic finally lift their first Champions title, or will NRG’s dream run end with the ultimate prize?
