MIBR and KRÜ BLAZE find dominant wins to stay alive at GCC Seoul day 5
Zahk
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Day 5 of the 2025 VALORANT Game Changers Championship marked the end of the road for two regions. With both matches being in the lower bracket, tournament life was on the line for Ninetails, MIBR GC, KRÜ Blaze, and Nova Esports GC. By the end of the day, the second Pacific representative had been eliminated, and China’s final hope fell as well, leaving only EMEA and the Americas alive heading into the tournament’s final stretch as the playoffs approach after tomorrow’s dark day.
Two sweeps, two emotional exits, and one of the most dominant individual performances of the event defined Day 5.
Image credit: Riot Games
MIBR GC vs Ninetails: The Home Crowd’s Last Hope Falls
The first elimination match of the day featured Ninetails, Korea’s rising GC powerhouse, facing MIBR GC, Brazil’s LCQ juggernaut and last year’s GCC finalists. Ninetails entered the series hoping to extend their run on home soil after sweeping Xipto the previous day, while MIBR were looking to find redemption after their 2-0 loss to Shopify Rebellion GC.
Map 1: Split – MIBR Run Away Early
Split, Ninetails’ pick, opened with double-duelist compositions on both sides. NTZ selected Yoru/Waylay, while MIBR piloted Yoru/Raze, signaling an aggressive, momentum-heavy map ahead.
Starting on defense, Ninetails grabbed the pistol, but the balance shifted immediately; MIBR stole the anti-eco with sharp mid-round coordination and clean trades. That single round detonated a wave of Brazilian momentum, and MIBR rolled through four more rounds to take a commanding 5-1 lead. NTZ rallied with two more defensive rounds, but MIBR maintained control and closed the half with an 8-4 advantage.
The second half brought no reprieve for the Korean side. MIBR won yet another pistol and extended it into a four-round streak to reach 12-4. Ninetails found one final round, but MIBR closed out the map 13-5, stealing their opponent’s pick without breaking stride.
Map 2: Bind – Ninetails Collapse Under Pressure
Bind, MIBR’s pick, had been a problem map for Ninetails all event; they had already lost it to both Xipto and Nova. The same pattern unfolded again.
Image credit: Riot Games
MIBR started on defense and won the pistol, though Ninetails answered with a solid full-buy conversion. Unfortunately for the home crowd, that was the final spark NTZ would show for some time. MIBR surged through four consecutive rounds, replicating their Split momentum and suffocating NTZ’s attack before they could even get the spike down in multiple rounds. The half ended with MIBR in the lead 8-4, and it was clear that Ninetails were struggling to find their footing.
On attack, MIBR slammed the door shut instantly. They won the pistol round, Ninetails’ fifth consecutive pistol loss on the day. MIBR went on to immediately chain five straight rounds to close out Bind 13-4, completing a crushing 2–0 victory and eliminating Ninetails in Seoul.
The star of the series was sRN, who towered above everyone in the lobby with one of the best individual performances of the tournament: 382 ACS, ten first kills, and a staggering +30 kill differential. With Ninetails’ exit, both Pacific teams were officially out of GCC 2025, while MIBR continued their lower bracket run.
KRÜ Blaze vs Nova Esports GC – LATAM’s Last Stand vs China’s Final Hope
The second elimination match brought together KRÜ Blaze, the only team to qualify for every Game Changers Championship in history, and Nova Esports GC, China’s undefeated 2025 champions and the only Chinese team at the event. Both teams entered the day with drastically different momentum: KRÜ fresh from ousting GIANTX yesterday, Nova still recovering from a tough loss to G2.
Image credit: Riot Games
Map 1: Split – KRÜ Survive the Scare
KRÜ’s pick of Split opened with early dominance from Nova, who won the first three rounds on defense with confident site holds. But after suffering a thrifty loss, KRÜ reignited their attack. The LATAM side stitched together round after round, applying far more pressure mid-round than in their early attempts. KRÜ surged to a 6–4 lead, eventually taking the half 7-5.
The second half became a slugfest. Every round swung on razor-thin margins as Nova adjusted their pacing and utility. The score locked at 9-9, before Nova strung together three straight rounds to reach 12-9 and map point. KRÜ, however, refused to fold. They won the next three rounds to force overtime, and after three tense OT cycles, KRÜ finally closed out the map 16-14, completing a spirited comeback.
Map 2: Haven – KRÜ Roll the Momentum Into a One-Sided Win
Nova selected Haven for map two and opened with their third pistol win of the day, but KRÜ immediately flipped the momentum by stealing the anti-eco with clean pistol shots and well-timed aggression. That one round completely changed the economic state of the half. KRÜ secured an Operator early and used it to suffocate every part of Nova’s map control.
What followed was absolute dominance. KRÜ stacked ten consecutive rounds, leaving Nova unable to find space, timings, or mid-round trades. Nova eventually closed the final round of the half, but KRÜ still held a crushing 10–2 lead. The second half was brief. Nova managed two more rounds, but KRÜ remained in full command and closed the map 13–4, eliminating China’s last representative.
While shirazi once again delivered multiple clutch rounds and finished as Nova’s top performer, the match belonged to mmonch, who posted 327 ACS on Viper, the only player in the server to break the 300 mark.
KRÜ, who have qualified for every GCC since the system was introduced, are now one win away from their best placement in event history.
Image credit: Riot Games
Looking Ahead at the Game Changers Championship: Upper Bracket Returns on November 26
Day 5’s results narrow the teams remaining at the event even further: both Pacific teams and China’s representative are now out of the tournament. Only EMEA and the Americas remain alongside LATAM’s KRÜ, setting the stage for a high-stakes climax.
Tomorrow (November 25) is a break day, but the upper bracket resumes on November 26 with two massive semifinals: G2 Gozen vs Team Liquid Brazil and Shopify Rebellion Gold vs Karmine Corp GC.
Zahk plays and watches a lot of video games, especially Valorant, when she’s home, and travels the world the rest of the time, usually a book in hand. She loves telling stories, coffee, and living life like an adventure.
