Americas second seed NRG have won VALORANT Champions Paris. After crushing Fnatic to take a 2-0 lead, a reverse sweep seemed imminent when the EMEA side levelled at 2-2. But NRG held on, convincingly winning the decider to complete a 3-2 series victory.
A blistering Corrode performance from NRG
The first few rounds on the opener were cagey, but soon NRG began to build momentum with eight consecutive round wins. At the half, NRG led 9-3 — the Americas team with yet another superb start on the Accor Arena stage, and Fnatic with work to do once again.
The second half didn’t bring a change in proceedings. NRG quickly closed 13-3 without dropping a round in the second half, starting the grand final 1-0 up. Brawk’s infamous Odin was a nightmare for Fnatic. He ended the map 24/7/2.
NRG did not let up on Lotus
NRG’s momentum continued into map two, beginning with three round wins before Fnatic could find their first. Kaajak aside, Fnatic’s usual hitters were extremely quiet, an untimely drop in form from the likes of Alfajer and Chronicle, who had been so stellar throughout the event prior.
The rounds kept coming for NRG, and two first-half timeouts from Fnatic saw them desperately trying to halt their opponents’ momentum. Even with a 4v2 advantage in round nine, Fnatic could not close things — NRG could do no wrong.
Once again, the Americas second seed had a 9-3 lead at the switch. This time, though, Fnatic won the next round, beating their tally from the first map, at the very least. Then a 1v2 clutch from veteran IGL Boaster closed the round after, and, finally, Fnatic had reason to believe.
But NRG were having none of it, quickly shutting down any comeback attempt to win 13-6; one map away from being crowned as VALORANT Champions.
Kaajak was the best performer, despite Fnatic’s struggles, ending 20/15/4, but mada too was on fire and brawk’s Odin a nuisance.
A miracle on Abyss
Quickly in map three, it was looking like a miracle comeback was not to arrive. 11 round wins for NRG sandwiched the solitary round for FNATIC as bonkar’s team led 11-1. FNATIC again used both timeouts within the first half, desperate to get their mental into a state where they’d be capable of competing. And somehow they did.
Finally, at a point where you’d have bet your house in NRG closing out, Fnatic woke up. Alfa woke up. Chron woke up. Crashies woke up.
Round after round started going their way, and the momentum did not stop despite NRG nicking one to reach Championship point.
Eventually, with the crowd behind them, Fnatic took it to overtime, causing an eruption in Paris. Though NRG fought back, dragging on what was now the inevitable, Fanatic ended it at 15-13 to complete the greatest single-map comeback in VCT global history.
Fnatic steady on Ascent to level
NRG did well to keep their cool into Ascent, despite their complete capitulation on the third map, starting with a handful of opening round victories. But this time Fnatic answered back quicker, and as soon as they did, the crowd was again behind them.
The Black and Orange went from 0-3 to 2-3, still behind, but very quickly triggering an early timeout from their opponents. It was NRG’s turn to try and stem early momentum, a clear sign that the nature of the series had shifted, if it wasn’t obvious already.
The timeout failed, Fnatic won the next round. Then another. And another. For the first map in the series, they managed a lead at half time, 8-4 up at the interval.
While there was some back and forth, Fnatic held on, winning the map 13-8 to level the tie 2-2 and take it to a third map. Alfajer, having been a passenger through most of the series, was finally playing like his usual self, ending the map 23/14/4
NRG halt the momentum on Sunset
While they’d have been forgiven for crumbling completely on the receiving end of such a turnaround, NRG started strongly on Sunset, the decider. Their 4-2 start led to another early timeout for Fnatic, who went back to being in a round deficit, as they had been through the majority of the BO5.
That deficit only increased; by halftime NRG were up 9-3. Fnatic’s momentum had totally dissipated and did not return. In the back half the European representatives could only find two more rounds as NRG closed to win 13-5, completing the series and being crowned world champions.
NRG brawk – VALORANT Champions 2025 MVP
His Odin shenanigans on full display again today, brawk was crowned MVP of the tournament after leading his side to a VALORANT Champions trophy. The American player finished 84/61/40 with an ACS of 244 and +23 differential.
An honorable mention goes to kaajak, who would’ve surely gained the title had Fnatic won on the day, as he earned a 90/75/14 scoreline.
