One last Champs berth left as VCT Americas Stage 2 playoffs top four clash this weekend

The VCT Americas Stage 2 Playoffs have distilled weeks of competition into one final weekend, and the stakes could not be higher. Three teams—Sentinels, G2 Esports, and MIBR—have already secured their tickets to VALORANT Champions Paris, leaving only one slot available for the region. That spot will be determined by the lower bracket clash between NRG and Cloud9, with the winner advancing to face either Sentinels or G2 in the lower final to battle for a grand final spot.

VCT Americas Stage 2 Playoffs – Already Qualified Teams

Sentinels

Sentinels have been the benchmark of consistency in 2025. Their group stage was flawless, and their playoff performances have reinforced their dominance. By locking in enough Championship Points early, their Champs qualification was never truly in doubt.

Perhaps most impressively, they remain one of only two teams that can consistently challenge G2. The Americas region has been dominated all year by Sentinels and G2, who together have only lost one Americas match all season to a team other than each other (SEN lost to KRÜ during Stage 1.)

G2 Esports

G2’s qualification came by way of Championship Points, but their playoff form has shown they are more than capable of contending. Their tactical discipline and creative adaptations have made them one of the Americas’ toughest opponents.

Like Sentinels, they stand as a dominant force, and their head-to-head rivalry has shaped the narrative of the region. G2 enter Champions as not just contenders, but legitimate title threats. They already have a second place finish at Masters Bangkok and a fourth place finish at Masters Toronto, so they’re one of the most successful teams internationally as well as regionally.

MIBR

While not advancing deep into Stage 2’s playoff bracket, MIBR did enough in earlier stages to lock in qualification. Their consistent point accumulation across the season has rewarded them with a Champions berth. For a squad that has steadily improved throughout the year, their ticket to Paris is proof that long-term stability and discipline pay dividends.

Still in the Hunt

NRG Esports

NRG’s playoff run has been defined by resilience. After an early stumble in the upper bracket, they fought their way through the lower bracket to stay alive. Their 2–0 sweep over Leviatán — dominating 13–2 on both Ascent and Icebox — sent a message to the rest of the bracket.

The squad has relied on star power from players like mada, but the bigger story has been their flexibility. For NRG, this is about keeping their international season alive. Win here, and Paris awaits.

Cloud9

On the other side of the bracket sits Cloud9, who find themselves in familiar territory: backs against the wall, but still dangerous. Their playoff run has been uneven, but the highs have been impressive. In their victory over 100 Thieves, C9 relied on OXY’s clutch potential to close out tight rounds.

C9 has often been a team that thrives in chaotic situations. The challenge against NRG will be whether they can sustain that level of play across a full best-of-three under elimination pressure. For Cloud9, this match is more than survival — it’s their final chance to reach Champions. If they fall short, their year ends here.

Americas vs Other Leagues: Qualification Differences

One of the biggest talking points of this playoff cycle has been the difference in qualification tiebreakers across regions. All international leagues send four teams to Champions, with Stage 2 finalists earning two spots and the highest points earners getting the others, though, to determine the latter, Americas employs different tiebreaker rules that have caused a stir in the region.

• Pacific, EMEA, and China: When teams are level on Championship Points, spots are decided based on which side performed better in the most recent tournaments. Stage 2 standings are prioritized, and so those performing better over the last few weeks will be given the nod. After that, if teams are still level, standings from Masters Toronto are counted. Then standings from Stage 1, and so on. Head-to-head results are taken into account as a last resort
• Americas: When sides are neck and neck on Championship Points in Americas, head-to-head records over the entire year are the first difference to be taken into account. If there is no head-to-head advantage in either match record, map differential, or round differential, then overall regular season standings are used. If there’s still no difference, then a Bo1 tiebreaker match will be played.

This discrepancy has sparked debate. Cloud9’s coach, Immi, highlighted the issue in a post on X, noting that under the Pacific, China or EMEA system, both Cloud9 and NRG would already have qualified for Champions, while MIBR would miss out. Instead, MIBR have qualified despite not even reaching Stage 2 playoffs thanks to their better head-to-head records against those around them in the standings over the whole season. Immi’s argument underscored the frustration that some Americas teams feel: that consistent early-season results can outweigh the ability to peak in the high-stakes Stage 2 playoffs.

As the final slot comes down to NRG vs Cloud9, the debate continues online about competitive integrity being held to the same standard internationally, but for now, there can only be one of these two left standing.

The Americas region’s story has been one of dominance by Sentinels and G2, with MIBR earning their ticket through consistency. Now, the region’s final Champions slot will be contested by NRG and Cloud9. Both teams are capable of international impact, but only one will carry that opportunity forward. Expect a clash defined by nerves, firepower, and the weight of an entire season riding on a single series.