VALORANT Champions 2026 opens in Shanghai on September 24, the season's final international event, where the sport's world champion is crowned. Sixteen teams representing every major global region converge for a tournament that has historically been the most unpredictable event on the VCT calendar.
The field carries exceptional narrative weight. 100 Thieves arrive as Americas Stage 2 champions, fresh off a five-map classic against LOUD. Nongshim RedForce won Masters Santiago. NRG are defending their 2025 Champions title and nobody has won back-to-back Champions since the format was introduced. Global Esports took Pacific Stage 2. TYLOO won China Stage 2 on home soil. And EDward Gaming, the last Chinese team to win an international title, in 2024, are playing in front of a Chinese crowd that carries the weight of that expectation.
Bet on all VALORANT Champions 2026 markets at Duelbits Esports.
All odds from Duelbits Sportsbook, correct at time of writing and subject to change.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | VALORANT Champions 2026 |
| Dates | September 24 - October 18, 2026 |
| Location | Shanghai, China |
| Teams | 16 (4 groups of 4) |
| Group stage start | September 24 |
| Grand Final | October 18 |
| Defending champion | NRG Esports (Champions 2025) |
| Prize pool | TBC (Riot Games) |
| Team | Region | Duelbits Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Thieves | Americas | 4.00 |
| Nongshim RedForce | APAC/Korea | 4.80 |
| Paper Rex | Pacific | 5.80 |
| Karmine Corp | EMEA | 7.00 |
| NRG Esports | Americas | 8.50 |
| G2 Esports | Americas | 15.00 |
| T1 Esports | APAC | 20.00 |
| Team Vitality | EMEA | 25.00 |
| Global Esports | Pacific | 30.00 |
| LOUD | Americas | 30.00 |
| FUT Esports | EMEA | 35.00 |
| EDward Gaming | China | 35.00 |
| Team Liquid | EMEA | 35.00 |
| TYLOO | China | 100.00 |
| JD Gaming | China | 100.00 |
| XLG Esports | China | 100.00 |
| Match | Date | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Thieves vs T1 Esports | Sep 27 | 100T 1.40 / T1 2.90 |
| JD Gaming vs FUT Esports | Sep 27 | JDG 3.40 / FUT 1.30 |
Favourites to advance: 100 Thieves and FUT Esports
As the recently crowned VCT Americas 2026 Stage 2 champions, 100 Thieves enter Group A with a favorable opportunity to make a deep run. While they will face T1, a strong opponent, their comfort with the current meta and map pool could give them an edge. Combined with T1's recent struggles regionally, the organisation has a strong chance of making it out of Group A.
100 Thieves at 1.40 against T1 is the most confident individual match price among the four Day 1 favourites, justified by their Americas championship, momentum, and T1's documented adaptation difficulties with the current patch.
The JDG vs FUT match is the group's wildcard. FUT Esports are priced 1.30 despite being primarily known for their EMEA regional performances, they impressed at Masters London 2026, with most of their lineup making their international debut at that event. Home-crowd advantage could give JD Gaming an extra boost against FUT Esports, but FUT carry enough momentum from Masters London to upset the home fans.
| Match | Date | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Global Esports vs Team Vitality | Sep 26 | GE 2.15 / TV 1.68 |
| LOUD vs EDward Gaming | Sep 26 | LOUD 1.45 / EDG 2.70 |
Favourites to advance: Global Esports and EDward Gaming (with LOUD as serious contender)
One of the most interesting groups at VALORANT Champions 2026, Group B features a stacked matchup between Global Esports and Team Vitality. GE's recent victory at VCT Pacific 2026 Stage 2 makes them a particularly dangerous opponent, but Team Vitality at 1.68 reflects the market's slight preference for EMEA pedigree in a two-way matchup.
The LOUD vs EDG match carries significant emotional and historical weight. LOUD are coming off a historic Lower Bracket run in Americas Stage 2, finishing just one overtime away from the regional title. Their talented young roster will be eager to prove themselves on the international stage. But EDward Gaming are playing on home soil in Shanghai, and they carry the expectation of ending China's international drought: EDG were the last Chinese team to win an international title in 2024, and they will be eager to prove themselves on the international stage once again.
EDG at 2.70 in a crowd-backed Chinese venue feels generous. LOUD at 1.45 reflects their momentum but doesn't fully account for the Shanghai atmosphere.
| Match | Date | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Team Liquid vs Paper Rex | Sep 24 | Liquid 2.20 / PRX 1.65 |
| TYLOO vs G2 Esports | Sep 24 | TYLOO 2.80 / G2 1.42 |
Favourites to advance: TYLOO and Paper Rex
Paper Rex at 1.65 against Team Liquid is one of the clearest value confirmations in the draw. Paper Rex have consistently looked like a stacked team on the international stage, and the odds are clearly not in EMEA's favor in this matchup. The Liquid vs PRX match opens the entire tournament on September 24.
The TYLOO vs G2 match is more complex. TYLOO won VCT China Stage 2 and play with the full home-crowd energy behind them in Shanghai. However, G2's international experience could still give them an edge and allow them to pull off an upset. This season has been a difficult one for G2, making it hard to predict how they will handle another international campaign. G2 at 1.42 implies 70.4% probability, that might be overstating their current form level.
| Match | Date | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Nongshim RedForce vs NRG Esports | Sep 25 | NSR 1.68 / NRG 2.15 |
| Karmine Corp vs XLG Esports | Sep 25 | KC 1.25 / XLG 3.80 |
Favourites to advance: NS RedForce and NRG (or Karmine Corp)
NRG and Nongshim RedForce will face off in a highly anticipated matchup between the reigning VALORANT Champions winners and the Masters Santiago champions. NRG will be looking to defend their title, while NS RedForce will be aiming to add another international trophy to their collection after their impressive rise from the Tier 2 scene.
This is the match of the group stage. NSR at 1.68 and NRG at 2.15 for a match between the two most recent major international winners. Considering the current meta, NS RedForce might feel slightly more comfortable, but NRG now boasts a very strong map pool that could make the difference.
Karmine Corp at 1.25 against XLG Esports is the most one-sided match of the opening round, justified by the weak track record of Chinese teams on the international stage since 2024, and KCP's EMEA dominance throughout 2026.
100 Thieves edged LOUD in a 5-map banger to win VCT Americas 2026 Stage 2. They arrived at Champions as regional champions with the most current competitive momentum of any team in the field. Their comfort with the current patch meta, demonstrated across the Americas playoffs, is the primary argument for their 4.00 price.
Their draw is manageable. T1 are beatable at 2.90. If they take care of business in the opening match, 100 Thieves are in the upper bracket of the playoff stage with the full momentum of a championship-winning run behind them.
Verdict: The most rational outright bet in the field. Americas champion, strong meta adaptation, winnable group, best individual match price (1.40 in opener). 4.00 implies only 25% probability for a team whose form profile suggests more.
NS RedForce won Masters Santiago 2026, the major international event that took place earlier in the year, and enter Champions as arguably the hottest team in the world on form data outside of 100 Thieves. Their rise from the Tier 2 scene makes their trajectory one of the most compelling stories in competitive VALORANT.
They face NRG in the opening match, a tough draw but one that tests them against exactly the quality level they need to beat to win Champions. At 4.80, they are the second-shortest price in the field and the most interesting value position among the top-5 favourites. Masters winners who carry form into Champions convert at a historically significant rate.
Verdict: Each-way at 4.80. Masters Santiago winner, strong patch meta alignment, competitive but winnable opening match against NRG.
Paper Rex have consistently looked like a stacked team on the international stage across multiple Champions and Masters events. They draw Team Liquid in their opening match, a favourable opposition. Their path to the playoff bracket appears cleaner than most.
PRX's ceiling, individual mechanical expression, creative map-specific compositions, is among the highest in the field. Their floor (occasional defensive structure lapses against physical opponents) is the risk factor. At 5.80 they are the third-shortest price despite not winning a regional Stage 2 title this split, which reflects the weight of their international tournament performance history.
Verdict: Each-way at 5.80. Tournament pedigree justifies the price; cleaner group draw than their higher-priced alternatives.
Despite qualifying for every international event in 2026, KCP's price at 7.00 reflects that they haven't won a regional title this split. But their consistent international performances across Masters and Champions events have established them as one of the most reliable EMEA representatives at VCT level. Their 1.25 opener against XLG should result in a comfortable upper-bracket entry.
Verdict: Small each-way at 7.00. Consistent international performer, easy opening match, reasonable tournament path.
NRG won Champions 2025. They now attempt to do something no team has done in the VCT era: win back-to-back Champions. The meta has evolved, rosters have shifted, and the teams who lost to them last year have spent the year specifically preparing to beat them. NRG's map pool is stronger than ever, but 8.50 implies only 11.8% probability for the defending champion, which may undervalue their structural advantages.
Verdict: Each-way at 8.50. Defending champion with genuine back-to-back potential and a strong roster. Their opening match against NS RedForce is the day's headline matchup, worth backing as an individual match bet at 2.15.
EDward Gaming (35.00): Playing on Shanghai home soil, motivated by being the last Chinese team to win internationally (2024), and drawing LOUD in a winnable opening match. 35.00 is a large price for a team with genuine upside on home ground. Small each-way position only.
Global Esports (30.00): Won Pacific Stage 2. 30.00 implies only 3.3% probability for the freshest Pacific champion, likely understated by a market that doesn't fully weight Pacific Stage 2 form. Long shot but the biggest apparent market discrepancy.
FUT Esports (35.00): Impressed at Masters London, opening match against JDG is winnable, 1.30 match price. If they advance from Group A, their outright price contracts dramatically.
| Market | Selection | Duelbits Odds | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outright Winner | 100 Thieves | 4.00 | Americas champion, freshest form, manageable group, 25% implied underweights their trajectory |
| Outright (EW) | NS RedForce | 4.80 | Masters Santiago winners, second-best form entering the tournament |
| Outright (EW) | Paper Rex | 5.80 | International pedigree, easier draw, high ceiling |
| Outright (EW) | NRG | 8.50 | Defending champion, back-to-back attempt, 11.8% implied undervalues structural quality |
| Match winner | 100T vs T1: 100T | 1.40 | Americas champs vs T1 in form struggles, most confident individual match of the draw |
| Match winner | NRG vs NSR: NRG | 2.15 | Defending champions at 2.15 for a match anyone could win, value on NRG's experience |
| Long shot | EDG | 35.00 | Shanghai home crowd, 2024 international title pedigree, LOUD matchup winnable |
Bet on all VALORANT Champions 2026 markets at Duelbits Esports.
For the complete guide to how Valorant esports betting markets work, map handicap, round totals, pistol rounds and agent draft, see our Valorant Betting Odds Explained guide. For the full competitive game guide including how to read team compositions, see our How to Bet on Valorant guide.
When is VALORANT Champions 2026?
September 24 - October 18, 2026 in Shanghai, China. Group stage opens September 24 with eight opening-round matches across four days.
Who is favoured to win VALORANT Champions 2026?
100 Thieves at 4.00 (Americas Stage 2 champions), followed by NS RedForce at 4.80 (Masters Santiago winners), Paper Rex at 5.80, and Karmine Corp at 7.00.
Who won VALORANT Champions 2025?
NRG Esports, they are defending their title at Champions 2026, priced at 8.50 on Duelbits.
What is the group draw?
Group A: 100T, T1, JDG, FUT. Group B: Global Esports, Vitality, LOUD, EDG. Group C: TYLOO, G2, Liquid, PRX. Group D: NSR, NRG, KC, XLG.
Which match is the best bet on Day 1?
Team Liquid vs Paper Rex (Sep 24): PRX at 1.65 is the clearest directional value on the opening day. Paper Rex's consistent international record against a Liquid team with a difficult history in Pacific-region matchups.
