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Fnatic have done it. After a long and grueling lower bracket run, the European powerhouse has locked in their first-ever spot in a VALORANT Champions Grand Final, defeating DRX 3-1 in an intense series at Champions Paris. The victory sets up a thrilling rematch against NRG for the 2025 title.

The lower final was a best-of-five showdown that revisited an earlier clash between the two sides, and once again, Fnatic came out on top. The series played out on Sunset, Corrode, Haven, and Bind, with DRX taking only the opening map before Fnatic surged ahead to win three straight and close the series.

DRX Strike First on Sunset
The series began on Sunset, a map that both teams had struggled with in the past. Fnatic surprised fans by picking it, only to see DRX’s Song “HYUNMIN” Hyun-min dominate early. His explosive 4K pistol round set the tone, and DRX’s aggressive defensive holds carried them to a confident 13-8 win. HYUNMIN ended the map with 22 kills and 185 ADR, while Flashback added 20 kills of his own.

Fnatic, despite showing glimpses of life, couldn’t find their footing in mid control, and their attack plan often fell apart under DRX’s well-coordinated site pressure.

Fnatic Respond with a Stomp on Corrode
If the first map belonged to DRX, the second was a statement from Fnatic. Playing Corrode for the first time in the tournament, the EMEA squad delivered a flawless attacking half, storming to a 10-0 run and a crushing 13-3 victory. Austin “crashies” Roberts was the star, putting up 18 kills with near-perfect utility use on Fade. Chronicle wasn’t far behind, matching the pace with 18 kills of his own as DRX’s defence completely collapsed under Fnatic’s mid-control dominance.

Haven Goes the Distance
Haven proved to be the tightest contest of the series. DRX started strong, taking both pistols and building an early 5-0 lead. But Fnatic, led by Boaster’s smart adjustments, fought back to tie the half 6-6. Once again, it was crashies who made the difference, landing crucial clutches and denying DRX’s site hits.

Kajetan “kaajak” Haremski also found his rhythm on Yoru, opening up sites with fearless entries and finishing with a 1.40 rating. Despite DRX’s best efforts to stay in the fight, Fnatic closed out the map 13-11 with a decisive hit on C site.

Bind: The Finishing Blow
By the time the series reached Bind, Fnatic were in full control. Their creative setups and well-timed utility smothered DRX, who managed to win just two rounds on defence, both courtesy of more heroics from HYUNMIN. Chronicle and kaajak each picked up 17 kills, while crashies continued his standout series, finishing with a total of 65 kills across the match.

Fnatic’s clean 13-4 win sealed the 3-1 victory and punched their ticket to the Grand Final.

All Eyes on the Grand Final
DRX bow out in third place, a strong showing for the Pacific fourth seed despite falling short of their first international trophy. For Fnatic, the win marks a historic milestone. The kings of EMEA now advance to face NRG, who previously swept them 2-0 in the upper final.

Speaking after the match, Chronicle reflected on their resilience: “Fnatic always come back. I hope NRG won’t forget that tomorrow.” Boaster followed up with his signature energy, adding, “NRG, we’re coming for you. When you’re in bed having nightmares about us, you know we’ll be ready.”

The VALORANT Champions 2025 Grand Final kicks off tomorrow at 11 AM BST, where Fnatic will try to claim their first Champions trophy and avenge their earlier loss to NRG. Fans can watch the showdown live on the official VCT Twitch and YouTube channels.