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NRG have done it. The underdogs from the Americas region have stormed their way into the VALORANT Champions 2025 grand final after a dominant 2-0 sweep over Fnatic in Paris. It marks NRG’s first-ever international grand final appearance and a defining moment for the team’s young roster.

The upper bracket final began on Ascent, Fnatic’s map pick, and it was clear from the start that NRG came prepared. Running a double-Initiator setup with Sova and KAY/O, the team took early control with mada and s0m leading the charge. Fnatic, meanwhile, leaned on their signature double-Sentinel composition with Alfajer returning to Sage after recovering from illness.

While Fnatic nearly snatched the opening pistol round thanks to a 1v3 attempt by Boaster, NRG held strong and quickly built momentum. A well-timed timeout and some aggressive plays from mada, including brawk’s clever use of the Odin, helped NRG secure an 8-4 half-time lead.

Fnatic fought back on defence, with Alfajer and kaajak stepping up to tie things at 11-11 and push the game into overtime. But it was NRG who held their nerve. Two quick rounds from mada sealed a 14-12 victory on map one, giving the North American squad the early advantage.

On Abyss, NRG’s pick, things quickly spiralled out of control for Fnatic. The team’s unconventional composition featuring Yoru and Harbor caught Fnatic completely off-guard. Skuba opened the map with a massive 4k in the pistol round, setting the tone for what would become a brutal one-sided affair.

By the half, NRG led 11-1. Fnatic’s usual stars, kaajak, Alfajer, and Chronicle, were nowhere to be found, struggling to break through NRG’s confidence-fuelled aggression. Skuba finished the first half with 15 kills, while s0m sat comfortably behind him with 13. Even a pistol round win in the second half couldn’t save Fnatic from the inevitable, as NRG closed out Abyss 13-5 to win the series 2-0.

Skuba was the undisputed series MVP, ending with a 1.31 rating, 39 kills, +17 K/D differential, and 151 ADR, a monster performance on the biggest stage of his career so far.

With the win, NRG have secured their spot in Sunday’s VALORANT Champions 2025 grand final, capping off an incredible Cinderella run for a roster once dismissed as “rookies and rejects.” As for Fnatic, their journey isn’t over yet. The EMEA giants drop to the lower bracket final, where they’ll face DRX for one last shot at redemption and a chance to meet NRG again for the title.