In one of the most intense Grand Finals in VCT history, NRG triumphed over Fnatic 3–2 to lift the VALORANT Champions 2025 trophy in Paris. The victory marks NRG’s first international title and a historic second Champions trophy for in-game leader Ethan “Ethan” Arnold, making him the first player ever to win the event twice.

THIS IS WHAT IT WAS ALL FOR

THIS ONE SINGLE MOMENT

NRG ARE YOUR VALORANT WORLD CHAMPIONS. pic.twitter.com/InHzDimkBN

— NRG (@NRGgg) October 5, 2025

The best-of-five clash had it all, dominant starts, impossible comebacks, and viral moments that lit up social media. Both teams came in with something to prove: NRG as the Americas dark horse, and Fnatic as the EMEA powerhouse desperate to end their international drought.

NRG Sets the Pace on Corrode and Lotus

The series opened on NRG’s pick, Corrode, and it was a complete blowout. Running a double-Initiator setup with Ethan on KAY/O and brawk on Sova, NRG dismantled Fnatic 13–3. Their rookies, skuba and s0m, were rock solid on defence, while brawk’s Odin turned into a highlight reel of wallbangs and multi-kills.

The domination continued on Lotus, where both teams mirrored Raze compositions. Fnatic’s attempts to counter NRG’s early aggression fell flat as s0m put on a clinic in his Grand Final debut. NRG cruised to a 13–6 win and a 2–0 series lead, sitting just one map away from sweeping the final.

Fnatic’s Comeback Sparks Hope on Abyss

Then came Abyss, and with it, one of the biggest turnarounds in Champions history. Down 11–1 at halftime, Fnatic refused to fold. Led by Kajetan “kaajak” Haremski and Chronicle, the EMEA squad clawed their way back with fearless mid-control and clutch afterplants. Against all odds, Fnatic forced overtime and closed it out 15–13, keeping their Championship dream alive.

That comeback set the tone for a fiery atmosphere, and an unexpected viral moment.

Fnatic Forces a Decider on Ascent

Fnatic carried that energy into Ascent, where Emir “Alfajer” Beder shone on Sage, yes, Sage, turning defence into domination. His crisp aim and smart utility reads helped Fnatic close out the map 13–8, forcing a fifth and final map.

Sunset: Ethan’s Championship Moment

The title decider on Sunset was all NRG. Fnatic experimented with a double-Duelist composition, but NRG’s structure held firm. Ethan led the charge on Breach with clutch plays and calm mid-round calls, while skuba and brawk locked down key sites.

NRG wrapped up the map 13–5, winning the series 3–2 and preventing a reverse sweep to become the VALORANT Champions 2025.

The Viral “OHNEPIXEL!” Moment

As if the match itself wasn’t dramatic enough, the Grand Final also gave fans one of the most viral moments in VALORANT history, and it involved none other than ohnePixel, the Counter-Strike streamer who’s recently become a Valorant sensation.

During a post-round celebration, Fnatic’s Boaster yelled “OHNEPIXEL, ZESTIFY!” in reference to the creator’s now-infamous Valorant co-streams. Within seconds, ohnePixel reacted live on stream, losing his mind in disbelief. The clip spread like wildfire across X and Twitch.

Even NRG joined in on the fun, tweeting “FOR YOU, THE FAMILY AND THE ANCESTORS 🧡 @ohnePixel” after sealing their championship win.

For context, ohnePixel has recently been at the centre of a hilarious culture crossover between the CS2 and VALORANT communities. His jump into Riot’s tactical shooter has sparked countless memes, debates, and reactions, a phenomenon we covered in detail in OhnePixel Valorant Stream and Gameplay Sparks Memes, Reactions and a Culture Clash earlier.

That ongoing conversation made his Champions shoutout feel like a full-circle moment, bridging two of the biggest FPS fanbases in the world.

Brawk Earns MVP as Ethan Makes History

Brock “brawk” Somerhalder claimed Champions MVP honours with a 1.27 rating, +23 K/D, and 151 ADR, not to mention his now-iconic Odin plays that turned memes into meta. Meanwhile, Ethan’s leadership and composure made him the first player in history to win two VALORANT Champions trophies.

Fnatic, despite their resilience, finish 2025 with three Grand Finals appearances but no international titles, a painful streak for one of the most consistent teams in the scene.

As the VCT 2025 season wraps up, NRG’s name is etched in VALORANT history, and the ohnePixel moment ensures this Grand Final will be remembered as much for its personality as its play.

The post NRG Crowned VALORANT Champions 2025 After Thrilling Five-Map Showdown Against Fnatic appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Riot Games has officially confirmed that Harbor, widely regarded as VALORANT’s weakest agent, will be getting a full rework later this year. The announcement came during the VALORANT Champions 2025 Dev Update Panel in Paris, teasing fans with the promise of long-awaited changes coming in Patch 11.10.

The update doesn’t have an official release date yet, but it’s expected to arrive in mid-to-late November as part of VALORANT’s end-of-year update. Alongside general gameplay and balance changes, this patch will bring a major overhaul to Harbor’s abilities and gameplay style, something many players have been hoping for since his release.

The end-of-year changes are on the way, and so is a Harbor rework!?

From the #VALORANTChampions Dev Update Panel. pic.twitter.com/1AgonABhSI

— VALORANT (@VALORANT) October 3, 2025

Harbor Finally Gets the Buff He Deserves

Since debuting in 2022, Harbor’s kit has struggled to make an impact. His water-based walls and shields sounded great on paper but never stacked up against more versatile Controllers like Omen or Viper. According to Tracker.gg, Harbor currently has the lowest pick rate across all ranks, and professional players have almost completely avoided him throughout the VCT 2025 season.

Game Designer Ryan Cousart confirmed that the rework aims to keep Harbor’s original hybrid identity as both a Controller and Initiator intact, while also introducing brand-new abilities to modernise his playstyle.

“A lot of Harbor’s identity is still true, and we wanted to make sure that was there,” Cousart said. “There’s a lot we’re going to be shuffling around to make you think about those abilities differently, but we also have a couple of new abilities that we wanted to add through.”

Fans are already speculating on social media about what the new abilities might look like. Some hope for a passive that lets him cross his own walls without being slowed, while others want Riot to lean harder into his Initiator potential. As one fan joked on X, “If his walls don’t slow teammates to start, it’s already a massive W.”

Setting the Stage for 2026

Tiffy Tsay, Senior Product Manager at Riot Games, explained that the end-of-year patch isn’t just about balancing but also preparing for what’s next.

“Sometimes we need to take bigger swings at things in one go,” Tsay said. “That’s what the goal for the end-of-year patches is — to set up the foundations for next year so that when you come back, the game feels fresh and ready for all the new content.”

It’s been a while since VALORANT has seen a full agent rework, with Yoru being the last to receive one. That makes this Harbor update even more exciting for the community. As players wait for Patch 11.10, expectations are high that the Indian Controller will finally rise from the bottom of the pick charts and become a real contender in both ranked and pro play.

The post VALORANT Weakest Agent Harbor is Getting Major Rework in Patch 11.10 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

VALORANT players can now jump straight into the action with Skirmish, the newest mode added to the game. Riot Games officially launched Skirmish during the VALORANT Champions 2025 Finals weekend, and it’s already turning heads across the community.

Introducing : Skirmish

Skirmish is a new game mode in customs providing 1v1 to 5v5 matches in 3 maps where you get into the fight right away. Skirmish is live now!

And yes, more modes are on the way in 2026 pic.twitter.com/4sKgoKI7Fo

— VALORANT (@VALORANT) October 3, 2025

First teased by dataminers earlier this week, the mode has now been confirmed and rolled out globally. In Skirmish, there are no spikes, defuses, or drawn-out strategies, just pure aim battles. The mode is built for fast-paced gameplay and quick warm-ups, letting players focus entirely on gunfights rather than tactical setups.

Players can access Skirmish through the Custom Game menu. From there, they can choose between solo duels or team matchups ranging from 2v2 to full 5v5 showdowns. The rules are simple, the first team to win 10 rounds takes the victory. Matches usually last around 7 to 9 minutes, making them perfect for quick sessions between ranked games or friendly rivalries.

Each Skirmish match takes place in one of three exclusive mini-maps, Skirmish A, Skirmish B, and Skirmish C. These arenas are smaller and more straightforward than traditional VALORANT maps, ensuring players are locked into combat almost instantly. The tight layouts mean faster rounds and non-stop action from the first second.

Abilities, weapons, and agents are still part of the mode, allowing players to test lineups, crosshair placements, and mechanical precision. Whether you’re practising your aim, experimenting with new agents, or looking for bragging rights against friends, Skirmish is the go-to mode for pure gunplay.

Interestingly, Skirmish went live right in the middle of the Champions 2025 Finals Weekend in Paris. The timing couldn’t be better, with fans tuning in for epic matches like FNATIC vs NRG and DRX vs Paper Rex, alongside major announcements for the VCT 2026 season and upcoming agent reveals. Riot is clearly using this hype-filled period to showcase VALORANT’s evolving direction, a blend of competitive intensity and casual fun.

If you’ve been following the leaks, you might remember our earlier piece, Valorant Introduces New Skirmish Game Mode, where we first discussed rumours surrounding this update. Now that it’s official, it’s safe to say Skirmish is more than just a test mode, it’s a fresh way to experience VALORANT without the pressure of ranked play.

Riot has also hinted that this is just the beginning. More experimental game modes are planned for 2026, expanding how players can enjoy VALORANT beyond the traditional bomb-plant formula.

With Skirmish now live, players can jump in, warm up, or settle friendly duels, no queue, no waiting, just gunfights.

The post VALORANT Skirmish Mode Is Now Live: Fast 1v1 to 5v5 Duels Without the Spike appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

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.

Second matchup. Same result.@FNATIC take down DRX AGAIN at #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/R894i2RUbR

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) October 4, 2025

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.”

🥶 pic.twitter.com/MI3RzQzIfK

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) October 4, 2025

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.

The post Fnatic Crush DRX 3-1 to Reach VALORANT Champions 2025 Grand Final appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

DRX has knocked out Paper Rex from VALORANT Champions 2025 after a dominant 2-0 win, booking their place in the Lower Bracket Final against Fnatic. The victory means the Korean side keeps their championship hopes alive while the Masters Toronto champions head home in fourth place.

ANOTHER #1 SEED TAKEN DOWN!@DRX_VALORANT advances to the Lower Final of #VALORANTChampions! pic.twitter.com/jyRSBCSBSj

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) October 3, 2025

This latest clash between two Pacific heavyweights was a true classic. It marked the 17th time DRX and Paper Rex have met, but their first ever encounter on the Champions stage. Paper Rex came in as clear favourites after a season filled with silverware, yet DRX arrived well-prepared and confident in their game plan.

The match began on DRX’s pick, Ascent. Paper Rex started strong, taking an 8-1 lead behind Wang “Jinggg” Jing Jie’s lights-out performance on Sage. He finished the half with 20 kills and only five deaths as DRX trailed 9-3 at the break. Despite the deficit, DRX refused to back down.

Song “HYUNMIN” Hyun-min led the charge in the second half, tearing through Paper Rex’s defence with aggressive mid-control and confident first duels. His precision completely shifted the momentum. Although PRX reached map point first, DRX forced overtime and held firm to close out Ascent 15-13. HYUNMIN finished with an incredible 36/19/1 KDA, eight first kills, and an average damage per round (ADR) of 220, topping even Jinggg’s impressive stats.

“I just had to put confidence into my team and for myself, so I just started peeking everything,” HYUNMIN said in the post-match interview, smiling about his fearless play.

Next up was Paper Rex’s map pick, Lotus. DRX adapted instantly, swapping HYUNMIN’s Waylay for Raze and matching PRX’s Raze-Yoru composition. The change worked perfectly. DRX claimed the first pistol round thanks to a 3K from HYUNMIN and traded rounds evenly through the first half before edging ahead 7-5.

The second half saw DRX completely take control. A clean pistol and bonus round win pushed them to an 11-5 lead. While Paper Rex fought back with a few strong A-site hits and a clutch Showstopper from Jinggg, DRX proved too solid to break. They closed out Lotus 13-8, with MaKo standing tall on Omen at 17/8/14 and HYUNMIN adding another 19 kills to cap off his monster series.

Across both maps, HYUNMIN ended with a staggering 55/32/4 KDA and 200 ADR, cementing himself as one of the standout players of the tournament.

With this win, DRX have matched their best-ever international finish from Champions 2022 and are now one step away from the grand final. Their next challenge will be against Fnatic, who dropped to the lower bracket after a 2-0 defeat to NRG earlier in the day. The winner will advance to face NRG, who remain undefeated so far in Paris.

One team has secured their spot in the Grand Finals.

See the updated #VALORANTChampions bracket. 👇 pic.twitter.com/FhKcYs4h18

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) October 3, 2025

Fans can catch the Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final of VALORANT Champions 2025 live on the official VALORANT Champions Tour YouTube and Twitch channels.

The post DRX Eliminates Paper Rex, Sets Up VALORANT Champions 2025 Lower Final Against Fnatic appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

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.

FLAWLESS TO GRAND FINALS!@NRGgg take the win over FNATIC and secure their spot. #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/UqGAVF3ipe

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) October 3, 2025

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.

THE ROOKIE WITH THE CLUTCH 1v2! @skubacs #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/yJz8MwG5L0

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) October 3, 2025

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.

The post NRG Crush Fnatic to Reach VALORANT Champions 2025 Grand Final appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Kai Cenat has become the first streamer in history to reach one million subscribers on Twitch, hitting the milestone during his Mafiathon 3 marathon. But what should have been a celebration quickly turned into a heated debate, as many VALORANT fans accused Riot Games of wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars on gifting subs to Cenat.

What even is Riot’s marketing budget here, at a minimum for T1 subs thats like $360,000 https://t.co/le8RqT3k32

— Spideraxe (@Spideraxe30) September 28, 2025

The reality, however, is a little different.

Riot’s Role in SUBtember

Twitch’s annual SUBtember event returned this year with discounts and bonuses for subscribers. For every five gift subs purchased, Twitch automatically added a sixth. Riot Games stepped in as the event’s official sponsor to tie it into VALORANT Champions Paris 2025, putting the game’s branding front and centre across the campaign.

When Cenat’s sub count skyrocketed past one million, speculation swirled that Riot had bankrolled the surge. Analyst Spideraxe estimated the figure at “at a minimum $360,000” worth of Tier 1 subs.

But Riot’s Global Head of VALORANT Esports, Leo Faria, cleared things up on X: “We’re sponsoring the event, not gifting the subs.” In other words, Twitch covered the bonus subs as part of SUBtember, while Riot simply paid for the sponsorship rights.

For context this campaign is part of Twitch’s SUBtember, which this year is presented by VALORANT in celebration of Champions. Every partner and affiliate on the platform benefits from this (an automatic gift sub for every five gifted subs), with Twitch matching your gift subs.… https://t.co/f0A5bnaaUk

— Leo Faria (@lhfaria) September 28, 2025

Fans Still Frustrated

Even with that clarification, the community pushback didn’t stop. Some fans argued that Riot’s money would be better spent on fixing long-standing issues in the Premier system or investing in Tier 2 and Tier 3 esports.

Here is my opinion on Valorant spending $500K+ on an terrible advertisement campaign

– the conversion rate of the impressions this generated is so unbelievably low that it was a complete waste of money and likely was only ever green lighted because the numbers they could flex… https://t.co/PvenxsguJS

— Trick (@TrickVAL) September 28, 2025

Trick called the campaign “a terrible advertisement,” pointing out that the conversion rate of impressions would likely be minimal compared to more direct grassroots investment. Others argued that supporting smaller streamers or funding regional competitions would have been a smarter play.

Riot’s Marketing Play

From Riot’s perspective, the sponsorship aligned VALORANT with Twitch’s biggest moment ever. By attaching the game to Cenat’s record-breaking achievement, VALORANT secured massive global visibility during one of the platform’s most-watched events of all time.

And while the optics sparked outrage, Riot didn’t directly spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on subscriptions, that was Twitch’s side of the deal. Riot essentially bought brand exposure, not subs.

The Takeaway

Kai Cenat’s one million subs mark a milestone in streaming history, and Riot’s involvement ensured VALORANT was part of that conversation. But the backlash shows how sensitive fans are about where Riot spends its money. For many, marketing campaigns don’t matter as much as fixing the core issues that keep VALORANT’s competitive scene from thriving.

The post VALORANT Fans Outrage Over Kai Cenat’s 1M Sub Record appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

In a tense regional showdown at Valorant Champions 2025 in Paris, NRG and MIBR went head-to-head in a three-map series that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Only one team could advance to the upper bracket finals, and NRG narrowly came out on top, setting up a clash with FNATIC.

THEY STAY UNDEFEATED@NRGgg continues their win streak and secure a spot in the Upper Final at #VALORANTChampions playoffs! pic.twitter.com/WRuiLuAE5O

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) September 28, 2025

Abyss: Overtime Drama and Heroics

The series opened on Abyss, with NRG returning to their Harbour composition while MIBR ran a double-Duelist setup. NRG won the opening pistol and bonus rounds thanks to aggressive plays from s0m, but MIBR fought back, led by cortezia on a key B-site hold. The half ended tied 6-6, with a lighter moment as mada fell off the map during a missed Yoru teleport.

The second half saw Ethan and brawk shine, bringing the map into overtime. Mada eventually sealed Abyss 16-14 for NRG, giving them the early series advantage.

Haven: MIBR Strikes Back

On Haven, both teams ran solo Neon alongside double-Controller setups. MIBR dominated early, taking a near-perfect 10-2 lead, and kept control to finish the map 13-4, forcing the series decider on Corrode.

Corrode: NRG Prevails in Another Nail-Biter

The final map saw mirrored compositions with Waylay and double-Controller in play. MIBR’s aspas dominated early, threatening the best-of-three kill record, while NRG gradually fought back through smart team play and clutch rounds.

Overtime was inevitable. NRG’s mada made crucial early entries, and s0m’s remarkable 1v2 clutch finally pushed NRG ahead. They closed the map 16-14, winning the series and advancing to the upper finals.

Standout Performances

Despite the loss, aspas from MIBR stole the spotlight, breaking the international best-of-three kill record with 80 kills, a 1.37 player rating, 272 ACS, and 15 first kills.

HE DOES IT AGAIN!@aspaszin breaks his own Global Stage kill record! pic.twitter.com/bNLGUKRfbN

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) September 28, 2025

NRG’s consistency and clutch play proved the difference, setting up a high-stakes showdown with FNATIC in the upper bracket finals. MIBR will have to battle through the lower bracket, starting against DRX.

The post NRG Edges Out MIBR in Thrilling Valorant Champions 2025 Semifinal, Set to Face FNATIC appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Fnatic have pulled off one of the most dramatic comebacks of VALORANT Champions 2025 so far, toppling Paper Rex 2–1 in the upper semifinals despite playing without star player Emir “Alfajer” Ali Beder.

12 ROUND COMEBACK AND A REVERSE SWEEP!@FNATIC are now Top 3 and their highest placement ever at #VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/wSLFM09Asv

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) September 28, 2025

Just hours before the match, Fnatic confirmed that Alfajer would miss the series due to health issues. In his place, former Fnatic player Domagoj “Doma” Fancev was flown in at the last minute, arriving in Paris only four hours before the match began. You can read more about Alfajer’s absence and Doma’s unexpected return here.

Bind Slips Away

The opener on Bind, Paper Rex’s map pick, looked promising for Fnatic early on. Kaajak was electric on Yoru, putting up 30 kills in just 23 rounds, but PRX’s resilience shone through. A clutch 4K from something in round 21 helped secure a 13–10 win for the Pacific side, giving them the series lead.

Fnatic Strike Back on Haven

Fnatic hit back on Haven, a map PRX had avoided all tournament. Smart play around the Yoru–Waylay composition gave them control from the start, with Chronicle sealing the half 8–4 thanks to a superb 1v3 clutch. After finally securing a pistol round, Fnatic closed out the map comfortably 13–4. Kaajak again delivered, with 20 kills across just 17 rounds, backed by Chronicle’s sharp Viper performance.

The Comeback on Lotus

Lotus looked set to break Fnatic’s hearts when PRX raced to an 8–1 lead and finished the half up 9–3. But in true Fnatic fashion, the team rallied in spectacular style. Crashies and Chronicle sparked the turnaround with a pivotal 2v4 pistol round win, setting the stage for a ten-round streak that silenced PRX completely.

Fnatic ran away with the decider 13–9, leaving Paper Rex without a single attacking round in the second half. Chronicle was the standout, dropping an outrageous 31/14/7 KDA on Viper with 246 ADR. Doma also had his moment, clutching a vital 1v2 that helped steady the team’s momentum.

A Statement Win

The victory secures Fnatic a spot in the upper final and guarantees a top three finish at Champions—their best ever result at the tournament. For Doma, it was an emotional return to the orange and black.

“I did this for him, I tried my best,” he said after the match, dedicating his performance to Alfajer. “Alfa, enjoy the semis and go win the whole thing.”

Paper Rex now drop into the lower bracket, where they will fight Team Heretics for survival and a chance to stay in contention for the title.

Fnatic, meanwhile, continue their run in Paris with momentum, belief, and one of the most inspiring comebacks we’ve seen at Champions.

The post Fnatic Stun Paper Rex With Stand-In to Reach VCT 2025 Top Three appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The biggest VALORANT tournament of the year is bringing in a brand-new prize that’s got players buzzing. Riot Games has revealed that the winners of VALORANT Champions 2025 won’t just be lifting the trophy and pocketing their share of $2.25 million, they’ll also be walking away with the new Champions Necklace, a piece of jewellery that blends esports prestige with luxury style.

The Champions MVP bracelet and Champions Pendant 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ONY37yXFuT

— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) September 27, 2025

From Cube to Chain

For years, members of the winning team received a Radiant Cube as their personal keepsake from Champions. That tradition is now retired. Instead, each player on the victorious roster will be given a sterling silver necklace featuring the Champions Pendant, complete with a 22-carat gold cube set into the chain.

The pendant itself carries a lot of detail. It includes the iconic Champions trophy, a bead marking the year, and an engraving on the bottom that lists the winning team and final score. It’s not just a piece of hardware, it’s a statement.

Designed for Style and Legacy

The Champions Necklace was developed in partnership with Good Art Hollywood, the same jeweller behind the Champions MVP bracelet, which will continue to be awarded separately. According to VALORANT Esports Commissioner Leo Faria, the decision to shift from the cube to a necklace came after speaking with players at the Seoul afterparty last year.

“Potter didn’t say the cube was lame, but she did say players want the drip,” Faria recalled. “They want something cool to show on social media and celebrate the achievement. That’s why we’re doing the Champions Pendant.”

A New Era of Champions Rewards

The necklace represents more than just a prize, it’s a cultural shift. VALORANT players and fans are known for embracing style, and Riot is clearly leaning into that energy with this move. The combination of sterling silver and 22-carat gold ensures it isn’t just flashy but also symbolic of the game’s growing legacy.

VALORANT Champions 2025 wraps up on October 5, and whoever takes the title will be the first team to wear the new Champions Necklace. The cube may be gone, but the drip is here to stay.

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