NRG reverse the Nongshim result and set up a Karmine Corp showdown
Two 2–0 wins put NRG and KC one victory from the Champions playoffs.
NRG beat Nongshim RedForce 2–0 on 25 September to open their VALORANT Champions Shanghai campaign. They won Lotus 13–5 and Split 13–10, reversing the outcome of the teams’ previous meeting at Masters Santiago.
Nongshim had won that earlier series 2–0. In Shanghai, mada led NRG with 34 kills across the two maps, while brawk and keiko each added 32, according to the match statistics.
Karmine Corp take the other winning spot
Karmine Corp also completed a sweep in Group D, beating Xi Lai Gaming 13–3 on Sunset and 13–6 on Abyss. N4RRATE finished with 39 kills and 19 deaths across the series, Hotspawn reports.
NRG and KC now meet in the winners’ match, listed for 29 September. The winner takes a playoff place. Nongshim and XLG move into the elimination match, where one will leave the tournament.
The group is still open
Riot’s format advances eight of the 16 teams from four groups, with two defeats ending a team’s run. NRG and KC have earned an advantage, while the two opening losers still have a route to qualification through consecutive wins.
Sources
- VLR: NRG–Nongshim scores and player statistics
- Hotspawn: both Group D results and KC map scores
- VLR: NRG’s next opponent and date
- Riot Games: Champions group-stage format
Checked on 26 September 2026, Malaysia time. Opening matches were played on 25 September. NRG–KC is an upcoming match; neither team is described as already qualified.