Champions' 9-match streak snapped, 13-3 in the decider and a 1v4 clutch from erde: LOUD topple NRG and become the first org to finish top 3 at three Valorant Champions

LOUD are officially among the three best Valorant teams in the world in 2026. On Saturday (Oct. 10) in Shanghai, the Brazilian side beat NRG, the reigning world champions, 2-1 in the upper bracket semifinal of Valorant Champions, guaranteeing at least a third-place finish. The win also ended NRG's record run of nine straight match victories at Champions.

The series opened on Haven, NRG's pick, which LOUD closed out 13-9. NRG answered on Sunset, the Brazilians' pick, winning 13-10. The decider on Summit was one-way traffic: LOUD ran away with the map 13-3. Captain Roberto 'erde' Lobos stole the show late, stringing together three consecutive clutches — including a round won alone against four opponents — and posting a 1.72 rating on the final map.

'This is LOUD. This is Brazil,' the organization celebrated on social media. Their next opponent will come from Vitality vs. G2, and the upper final, which grants a direct spot in the title match, is scheduled for Oct. 16 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. NRG drop to the lower bracket to face 100 Thieves; a loss would end their title defense in 5th-6th place.

The run is already historic: according to Pichau Arena, LOUD are the first organization to reach the Champions top 3 in three different editions. In 2022 they won Brazil's only Valorant world title, beating OpTic 3-1 in the final; in 2023 they finished third after a 3-2 loss to Evil Geniuses, who went on to lift the trophy.