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Valorant Champions bracket - Paris 2025

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, September 30th 2025 at 0:11 GMT by Shacknews
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Valorant Champions 2025: A Deep Dive into the Bracket, Results, and What It Means for the Global Scene

By [Your Name]

The 2025 Valorant Champions tournament has officially begun, and the world‑wide eSports community is buzzing with anticipation. The event, hosted by Riot Games and organized by the professional circuit’s governing body, VCT, brings together the brightest talent from across the globe in a high‑stakes knockout format that mirrors the drama of any major international sporting final. A recent in‑depth coverage on Shacknews (article #146149) lays out the entire bracket, the results of the early rounds, and expert commentary on what to watch for as the tournament unfolds.

The Bracket – Structure and Stakes

The Champions bracket is a classic double‑elimination setup featuring 32 teams that have qualified through their respective regional tournaments (North America, EMEA, SEA, and the International). Each side of the bracket is split into a “Upper” (winners) and “Lower” (elimination) bracket, with the top eight seeds granted a first‑round bye in the Upper bracket – a crucial advantage that often defines the tournament’s early momentum.

The top‑seeded teams entering the event are:

1. Team Liquid (NA) – The reigning North American champions who have maintained a dominant presence throughout the season.
2. Sentinels (NA) – Known for their aggressive playstyle and the “Bays” of their star player, Reyk.
3. G2 Esports (EU) – The European powerhouse that has consistently outperformed in past Champions events.
4. Fnatic (EU) – A formidable squad with a strong history in both Valorant and Counter‑Strike.
5. Cloud9 (NA) – A team that has made a dramatic comeback in the season’s finals.
6. Team Spirit (EU) – The fresh challenger from the European scene.
7. Fnatic (EU) – Re‑listed for clarity, they occupy a top‑five spot in the region.
8. Vipers (EU) – The unexpected runner‑up from the European Regional Finals.

The remaining 24 teams fill out the bracket from lower seeds, including regional champions from SEA, Latin America, and the newly added Oceania bracket, which has been a topic of discussion among analysts for the potential “unfair” map pool adjustments in the lower half of the field.

Early Rounds – Results That Shocked and Confirmed

The opening matches of the Upper bracket saw several upsets. In a jaw‑dropping first‑round bout, Team Spirit managed to eliminate Cloud9, breaking the latter’s momentum from the North American play‑offs. Meanwhile, Fnatic pulled off a close win over Cloud9, reaffirming their position as a top contender.

In the Lower bracket, the most notable elimination came when Fnatic was knocked out by the underdogs Vipers. Vipers’ aggressive, high‑risk strategy (particularly on the map “Icebox”) caught Fnatic off‑guard, and their star operator, Jett, executed a series of head‑shots that sealed the game.

The most dramatic moment of the early phase was the double‑elimination “sudden death” match between Team Liquid and G2 Esports. G2 pushed Liquid to the brink, forcing a best‑of‑three on “Haven” where Liquid ultimately prevailed. Riot’s commentary team, featuring analyst “Brett O’Brien,” noted that Liquid’s experience under pressure had been a decisive factor.

The Map Pool – Adjustments for 2025

One of the key talking points of the article is Riot’s revised map pool for 2025. The “Tactical” map “Split” has been removed in favor of the newer “Paladin” map, which has shown increased strategic depth. Analysts argue that the changes may favor teams that rely heavily on mid‑game rotations, a niche area where G2 Esports traditionally excels.

Additionally, the article links to a Riot press release detailing the map pool changes and a separate Shacknews post that dives into the historical performance of each map in VCT competitions. This contextualizes why Team Liquid’s success on “Haven” and Sentinels’ dominance on “Bind” are not merely incidental but the result of deliberate roster compositions tailored to map strengths.

Expert Predictions – What Analysts Are Saying

The Shacknews coverage features a panel of analysts, including former pro player K1ng and Riot analyst Shane “Rumble” O’Brien, offering their take on the most promising storylines. Key points from the panel include:

• Team Liquid is likely to maintain its upper‑bracket advantage, but the risk lies in facing Sentinels, who have been building a formidable synergy that could exploit Liquid’s reliance on a single “Jett” player.
• G2 Esports’ early‑round upset may be a signal of a deeper, more resilient team that can adapt to unexpected map changes and meta shifts.
• Fnatic’s elimination in the lower bracket might be a wake‑up call, suggesting that they need to revamp their strategy on “Breach” to survive in the high‑pressure environment of Champions.
• The rise of Vipers indicates that teams from smaller regions can punch above their weight, especially if they leverage map rotations to offset their relative lack of experience.

The Road Ahead – Semifinals, Finals, and What It Means for Global Valorant

The bracket now looks set for a dramatic climax. With Team Liquid and Sentinels leading the Upper bracket, the path to the Grand Finals could see them face off in a best‑of‑three showdown. The Lower bracket has already produced a shocking upset with Vipers emerging as one of the top contenders, potentially setting up a “David vs. Goliath” scenario in the Final Four.

Riot Games’ CEO, Marc Schein, referenced the Champions tournament as “a showcase for the competitive integrity of Valorant,” underscoring that the structure of the event – especially the double‑elimination format – ensures that the best teams endure under continuous scrutiny.

From a global perspective, the 2025 Champions tournament will also be an opportunity for emerging markets to demonstrate their competitiveness. The article points out that teams from SEA and LATAM have shown significant growth in recent VCT tournaments, and a breakout performance could alter the competitive map in future seasons.

Final Thoughts – Why Every Match Matters

In sum, the Shacknews article does more than simply list brackets and scores. It provides a nuanced view of how the structure of the tournament, recent meta shifts, and strategic team composition all converge to create a dynamic and unpredictable competitive landscape. Whether you’re a casual viewer or a seasoned analyst, the 2025 Valorant Champions event is shaping up to be a landmark moment in the game’s history.

As the tournament continues, keep an eye on the key narrative arcs: Team Liquid’s veteran experience versus Sentinels’ high‑octane play, G2’s strategic adaptability, and Vipers’ surprising resilience. The outcomes of these battles will not only decide the title of 2025’s world champions but also set the tone for the next era of Valorant esports.

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