G2 and Team Vitality Advance to Valorant Champions 2026 Upper Bracket Semifinals

G2 and Team Vitality secured victories in the Valorant Champions 2026 Shanghai upper bracket quarterfinals on Oct. 5.

G2 stunned 100 Thieves 2-0 while Vitality outlasted Nongshim RedForce 2-1.

G2 and Vitality join NRG and LOUD in the upper bracket, while 100 Thieves and Nongshim join Paper Rex and T1 in the lower bracket.

Matched up against 100 Thieves, G2 faced a roster that had won EWC and VCT Americas Stage 2 and had beaten G2 in that stage.

"But now that G2 had cast away the burdens of having to succeed in the moment, they seem to have found a way to do so, playing some of their best Valorant in a 2-0 victory over heavy favorites, 100T," an analyst said.

G2 demolished 100 Thieves 13-5 on their pick of Abyss, with Nathan 'leaf' Orf and Trent 'trent' Cairns posting 19/11/6 and 18/9/2 scorelines, respectively.

On 100 Thieves' pick of Ascent, the match was far closer, but G2 kept their composure in tight moments far better than their regional rivals, leading to a 13-11 scoreline as they outclutched 100T.

In the final upper bracket quarterfinal, Vitality faced the only VCT Pacific team left in the upper bracket.

Map 1 of Split saw Nongshim start a pattern that would last the series, winning the second-round force buy to start the ball rolling in a 7-5 half.

Vitality managed to convert the second pistol, losing only one round in the second half of play in a dominant Defence that saw Nikita 'Derke' Sirmitev record 280 ACS on that side of the map as Vitality raced to a 13-6 victory on Split.

Map 2 was the reverse, as Nongshim could hardly have been more in control on Abyss.

Managing only four rounds on Defence, Vitality were on the ropes at the half and were thoroughly knocked out by Nongshim, who posted a flawless half, delivering three textbook retakes to take the map 13-4.

On Haven, Nongshim lost the pistol and conversion, but made a five-round run in the middle of the half to take a 7-5 lead going into their Defence.

After winning the last round of the first half, Vitality again dominated the pistol round to set up a platform on their Attack side on the three-sited map.

Vitality were seemingly taking control of the half, but Nongshim decided to take away Vitality’s comfort, pushing every available angle, and equaling the contest 9-9.

A dropped Spike later, and they were in the lead.

It was now up to Vitality to adjust, and adjust they did as Elias 'Jamppi' Olkkonen delivered Vitality map and series point in a 1v1 clutch at 11-11, but the next round another retake saw Nongshim find the frags to force overtime.

Could Vitality keep their composure after losing match point?

They needed the experience of Derke to do so, as he roared into the A site to claim Vitality their second match point.

Vitality finally converted the map and the series 14-12 as Timofey 'Chronicle' Khromov’s experience now shone in a scintillating display of individual skill to advance Vitality to the Upper Semi.

Redington Cybersport reported in September that Vitality defeated Global Esports in their opening group stage match.