Shanghai Showdown: VALORANT Champions Takes Center Stage

The VALORANT Champions tournament is set to take place in Shanghai for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the game's esports history. The event will run from September 24 to October 18 and feature a $2.25 million prize pool.

This edition of VALORANT Champions holds particular importance as it marks the last tournament under Riot Games' current partnered-franchise model before the circuit transitions to an open qualifier format in 2027.

The stakes are high for the 16 teams competing, with NRG entering as the defending champions from the Americas region. The group stages will take place at Jing'an Sports Center, while the finals move to the Mercedes-Benz Arena.