Vitality beat 100 Thieves 3–1 to reach the VALORANT Champions final, then fall 1–3 to LOUD.
VALORANT Champions 2026 · Lower Final · 17 October 2026 · ACE Esports Editorial · 2 min read
Not every great tournament run has a happy ending.
Team Vitality reached the VALORANT Champions 2026 grand final by defeating 100 Thieves 3–1 in the lower final. That win deserves its own spotlight, even if the championship trophy ultimately went elsewhere.
LOUD beat Vitality 2–1 in the upper final on October 16. Suddenly, Vitality faced a do-or-die match against a 100 Thieves side coming off an elimination victory over G2.
Vitality lost the opening map, Split, 5–13, but recovered to win Summit 13–10, Lotus 13–11 and Ascent 13–9. Three straight map wins, and a place in the grand final.
Vitality's reward was a rematch with the team that had pushed them into the lower bracket. LOUD won that final 3–1 on October 18, leaving Vitality as runners-up.
It's easy to remember only the winner. But reaching a world championship final means surviving matches that most teams never get to play. Vitality fought back when their tournament was at risk.
Second place hurts. It also proves you're close.
What should Vitality change before their next title run?
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