Storylines

Nongshim RedForce vs NRG, then Karmine Corp vs Xi Lai Gaming

Nongshim RedForce against the champions NRG, then Karmine Corp against Xi Lai Gaming. Four teams, one group, the one nobody wanted.

The official Opening Day film

The walk-in, the crowd and the stage at Jing’an Sports Center, cut by the VCT channel.

Only 3.9% of Pick'em entries chose NRG in Paris. They won it 3–2 after Fnatic led 11–1 on Abyss

brawk was MVP. Ethan became the first player to win Champions twice. Since then: 3rd in Santiago, reverse-swept out of London, and beaten by 100 Thieves and LOUD in the same week.

From 0–2 down to their first trophy: the comeback Nongshim have to live with in Shanghai

11–13, 2–13, then 13–10, 13–5, 13–10 in Busan. UdoTan MVP, the first title for the org and for all five players. Different groups, so this only meets again in the playoffs.

0–5 in April. Champions of EMEA in August. First Champions ever

A coaching change to ZE1SH, N4RRATE back from Sentinels, then a 4–1 group and a 3–0 sweep of the playoffs, ending 3–1 over Liquid in Badalona with dos9 as MVP. vlr called it one of the most remarkable mid-season turnarounds VCT has seen.

The draw show: sixteen teams into four groups, on stage in São Paulo

Karmine Corp, Nongshim, NRG and Xi Lai land together. Watch the full draw from the VCT Americas channel.

How Champions Shanghai works, in seventy seconds

Four GSL groups of four, top two advance, then an eight-team double-elimination bracket. Bo3 throughout, Bo5 for the lower final and the grand final. The last Champions of the franchise era.

First team in the world to lock Champions. Also the team that lost both Masters finals this year

Santiago: 0–3 to Nongshim. London: 2–3 to Leviatán after beating them 2–0 in the upper bracket. Add the 2023 Champions final and Copenhagen 2022. They open against Team Liquid on day one.

TYLOO, JD Gaming, Global Esports, Karmine Corp and Nongshim RedForce have never been here. Five orgs from three regions.

The only Chinese world champions replaced their controller four weeks before a Champions in China

stew arrives from JD Gaming, the team that knocked EDG out of the Stage 2 play-ins. ZmjjKK was Stage 1 MVP; EDG then lost to TYLOO despite an 11–1 all-time record against them. Fans questioned the timing.

The Masters London champions are not in Shanghai. G2 sent them home 2–1 in the points decider

Leviatán won London 3–2 over Paper Rex in June. Three months later they watch from home. G2 took the seat and open against TYLOO on day one.

Two trophies in five weeks: 100 Thieves come in hotter than anyone

Undefeated through the Esports World Cup, a 3–1 over NRG in the final with Cryocells as MVP. Then 3–2 over LOUD in São Paulo with Asuna as MVP.

T1 come through the lower bracket, past DRX, Gen.G and VARREL, with DH back on the roster

DH returned in July after a car accident sidelined him in the spring. Group A gives them 100 Thieves, JD Gaming and FUT.

Enterprise and Fire Flux, two play-in teams, ended Vitality's Stage 2 in the same week

Runners-up in Stage 1, 4th at Masters London, then out of the playoffs early and qualified on points while sitting at home. Group B: Global Esports, LOUD and EDward Gaming.

The last team in, and the one that ended NRG's Stage 2

Champions 2022 winners who missed the last two editions. tkzin, 18 and on loan from KRÜ SPARK, plays duelist. The final at home went 2–3 to 100 Thieves.