Key facts
- LOUD defeated Team Vitality 3-1 in the VALORANT Champions 2026 grand final held in Shanghai on 2026-10-18.
- The victory gave LOUD its second VALORANT Champions title, making them the first organization in VALORANT esports history to win the tournament twice.
- LOUD earned $1 million in prize money from the tournament's $2.25 million prize pool.
- Roberto "erde" Lobos was named tournament MVP for his leadership and performance throughout VALORANT Champions 2026.
LOUD defeated Team Vitality 3-1 in the VALORANT Champions 2026 grand final held in Shanghai on October 18, 2026. The victory gave LOUD its second VALORANT Champions title, making them the first organization in VALORANT esports history to win the tournament twice. Tournament organizers named Roberto “erde” Lobos tournament MVP for his leadership and performance throughout the event. LOUD earned $1 million from the tournament’s $2.25 million prize pool, while runner‐up Team Vitality received $400,000.
The grand final attracted a peak concurrent viewership of 1.49 million viewers, according to Esports Charts. This figure represents an increase of roughly 1.21% over the 2025 peak, indicating a stable year‐on‐year audience. The Portuguese‐language audience for the final rose 89.2 percent year‐on‐year, reflecting growing Brazilian viewership. The number of unique channels broadcasting the last two Champions events increased by approximately 50, showing wider media distribution.
No other match at the event reached one million peak viewers; the next‐highest was the Paper Rex versus LOUD upper‐bracket quarterfinal, which drew nearly 886,000. Esports Charts ranked Champions Shanghai as the third most popular VALORANT event by peak audience, behind the all‐time high of VCT 2024 Masters Madrid at over 1.6 million viewers. The best‐of‐five final concluded after four maps, with LOUD winning Summit 13‐11, losing Lotus 13‐8, winning Sunset 13‐5 and securing Haven 13‐10.
LOUD’s route to the final began with a clean sweep over EDward Gaming in the group stage, a 2‑0 loss to Vitality, and a decider win over Global Esports to qualify for playoffs. In the playoffs, LOUD swept Paper Rex 15‐13 in overtime on Sunset, defeated NRG 2‐1 and beat Vitality 2‐1 in the upper bracket finals. Before the final, the two teams stood tied 1‑1 after Vitality’s sole group‑stage win over LOUD and LOUD’s upper‑bracket revenge victory.
LOUD’s roster averaged 20 years of age, with in‑game leader Roberto “erde” Lobos at 18 and David “DaviH” Cruz the oldest at 23. The organization missed all three international events in 2025, marking its worst year before a midseason roster overhaul that led to the 2026 title. LOUD’s first Champions crown came in 2022 in Istanbul, and none of the players from that winning roster – aspas, Saadhak, Sacy, pANcada, Less – appear on the 2026 lineup.
Vitality’s trio of Elias “Jamppi” Olkkonen, Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev and Timofey “Chronicle” Khromov have been active since the early VALORANT era, with Derke holding two Masters‐equivalent titles, Chronicle three, and Chronicle appearing in his third Champions grand final for a third organization. Roberto “erde” Lobos dedicated his victory to his late mother, who passed away two days before LOUD’s first match of the tournament.
It feels really normal […] I think I'm destined, or I'm here to do great things.
Roberto "erde" Lobos, Hotspawn
During the tournament LOUD used IQUNIX EV63 Hall Effect gaming keyboards, with different editions chosen by individual players. The keyboard features magnetic switches, adjustable actuation, an 8,000Hz polling rate and a Rapid Trigger sensitivity adjustable as low as 0.01mm. IQUNIX also lists a 16,000Hz scanning rate alongside the 8,000Hz polling rate, giving players several responsiveness settings.
Specific editions used were the EDG Edition (black‐and‐gold) for Lukxo, the Ghost in the Shell Cyber Blue edition for erde, the Collector’s Edition (forged carbon fiber) for Tkzin and Darker, and the Red Knight edition for DaviH. The compact design leaves extra desk space for mouse movement, aiding aim and control. While the hardware attracted attention, the source emphasized that team coordination, strategy and individual execution remain central to competitive VALORANT results.
Known for its state-of-the-art 3rd-generation Hall Effect sensors, blistering 8KHz polling rates, and an industry-leading 0.01mm Rapid Trigger sensitivity
IQUNIX announcement, XiaomiToday
If the equipment reports are confirmed, LOUD’s victory could give IQUNIX additional exposure among esports fans seeking professional‐grade keyboards. IQUNIX plans to release the EV63 EDG Edition as the sixth colorway in the line, alongside the Violet, Silver Knight, Dark Knight, Ghost in the Shell Core and Ghost in the Shell Cyber Blue versions, with pricing and regional availability still undisclosed.
The 2026 Champions final marked the conclusion of the existing VCT format; starting in 2027 VALORANT will shift to a more open ecosystem with more tournaments while partner teams remain in the circuit. VALORANT launched on June 2, 2020 and is currently available on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The first VALORANT Champions tournament was held in 2021, and the event is described as the game’s premier annual tournament. The 1.49 million peak viewership provides a current reach benchmark for Riot Games, participating teams and commercial partners evaluating the tournament’s audience.
WORLD CHAMPIONS ONCE AGAIN! #VALORANTChampions
@valesportsna, HappyGamer
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