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VALORANT Champions 2026 Betting Odds – All Eyes on 100 Thieves as Main Title Contenders

tit-krajnik
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Last updated: Wed 23 Sep 2026 12:35
VALORANT Champions 2026, the climactic event of the VCT season, runs from September 24 to October 18 in Shanghai, China. Sixteen of the world’s best teams will compete for a $2,250,000 prize pool over a group stage and double-elimination playoffs. 100 Thieves emerge as favorites following a strong season, but Paper Rex, Nongshim RedForce, and Karmine Corp are strong contenders as well. Betting is available on top bookmakers like Stake, featuring competitive odds and bonuses. The event promises fierce competition and potential upsets for fans and bettors alike.
Tit Krajnik 2 hours ago
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  • VALORANT Champions 2026 is scheduled to begin on Thursday, September 24
  • 16 of the world’s best VALORANT teams clash for the trophy and lion’s share of a US$2,250,000 prize pool
  • 100 Thieves travel to China as the team to beat
VALORANT Champions 2026 Betting Odds
VALORANT Champions 2026 Betting Odds
brand VALORANT Champions 2026 Live StreamWatch live online at bet365 > Esports > VALORANT Champions 2026. T&Cs apply. Watch and bet Geo-restrictions apply. You must have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Over 18s only. T&Cs apply.
VALORANT Champions 2026 is just around the corner, and it is a tournament no VALORANT fan should miss!

Scheduled to kick off on Thursday, September 24, VALORANT Champions 2026 is the final Tier-1 VALORANT event of the year and the culmination of the highly exciting VALORANT Champions Tour season.

Hosted in Shanghai, China, VALORANT Champions will welcome the world’s best VALORANT teams from EMEA, Americas, China, and Pacific to fight it out for the lion’s share of the mouth-watering US$2,250,000 prize pool and the title of world champions.

The tournament will run for just over three weeks, culminating with the grand finals on Sunday, October 18, giving esports fans plenty to look forward to and numerous games to watch and bet on.

While VALORANT Champions promises to be an entertaining and mostly competitive event, some squads in attendance are viewed as more likely to make a run for the gold medal, namely 100 Thieves, Paper Rex, Nongshim RedForce, and Karmine Corp, who the top VALORANT bookmakers have listed as the main title contenders.

Even though there is a clear line between the top favourites and the rest, VALORANT Champions promises to produce a few upsets and unexpected results, making it likely for one of the outsiders to shake up the balance of power.

Here is all you need to know about VALORANT Champions, including full tournament details, schedule, format, outright odds, and who the main favourites are to hoist the trophy.

VALORANT Champions 2026 Format


VALORANT Champions will run between September 24 and October 18, and is divided into two stages.

The action begins with the group stage, where all 16 participating squads will be divided into four double-elimination (GSL) groups of four. All group matches are best-of-three (BO3), and only the top two squads in each group advance to the playoffs.

The playoffs will feature eight teams, seeded into a double-elimination bracket. Playoff matches will continue to be played as best-of-three (BO3), except for the lower bracket final and the grand final, which are best-of-five (BO5).

Group Stage


  • 16 teams
  • Four double-elimination groups
  • All matches are BO3
  • Top two teams from each group advance

Playoffs


  • Eight teams
  • Double-elimination bracket
  • Lower bracket final and grand final are BO5
  • All other games are BO3

How to Bet on VALORANT Champions 2026?


Betting on VALORANT Champions is a straightforward process, mainly thanks to the excellent availability of betting markets across most online betting sites.


Besides esports bookmakers, many traditional betting sites will also offer VALORANT Champions markets, ensuring that esports fans do not have to look far to find a platform to place their wagers.

Among all the available options, however, Stake stands out as one of the top bookmakers for VALORANT Champions betting. It offers highly competitive odds, excellent market coverage, as well as free streaming and in-play betting options.

  1. Visit Stake
  2. Log in or register with Stake promo code NEWBONUS to claim your welcome bonus
  3. Find VALORANT Champions 2026 markets under the 
  4. Explore the available markets and start placing bets

VALORANT Champions 2026 Favourites


VALORANT Champions 2026 welcomes more than a few teams with a realistic chance to make a run for the trophy. Yet some stand out as more likely victors, as reflected in the outright betting markets.

100 Thieves sit atop the food chain as the main title contenders. That is largely due to their resurgence in the second half of the season, as 100T won both the Esports World Cup and VCT Americas Stage 2, which is a very good indication that 100 Thieves have what it takes to succeed on the big stage.

They, however, have had some struggles in Stage 2, and haven’t looked as dominant as they did in July in France. So while 100T have proven they have a very high ceiling, it is fair to question whether they should be the definitive best team heading to China.

Paper Rex are listed as the second-most-likely team to win VALORANT Champions, despite showing signs of struggle in the second half of the season.

Notably, PR exited Esports World Cup in 13th-16th place, and they were not impressive in VCT Pacific Stage 2 (fifth-sixth). However, Paper Rex were the best team in the world up until summer, and if they can find that form for VALORANT Champions, a deep run should not escape them.

Nongshim RedForce are definitely a threat to win the world championship. They’ve been very successful this season, with titles from Pacific Kickoff and Masters Santiago, and are one of the more consistent teams in the world.

Their run to the silver medal in VCT Pacific Stage 2 is a good indication that Nongshim RedForce are not only in good shape, but that they know how to perform in the current meta. That can go a very long way.

Karmine Corp should do well in VALORANT Champions, despite struggling with consistency this season. The European squad looked atrocious throughout most of the year, until Stage 2, when they won the domestic title with a fairly dominant run.

The big question for Karmine Corp is whether they can build on that momentum and perform as well on the international stage as they did in EMEA Stage 2. Potential is there, but so are many questions.

NRG are among the dangerous outsiders to make a run at VALORANT Champions, as a very experienced roster, fielding four former VALORANT Champions winners.

NRG's quality is definitely there, and while their form hasn’t been perfect, they have also been very consistent, with bronze medals from Americas Kickoff, Stage 1, and Stage 2, as well as Masters Santiago, and a silver medal from the Esports World Cup.

VALORANT Champions 2026 Odds


Team
Odds
100 Thieves3.80
Nongshim RedForce4.40
Paper Rex5.00
Karmine Corp5.80
NRG7.00
G2 Esports10.00
Team Vitality13.00
T113.00
LOUD14.00
Global Esports14.00
EDward Gaming17.00
Team Liquid17.00
FUT Esports17.00
TYLOO50.00
XLG Esports100.00
JD Gaming100.00

VALORANT Champions 2026 FAQ

  • When is VALORANT Champions 2026?

    VALORANT Champions 2026 is scheduled to begin on Thursday, September 24. The tournament will run for three weeks and conclude on Sunday, October 18, with the grand finals.

  • Who are the favourites to win VALORANT Champions 2026?

    The reigning Masters champions, 100 Thieves, are viewed as the main favourites to win VALORANT Champions 2026, ahead of Paper Rex, Nongshim RedForce, Karmine Corp, and NRG, as four dangerous outsiders to spoil 100T’s plans.

  • Where can I find betting odds for the VALORANT Champions 2026?

    Betting odds for VALORANT Champions 2026 are available on all popular bookmakers, including Stake, which stands out as a go-to platform for VALORANT betting. On Stake, esports fans can find competitive odds, strong market coverage, free streaming, and inviting bonuses and promotions.


tit-krajnik
Tit Krajnik

Esports Writer & Betting Tipster • 10+ Years of Experience, Esports Betting Writer

Tit Krajnik is a leading expert in the betting and gambling industry with a particular interest in Esports.

 
Kicking off his writing career way back in high school, he covers various esports titles, including Counter Strike, Valorant and League of Legends.

He shares the knowledge he has accumulated while being involved in the betting industry for the last 10+ years and you can follow more of TK's work at Muckrack and LinkedIn.

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