VALORANT Champions 2026 Tournament Betting Preview & Guide – Nongshim RedForce and NRG Can Succeed
VALORANT Champions 2026 brings together 16 elite global teams in Shanghai from September 24 to October 18 for a share of a $2.25M prize pool. The event features a double-elimination group stage and playoffs, with 100 Thieves and Nongshim RedForce as early favorites. Consistency and recent form put RedForce in a leading spot. Fans can stream matches on major platforms like Stake, which also offers competitive odds and bonuses for bettors. For watchers and bettors alike, this tournament promises high-stakes excitement and top-tier esports action.
- VALORANT Champions 2026 is scheduled to begin on Thursday, September 24
- World’s best VALORANT teams clash for eternal glory in China
- NRG and Nongshim RedForce have tools to make a run
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The culmination of the VALORANT esports season is just around the corner, drawing the world’s best teams to Shanghai, China.
- When Does VALORANT Champions 2026 Start?
- VALORANT Champions 2026 Format
- Group Stage
- Playoffs
- VALORANT Champions 2026 Favourites & Odds
- Where to Watch VALORANT Champions 2026?
- Where to Bet on VALORANT Champions 2026?
Set to run from September 24 to October 18, VALORANT Champions 2026 will bring together the best teams from EMEA, Americas, Pacific, and China for the final showdown, as 16 of the world’s best squads battle it out for a slice of the US$2,250,000 prize pool and the title of world champions.
By welcoming only the best the VALORANT scene has to offer, VALORANT Champions 2026, like all of its previous iterations, promises three weeks of top-tier action, many unforgettable moments, and numerous betting opportunities for esports fans to explore, making it a tournament no VALORANT enthusiast should miss.
While the top-rated bookmakers have made it very clear which teams are more likely to make a run for the trophy, the sheer amount of talent in attendance in Shanghai ensures that the road to the top will not be an easy one for anyone.
Here is our free VALORANT Champions 2026 tournament betting preview, with full event details, favourites, esports odds, and outright betting predictions.
When Does VALORANT Champions 2026 Start?
VALORANT Champions 2026 begins on Thursday, September 24, with the first games of the group stage. The tournament will run for just over three weeks and conclude on Sunday, October 18.
VALORANT Champions 2026 Format
VALORANT Champions 2026 welcomes 16 VALORANT teams and is divided into two stages.
The event begins with a group stage, where all 16 participating squads are divided into four double-elimination groups of four. All group matches are played as best-of-three (BO3), with the top two teams from each group proceeding to the playoffs.
Playoffs transition to a double-elimination bracket where the remaining eight teams will battle it out in a series of best-of-three (BO3) matches up until the lower bracket final and the grand final, which are best-of-five (BO5).
Group Stage
- 16 teams
- Four double-elimination groups
- All games are BO3
- Top two teams per group proceed to the playoffs
Playoffs
- Eight teams
- Double-elimination bracket
- Lower bracket final and grand final are BO5
- All other matches are BO3
VALORANT Champions 2026 Favourites & Odds
VALORANT Champions 2026 will welcome 16 of the world’s best VALORANT teams, many of whom have a realistic chance to make a run for the trophy.
Yet, while there are many potential title candidates, some squads head to China with a bigger target on their backs, having emerged as the most elite of the season.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| 100 Thieves | 3.80 |
| Nongshim RedForce | 4.40 |
| Paper Rex | 5.00 |
| Karmine Corp | 5.80 |
| NRG | 7.00 |
| G2 Esports | 10.00 |
| Team Vitality | 13.00 |
| T1 | 13.00 |
| LOUD | 14.00 |
| Global Esports | 14.00 |
| EDward Gaming | 17.00 |
| Team Liquid | 17.00 |
| FUT Esports | 17.00 |
| TYLOO | 50.00 |
| XLG Esports | 100.00 |
| JD Gaming | 100.00 |
100 Thieves are on top of that list, after they’ve finally claimed their first international title in June at the Esports World Cup. There, they faced teams of similar calibre to what awaits them in China, suggesting 100T have the tools to contest the world championship title.
Since then, 100 Thieves have also won VCT Americas Stage 2, proving that the EWC title run was not a fluke, and that they know their way around the current meta. With promising results and good form, 100T look well-equipped to make a splash.
Nongshim RedForce enjoyed an explosive start to the year, winning Masters Santiago. While they faltered in Stage 1, RedForce proved that the Stage 1 wobbles were nothing more than that, with a strong performance at the Esports World Cup and VCT Pacific Stage 2, where they re-established themselves as one of the world’s elite.
Karmine Corp head to Shanghai as VCT EMEA’s top team, after a dominant run through VCT EMEA Stage 2. It marked a massive comeback for the European squad, who had an abysmal start to the year, with a winless run through Stage 1, and a ninth-10th place finish in EMEA Kickoff.
Karmine Corp will want to continue where they left off in Stage 2, but given their iffy performance at the Esports World Cup, there are some doubts about KC’s ceiling.
Paper Rex are not to be overlooked, mainly because of how dominant they were early into the season with a third-place finish from VCT Pacific Kickoff, a gold medal from Stage 1, and two runner-up finishes from Masters Santiago and London.
However, while PR looked great before summer, they’ve since been in a downtrend, with a 13th-16th-place finish at the Esports World Cup and fifth-sixth in Stage 2. There is a world where Paper Rex bounce back, but their current form is worrying.
NRG have been somewhat quiet this season, yet they’ve still managed some impressive results.
NRG placed third in Americas Kickoff, Masters Santiago, and Americas Stage 1, to which they added a second-place finish at the Esports World Cup and another bronze medal at Stage 2. With those results, NRG have proven that they’re still an elite team and not to be written off entirely.
TYLOO will want to impress in front of the home crowd in China, after a dominant performance in VCT China Stage 2. While TYLOO haven't found much success in prior events, the sudden improvement in Stage 2, following the arrival of SiuFatBB, is a good indication that TYLOO can do some damage.
Where to Watch VALORANT Champions 2026?
Finding a platform to watch VALORANT Champions 2026 is very straightforward, as the tournament enjoys excellent coverage from numerous streaming sites. Besides popular streaming platforms, esports fans can also find free streaming of VALORANT Champions matches on top-rated bookmakers such as Stake.
On Stake, you can find free streaming and in-play betting options for VALORANT Champions for a complete live viewing experience, allowing you to place bets on the games as they happen.
- Visit Stake
- Sign in or register with promo code NEWBONUS to claim your welcome bonus
- Find VALORANT Champions 2026 markets under the VALORANT category
- Watch the free live streams and explore in-play markets
Where to Bet on VALORANT Champions 2026?
Betting on VALORANT Champions 2026 is a straightforward process, mainly due to the excellent coverage the tournament receives from various betting sites. Besides esports bookmakers, VALORANT Champions markets are also available on traditional betting sites, giving esports fans plenty of options.
Among all the available betting platforms, Stake stands out as one of the more popular among VALORANT punters, due to the competitive odds, excellent market coverage, and various bonuses and promotions it offers.
Verdict
VALORANT Champions welcomes many teams who have a realistic chance to win the event. 100 Thieves and Paper Rex sit atop the list as the two main contenders, but each with some questions.
100T looked off in Stage 2, suggesting they might’ve lost some of their momentum. Meanwhile, Paper Rex indeed dominated the early season, but have struggled at the Esports World Cup and Stage 2, so it is unclear whether they will manage to regain some traction for VALORANT Champions.
Karmine Corp are also to be considered, mainly due to their resurgence in Stage 2. But KC haven’t been even remotely good up until two months ago, and have not impressed in their only international tournament appearance.
Among the main contenders, Nongshim RedForce stand out the most. They had an explosive start to the season, then cooled down, and bounced right back with two strong showings at the EWC and Stage 2.
NRG should be considered a team that can make a deep run as well. They’ve not won any events this season, but – outside of Masters London – haven’t placed lower than top-three this entire season.
Consistency is the key to winning big events, and the defending champions have plenty of that.
100T looked off in Stage 2, suggesting they might’ve lost some of their momentum. Meanwhile, Paper Rex indeed dominated the early season, but have struggled at the Esports World Cup and Stage 2, so it is unclear whether they will manage to regain some traction for VALORANT Champions.
Karmine Corp are also to be considered, mainly due to their resurgence in Stage 2. But KC haven’t been even remotely good up until two months ago, and have not impressed in their only international tournament appearance.
Among the main contenders, Nongshim RedForce stand out the most. They had an explosive start to the season, then cooled down, and bounced right back with two strong showings at the EWC and Stage 2.
As one of the more consistent teams in the world, with a past Masters title, Nongshim RedForce appear to have all that is needed to win VALORANT Champions 2026.
NRG should be considered a team that can make a deep run as well. They’ve not won any events this season, but – outside of Masters London – haven’t placed lower than top-three this entire season.
Consistency is the key to winning big events, and the defending champions have plenty of that.
RedForce To Win
Outright
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NRG To Reach Final
To Reach Finals
@7/2 - 3 Units
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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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