NRG has triumphed at the VALORANT Champions 2025, defeating EMEA opponent Fnatic 3-2 in a thrilling Grand Final.

With this result, NRG’s Ethan 'Ethan' Arnold has made history, becoming the first player to lift two VALORANT Champions trophies.

NRG kicked off their Champions-winning series with a dominant Corrode game. Through 16 rounds, only three ended in Fnatic’s favour. After securing its attack pistol round, the EMEA team quickly fell victim to Brock 'brawk' Somerhalder, wielding his beloved Odin. The Sova player achieved a kill-death ratio (KDA) of 24/7/2 and an average combat score (ACS) of 375 during the first map.

But it wasn’t just brawk who impressed. Fellow rookie, Logan 'skuba' Jenkins, showed incredible composure, finding himself in tough post-plant situations and still delivering crucial moments. The rest of NRG also displayed excellent patience, particularly on defence, knowing when to fight for a site or play for retake. This discipline carried over into the second half, resulting in a near-flawless 13-3 scoreline.

Despite having strong performances on Lotus in the past, Fnatic couldn’t find its footing this time. A pistol round win in the first half allowed brawk to purchase an Odin even earlier than before. Though Fnatic tried to retaliate with an Odin of their own, NRG came out on top.

On its attack side, NRG consistently identified the weakest site on the map. Sam 's0m' Oh had an outstanding first half on Omen, punishing Fnatic’s re-clearing attempts on C and using his ultimate to dodge an otherwise deadly Showstopper. Despite a 3-9 deficit, Fnatic tried to recover, but a well-timed flank from Adam 'mada' Pampuch sealed the deal. Using his Raze ultimate, mada destroyed Fnatic's Lockdown, denying them a spike plant and ultimately leading to a 6-13 finish.

Abyss is where the Grand Final really shifted gears. Initially, it looked like NRG would close out the series 3-0. Although Abyss is typically considered attack-sided, Fnatic struggled, winning only a single round during its attack half. Several times, NRG disrupted Fnatic’s cautious site takes with clever backstabs, especially with Logan 'skuba' Jenkins’s impressive 16/4/2 defensive half.

However, the second half flipped the script. Fnatic fought back, converting its bonus round and going on a winning streak. Every player stepped up when necessary, with Kajetan 'kaajak' Haremski shining as his team’s hero. His aggressive mid-control and opening kills helped Fnatic push the series into overtime, where they ultimately lost 15-13.

Ascent saw Fnatic steal NRG's momentum with superior team fighting. Fnatic coordinated its swings well, trading kills efficiently, and Emir 'Alfajer' Beder was dominant on Sage, finishing the map with 23/14/4 and an ACS of 299. NRG fought hard but fell 13-8, as Fnatic held strong after a pistol round win and capitalized on their attack side.

The final map was Sunset, where Fnatic had little success in the past, and today was no different. Despite debuting a new team composition, Alfajer struggled with Neon, and NRG returned to their calm and methodical playstyle. After a strong pistol round, NRG ended their defence half 3-9. Ethan, the IGL and 2023 Champions winner, led the charge on attack, scoring several clutch frags to prevent Fnatic's retake attempts.

In the second half, Ethan’s double kill prevented any momentum Fnatic could have leveraged for a comeback, securing a clean 13-5 victory. Ethan’s KDA of 23/12/9 and 355 combat score on Sunset ensured that he would be the first player to hold two VALORANT Champions trophies.

For fans following the series, free sports live coverage provided a comprehensive view of each intense moment. Whether watching NRG’s calculated plays or Fnatic's dramatic overtime comeback, free sports live allowed viewers to catch all the action from every map. Fans could experience the thrill of Ethan’s leadership and the rookies’ breakout moments in real-time through free sports live platforms.

In a high-stakes lower bracket clash at Valorant Champions 2025, Paper Rex turned around their Lotus misstep to eliminate Team Heretics 2–1, keeping their tournament dreams alive. With a statement performance, PRX not only avenged previous shortcomings but also proved their resilience when it mattered most.

The Stakes, the Storyline

Paper Rex entered the match reeling from their earlier misplay on Lotus, which had drawn sharp criticism from fans and analysts alike. Facing elimination against Heretics, a European roster known for inventive strategies and aggressive duelist play, PRX had to reset mentally and perform under pressure. A loss would have ended their VCT run; a win would force a resurgence.

Team Heretics, meanwhile, brought double-Duelist aggression and high tempo, aiming to punish PRX’s more structured approach. They had momentum and feared little. But PRX, particularly in this part of the bracket, is battle-tested — and their redemption narrative took center stage tonight.

Map 1 (Ascent): Battle of Compositions

On Ascent, PRX doubled down on their signature double-Sentinel strategy, deploying Jinggg on Sage while Heretics chose a more aggressive double-Duelist lineup led by Wo0t on Jett. Heretics grabbed pistol rounds and gained early control, grabbing a lead of 8-4 by halftime. Their aggression allowed them to dictate tempo.

But the second half belonged to PRX. They flipped the momentum with a clutch pistol round, stymied Heretics’ bonus attempts, and closed with decisive trades. A 1v2 clutch from d4v41 and a final 1v1 from PatMen sealed the map 13-11 in PRX’s favor.

Map 2 (Bind): Heretics Push Back

On Bind, Heretics tried a “mosquito” composition leveraging Yoru and Waylay, high mobility and pressure. PRX countered with Raze + Yoru to contest vertical space and disrupt retakes.

The map ebbed and flowed. Heretics forced rounds, extended pressure, and pulled the lead late. But PRX stayed steady — d4v41 prevented a bonus conversion at 7-7, and key trades from f0rsakeN and PatMen established separation. PRX held strong and denied Heretics attempts to close, ultimately taking the map 13-9 and the series.

The Hero: f0rsakeN & Supporting Cast

While the team fought collectively, f0rsakeN turned in a standout performance. He ended the series with a 1.22 match rating, 53 kills, a 153 ADR, and 78 % KAST. He was a consistent threat across maps, especially post-plant and in clutch retake situations.

PatMen and d4v41 also deserve mention: clutch 1v1s, smart decision-making, and composure gave PRX the final edges. Meanwhile, Jinggg’s Sentinel control and utility usage bought breathing room; PRX won even when under fire.

Heretics’ Wo0t shone with aggressive plays, including a few high-impact Jett fragouts. But those flashes weren’t enough to sustain consistency across rounds, especially when PRX’s structure clicked.

Redemption and Momentum in the Bracket

With this win, PRX find themselves in the lower semifinals, still in the hunt for a grand final. The elimination of Heretics, a European contender, sends a message: PRX remain dangerous, adaptive, and tough under duress.

The victory also redeems their Lotus loss earlier — no longer will that defeat alone define their trajectory. They’ve shown that they can adjust, reset, and deliver when it counts.

For Heretics, their VCT 2025 run ends in 5th–6th place. They’ll walk away with respect, but questions about late-series consistency may linger.

What Comes Next & What to Watch

How PRX adapts further in the lower bracket’s later rounds — can they carry momentum into semifinal and possible finals matches?

Opponents will study PRX’s maps tonight, dissecting how they responded to aggression and which vulnerabilities remain.

Can f0rsakeN maintain this elite level across multiple matches, or will fatigue and adjustment catch up?

And for Heretics, will the bold duelist tactics be revised, balanced, or dialed back in future stages?

Paper Rex’s Path is renewed. They turned pain into purpose, chaos into composure, and Lotus woes into redemption. In the world of high-pressure Valorant, few things match resilience.