FRANCE — The grand finals of VALORANT Champions 2025 in Paris delivered one of the most unforgettable series in the game’s history, with North America’s NRG Esports edging out FNATIC 3–2 to lift the world championship trophy.
For NRG, the Champions 2025 victory capped off a Cinderella run that saw them storm through both groups and playoffs, powered by incredible performances from their three rookies and guided by the experience of IGL Ethan “Ethan” Arnold.
With their double-ban advantage thanks to their upper bracket run, NRG had a crucial edge going into the veto. They instantly removed Haven and Bind, their weakest maps, leaving the pool tilted toward their strongest picks. The map order would play into their hands early, with Corrode, Lotus, and Abyss all falling within their wheelhouse. Fnatic, however, managed to secure Sunset as the decider, a map that had been one of NRG’s vulnerabilities, setting the stage for a dramatic five-map clash.
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Corrode: NRG’s Domination Begins
Fnatic opened the series by winning both pistol and anti-eco rounds, but their early momentum was quickly shattered by Brock “brawk” Somerhalder’s Odin. The rookie tore through Fnatic’s attack, piling up eight kills in just two rounds to swing the lead back. A switch to the Operator for Adam “mada” Pampuch gave NRG even more breathing room, as his precision shut down Fnatic’s mid-round pushes. By halftime, NRG had built a commanding 9–3 lead.
The second half offered no relief for Fnatic. NRG secured the pistol and the following round before swiftly pushing to match point. Once again, brawk ended things in style with an Odin-fueled triple kill to close the map 13–3. He was named map MVP with a staggering 375 ACS, a +17 K/D differential, and multiple multi-kill rounds. mada was just as impactful, racking up six first kills with the Operator.
Lotus: Kaajak Fights Back, But NRG Pull Away
NRG carried their momentum into Lotus, sweeping the opening pistol, anti-eco, and bonus round. Fnatic tried to break back with a thrifty win powered by Kajetan “Kaajak” Haremski’s 3K, but NRG answered with five rounds in a row, including a gutsy 2v4 conversion. The half ended 9–3 once again in favor of NRG.
Fnatic showed some life on their attack half. Kaajak shone with a pistol round 4K, followed by a 1v2 clutch from Jake “Boaster” Howlett to win the anti-eco. Yet despite these flashes of brilliance, NRG’s discipline and consistent trades allowed them to close the map comfortably, 13–6, putting themselves on championship point. Kaajak and mada both dropped 20+ kills, but NRG’s across-the-board stability made the difference.
Abyss: Fnatic’s Stunning Overtime Survival
With their backs against the wall, Fnatic turned to Abyss, a map where NRG had looked strong all tournament. The Americans raced to an early 11–1 halftime lead, led by Logan “skuba” Jenkins’ dominant 16/2 performance and mada’s disruptive Yoru flanks. Fnatic, however, refused to go quietly.
Timofey “Chronicle” Khromov’s 4K in the pistol sparked a massive rally, as Fnatic chained round wins to close the gap to 11–6. Kaajak, quiet in the first half, came alive spectacularly, finishing the map with 24 kills after starting the half with just two. With Austin “crashies” Roberts backing him up, Fnatic forced overtime. There, Kaajak delivered again, landing back-to-back 3Ks to complete the miraculous comeback, 15–13, keeping Fnatic’s championship hopes alive.
Ascent: Alfajer Forces the Decider Map
Ascent had been a nail-biter when these teams met in the upper final, and once again it delivered fireworks. NRG opened with three straight rounds, but Fnatic finally hit their stride, taking six consecutive wins to seize control. They closed the half ahead 8–4 and extended their advantage to 10–4 after the pistol and anti-eco.
Though NRG clawed back to 11–8, Fnatic’s Emir Ali “Alfajer” Beder came in clutch. His 299 ACS performance on Sage, with five first kills and 23 total frags, gave Fnatic the edge they needed. They sealed the map 13–8, pushing the grand final to a winner-take-all fifth map on Sunset.
Sunset: Ethan Leads NRG to Glory
Sunset was uncharted territory for NRG at Champions Paris, a map they had struggled with in Americas Stage 2. Fnatic struck first with Kaajak’s explosive pistol round 3K and the anti-eco, but NRG rallied with seven rounds in a row, punishing Fnatic’s failed retakes. At halftime, NRG once again led 9–3.
Fnatic briefly threatened with another pistol win, but NRG’s veterans stepped up. Ethan found a huge 4K to secure round 16 and bring NRG to 11–5. From there, the team closed it out clinically, 13–5, and with it the world championship. Ethan finished as top-fragger with 359 ACS and a +11 K/D differential, cementing himself as the first-ever two-time Valorant Champions winner after his 2023 title with Evil Geniuses.
NRG Brawk Named Champions 2025 MVP
The MVP of VALORANT Champions 2025 went to brawk. In his very first international event, the rookie dazzled with his mastery of the Odin, delivering round-defining kills across every series. His consistency in shutting down executes and punishing Fnatic on Corrode set the tone for NRG’s run. He had 84 kills across the series, a +24 kill differential, and an 81% KAST. NRG only lost four maps across the entire event, and did not lose a single series on the way to the trophy.
For Fnatic, the defeat was heartbreaking. Despite heroics from Kaajak, Alfajer, and the rest of the squad, they fell short in their second grand final of the year after finishing runners-up at Masters Toronto. Yet their resilience — especially their Abyss comeback — showed why they remain one of Valorant’s most dangerous and decorated teams.
For NRG, the victory in Champions 2025 completes a storybook run: from qualifying for Paris as dark horse contenders to world champions. They proved the value of belief in your teammates, map veto strategy, and composure under pressure. Whatever else is to come for NRG, they’ve made history today and won a Champions Final for the ages.
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Cover photo courtesy of VALORANT Champions Tour
