100 Thieves defeats NRG to win Esports World Cup Valorant 2026

What an insane tournament we just witnessed. 100 Thieves was crowned the ultimate champion of the Esports World Cup Valorant 2026 after taking down their North American rivals NRG with a solid 3-1 in the grand finals held in Paris. It wasn't an easy road, but the squad proved exactly why they are a powerhouse in the current scene.

Riot Games' competitive circuit never ceases to amaze, and this time the Parisian stage witnessed an absolute masterclass in tactical shooters. If you followed the event, you know the team didn't drop a single match. They walked away with a massive prize of $600,000 and secured 1,000 points for the Club Championship.

The epic comeback on Ascent against NRG

The series kicked off heavily in favor of 100 Thieves, dominating the first two maps. On maps like Bind and Lotus, the controlled aggression and precise rotations from 100 Thieves left NRG scrambling without early answers. However, NRG wasn't going to go down without a fight, pushing back hard to close the gap.

The real nail-biter happened on the fourth map, Ascent. NRG took a massive 9-3 lead, making everyone believe we were definitely going to a map five. That's when the leadership of their young captain Jordan "vora" Pulwer really shined. The team managed to crawl their way back round by round, forcing overtime. Ultimately, they sealed the deal with a tense 14-12 victory, securing the trophy.

Asuna's long-awaited title and Cryocells' MVP

Some stories are just meant to be told, and Peter "Asuna" Mazuryk's is one of them. After grinding for over five years with 100 Thieves, he finally secured his first international title. He joined the org at just 17 and is now the face of a roster that perfectly blends veteran experience with new blood.

Meanwhile, Matthew "Cryocells" Panganiban took home the tournament's MVP award. His stats in the grand finals were completely off the charts: 65 kills and 25 assists. After accepting the award, he admitted there were times in his career when he doubted his own potential, but this championship is the ultimate reward for the hard work put in with his teammates.

A flawless undefeated run

100 Thieves' journey in Paris was nothing short of perfection. They finished the event with an astonishing undefeated 7-0 record. Their path to the grand finals included some major roadblocks, starting with a decisive win against the Brazilian squad MIBR in the quarterfinals, where they showcased a tactical depth that left no room for error.

In the semifinals, they faced their ultimate test against Nongshim RedForce. Many considered this the true finals before the finals, especially since the Asian roster was fresh off winning Masters Santiago. However, the North American squad proved they had a much superior strategic read on the meta.

With this result, the organization cements its place at the absolute top of international Valorant. Ultimately, the trophy heads to North America, but the spectacle was for the entire world. Will any team be able to stop 100 Thieves at the next Masters? Only time will tell, but for now, they are the undisputed kings of the server.