As the dust settles over the grueling VALORANT Champions Paris group stage, eight teams have advanced to playoffs. With a double-elimination bracket looming, the remaining teams share the same initial goal: to advance to the top four and thereby compete at the Accor Arena.
MIBR’s fairytale run continues. Image Credit: Riot Games
To reach the Accor Arena, the teams must navigate several best-of-three playoff stage matches. With the first round of playoff stage matchups drawn and some surprising results from the group stage still fresh in everyone’s mind, it’s clear that we are in for some bangers.
The opening playoffs matches of Champions Paris
We saw incredible matches along the way, including a record-tying comeback from NRG, the defending champions EDward Gaming getting eliminated early, underdogs GIANTX rising to the challenge in Group A, and the Brazilian squad MIBR stunning everyone with a beautiful run in Group B.
The “Group of Death” (Group D) didn’t disappoint either, with favorites according to the Global Power Rankings (GPR), G2 Esports, narrowly making it through, and EMEA superstars Team Heretics coming out on top.
So why the history lesson? Simple: to showcase that on the biggest VALORANT esports stage, anything can happen. Favorites can fall, and underdogs can rise through the ranks. With the group stage results in mind, check out the opening matchups of the Champions Paris playoffs.
The Champions Paris playoffs bracket. Image Credit: Riot Games
For reference, you can find the precise group stage seedings of all teams for the opening playoffs stage matchups below:
- Paper Rex vs. G2 Esports (Group A #1 vs. Group D #2)
- FNATIC vs. DRX (Group B #1 vs. Group C #2)
- Team Heretics vs. MIBR (Group D #1 vs. Group B #2)
- NRG vs. GIANTX (Group C #1 vs. Group A #2)
Before Champions Paris kicked off, Team Heretics was #17 on the GPR, and MIBR was #27. That means the two lowest-ranked teams at the event will face off in the opening round of matchups, and the winner is guaranteed a minimum sixth-place finish.
Notably, we mentioned in our pre-event GPR rankings article how Team Heretics was heavily underranked, and how the GPR didn’t take into account their Esports World Cup 2025 victory.
Check out the highlights from the final Day of Group Stage at #VALORANTChampions. pic.twitter.com/HJCVx7oIOg
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) September 22, 2025
Considering the initial rankings and group stage performances, VALORANT esports fans are in for a treat. Strap in for nailbiting action, as the playoffs stage runs from September 25 to October 5, 2025.