VALORANT Champions Paris closed with a Finals Weekend stacked with interesting storylines, from FNATIC’s miracle reverse sweep attempts to Paper Rex’s trademark chaos. In the end, NRG claimed the trophy, capping an undefeated run, with three players making their first-ever appearances on the global stage.

The event also produced breakout performances, record-setting viewership, and a string of unforgettable series that cemented Champs Paris among the game’s most iconic tournaments. In this roundup, we’ll put the spotlight on the most defining moments from VALORANT Champions 2025.

FNATIC Makes Incredible Comeback In Grand Final

Few games in VALORANT history rival this turnaround, with FNATIC setting a record for the biggest comeback in VCT history. In the Grand Final series against NRG, FNATIC was down 1–11 on Abyss after losing the first two maps, with the Champs Paris trophy nearly slipping away.

FNC had, of course, returned from a 3–11 scoreline in the past, so if there was any team that had a chance of pulling this off, it was them. Fueled by Kaajak’s opening duels (7 First Kills) and fragging, FNATIC stormed back to win 15–13, going from only two kills at halftime to 24 by the end of the series.

This incredible performance helped FNATIC recover from being two maps down and push the series all the way to map five. The Polish duelist’s mental resilience stunned everyone watching and ignited the Paris crowd, making it one of the most memorable moments at VALORANT Champions Paris.

Brawk Dominates With Odin To Secure Champs MVP

Brock “brawk” Somerhalder became synonymous with the Odin at VALORANT Champs Paris, shredding through his opponents almost singlehandedly. Testament to his ruthless precision, brawk delivered a +17 kill differential and 375 ACS on Sova on the opening map (Corrode) of the Grand Final.

This masterclass earned him MVP honors at Champs Paris, with his Lotus wall-bangs and Corrode spams shifting entire rounds, punishing teams. More than highlight plays, his mastery in turning a situational weapon into a reliable win condition proved pivotal in securing NRG’s undefeated run.

DRX’s Bold Yoru/Waylay Comp Shakes Up Champs

DRX surprised us with their heavy investment in Waylay/Yoru, utilizing a double dive comp that leveraged teleport paths and clone utility to break open defenses. They also eliminated the first seeds from three different regions: Paper Rex (Pacific #1), Team Liquid (EMEA #1), and G2 (Americas #1) for a third-place finish.

Waylay and Yoru’s dueling efficiency gave DRX map control on both attack and defense. Though they bowed out in the Lower Bracket Final, their comp innovation carved a place in VALORANT Champs Paris storylines as the boldest strategic choice that paid massive dividends.

Aspas Shatters VCT Kill Record At Champs Paris

Erick “aspas” Santos once again proved why he’s considered Brazil’s top duelist at VALORANT Champions 2025. Playing against Team Heretics, aspas recorded a staggering 82 kills in a single best-of-three series, setting a new international VALORANT record in the process.

Aspas topped the charts across the board, posting the highest ACS of 291, a 20% First Kill rate, and nearly 165 ADR, while also showcasing mechanical dominance on Jett, Neon, Waylay, and Raze. Even though MIBR placed 5-6th, aspas’s record-breaking feat is one of the tournament’s most defining moments.

Paper Rex Steals The Show With Chaos & Flair

No team captivated fans quite like Paper Rex. Though they finished 4th, their matches defined the tournament experience, with four of the five most-watched series at Champs Paris featuring PRX. Their trademark aggression, unpredictable comps, and willingness to bring in pocket strats made every PRX game a must-watch.

Despite falling short of expectations, PRX had an incredible year and proved that consistency isn’t only about results—it’s about delivering clutch plays fans will remember. The sheer firepower of the trio of Jinggg, f0rsaken, and something propels this team to spectacular heights.

Who Won At VALORANT Champions 2025?

NRG secured their first international trophy by defeating FNATIC 3–2 at the VALORANT Champions Paris Grand Final. After winning the first two maps (Corrode 13–3 and Lotus 13–6) and leading 11–1 on the third, NRG saw FNC mount a comeback with wins on Abyss (13–15) and Ascent (8–13) to force a decider.

Despite nearly letting a reverse sweep happen under their noses, NRG stayed composed, clinching the last map 13–5 on Sunset. Their undefeated Upper Bracket run and resilience in the Grand Final solidified them as the best VALORANT team of 2025.

Ethan, the team’s IGL, is also the first two-time VALORANT world champion (2023 with Evil Geniuses and 2025 with NRG).

Winning roster:

• Ethan “Ethan” Arnold (IGL)
• Sam “s0m” Oh
• Brock “brawk” Somerhalder
• Adam “mada” Pampuch
• Logan “skuba” Jenkins

VALORANT Champions 2025 Final Standings

Here are the final placements and prize earnings from VALORANT Champs Paris:

Placement	Prize Money (USD)	Team
1st	$1,000,000	NRG
2nd	$400,000	FNATIC
3rd	$250,000	DRX
4th	$130,000	Paper Rex
5th-6th	$85,000	MIBR Team Heretics
7th-8th	$50,000	G2 Esports GIANTX
9th-12th	$30,000	Xi Lai Gaming Rex Regum Qeon Team Liquid T1
13th-16th	$20,000	Sentinels Bilibili Gaming EDward Gaming Dragon Ranger Gaming

FAQs

Who won VALORANT Champions 2025?

NRG defeated FNATIC 3–2 to win the trophy.

How can you watch VALORANT Champions 2025 highlights?

VODs and highlight reels from VALORANT Champions 2025 are available to watch on the official YouTube and Twitch channels.

Which team performed the best at VALORANT Champions 2025?

NRG was arguably the best-performing team at Champs due to their undefeated run in series play, with FNATIC’s comebacks and PRX’s entertainment value as honorable mentions.

What was the prize pool for VALORANT Champions 2025?

VALORANT Champions 2025 featured a $2,250,000 prize pool, split between all the participating teams.

Where to find full match replays from Champs Paris?

All matches and replays are available on the VALORANT Champions Tour YouTube.

Which player stood out at VALORANT Champions 2025?

NRG Brawk was named as the VALORANT Champions Paris MVP, posting a 1.16 rating (1.17 KD) along with 224.6 ACS and 114.7 ADR throughout the event.

References

1. VALORANT Champions Tour (YouTube)
2. VALORANT (Twitch)