T1 earns first Champions top-eight finish as Shanghai 2026 playoffs take shape

T1 and LOUD claimed the final two playoff spots at VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026 on 4 October, beating FUT Esports and Global Esports 2-0 respectively. T1 reached the top eight for the first time in its third Champions appearance and will face NRG, while LOUD meets Paper Rex in the opening round. The eight-team field includes four Americas teams, three from Pacific and EMEA's Team Vitality, with first-round losers dropping to the lower bracket.