LOUD are now the first-ever organisation to claim the VALORANT world championship.
South American VALORANT powerhouse 
LOUD have been crowned as this year's VALORANT world champions after they defeated Europe's 
Team Vitality, 3-1, in the grand finals of VALORANT Champions 2026 in Shanghai, China on Sunday (18 October).
With their victory, LOUD becomes the first-ever organisation to claim the VALORANT world championship twice, having won their first world title in VALORANT Champions 2022 in Istanbul, Türkiye. LOUD also claimed the grand prize of US$1 million out of the tournament's US$2.25 million prize pool.
Meanwhile, Vitality bow out of VALORANT Champions 2026 with a commendable second place finish and will take home US$400,000 in consolation.
LOUD's campaign to become two-time VALORANT world champions
LOUD entered VALORANT Champions 2026 as the second seed for the Americas, while Vitality earned their spot in the tournament by earning just enough Championship Points throughout the season.
The eventual grand finalists both started the VALORANT Champions 2026 Group Stage in Group B. They won their respective Opening Matches, with LOUD sweeping Edward Gaming and Vitality taking down Global Esports in three maps.
That then set up their first encounter of the tournament in the Group B Winners Match, where Vitality emerged victorious in two maps to qualify for the Playoffs as Group B's top seed. LOUD bounced back from their loss by sweeping Global Esports in the Group B Decider Match, earning them a spot in the Playoffs as their group's second seed.
In the Playoffs, both LOUD and Vitality advanced through the first two rounds of the upper bracket to have their first rematch of the tournament in the upper bracket finals.
LOUD swept Paper Rex in the upper bracket quarterfinals then defeated defending champions NRG in three maps in the upper bracket semifinals. Meanwhile, Vitality took down Nongshim RedForce in three maps in the upper bracket quarterfinals before sweeping G2 Esports in the upper bracket semifinals.
The upper bracket finals then saw LOUD avenge their loss to Vitality back in the Group Stage with a 2-1 reverse sweep, which earned the South American squad the first spot in the grand finals. Vitality then defeated 100 Thieves, 4-1, in the lower bracket finals to earn a second and final rematch with LOUD for the world championship.
The grand finals kicked off with LOUD taking the opening map at Summit with a 13-11 score, though Vitality were quick to tie up the series with a 13-8 win in Lotus. The pivotal third map at Sunset then saw LOUD dominate Vitality 13-5 before they sealed the deal in Haven with a 13-10 score.
LOUD captain 
Roberto “erde” Lobos notably won the tournament MVP nod for his leadership and excellent play all throughout the tournament.
