KRÜ Blaze are the Game Changers Championship 2026 champions. The team defeated Gentle Mates GC (M8) 3-2 on November 1 at the Riot Games Arena in São Paulo, Brazil.
It was the organization's first VALORANT Game Changers world title. KRÜ secured the trophy in front of Brazilian fans after a grand final that went all the way to the fifth map.
As the Game Changers Championship 2026 champions, KRÜ achieved two historic firsts. They became the first team from the competitive LATAM region to win the event and the first team to claim the title after dropping to the lower bracket.
Gentle Mates reached the final undefeated through the upper bracket. KRÜ, meanwhile, had to survive a series of elimination matches to earn a shot at the trophy. Here's how the run unfolded, along with the grand final scores, MVP, standings, and prize money.
KRÜ Blaze fought past Team Liquid, MIBR, and Shopify Rebellion in the lower bracket
KRÜ opened their tournament in the upper bracket with a 2-1 victory over Gen.G GC. Their next match ended in a 2-0 loss to Shopify Rebellion Gold, sending them into the lower bracket.
With no room for another loss, KRÜ faced two Brazilian teams. They first eliminated Team Liquid Brazil 2-0, then beat MIBR GC by the same score to reach the lower-bracket final.
Shopify Rebellion Gold stood between KRÜ and the grand final. It was the same team that had knocked them out of the upper bracket. This time, KRÜ won 3-1, earning a place in the title match against Gentle Mates GC.
The French organization had reached the grand final without losing a series. Along the way, M8 beat Shopify Rebellion Gold 2-1 in the upper-bracket final. The championship match brought together two very different runs: Gentle Mates were defending their unbeaten record, while KRÜ were looking to complete a lower-bracket comeback.
KRÜ Blaze vs M8: grand final score and map-by-map recap
The title was decided in a best-of-five series. Gentle Mates took the opening map on Haven, but KRÜ answered on Abyss. The teams then traded map wins until the deciding game on Ascent.
| Map | KRÜ Blaze | Gentle Mates GC | Winner |
| Haven | 5 | 13 | Gentle Mates GC |
| Abyss | 13 | 5 | KRÜ Blaze |
| Sunset | 14 | 12 | KRÜ Blaze |
| Split | 8 | 13 | Gentle Mates GC |
| Ascent | 13 | 8 | KRÜ Blaze |
On Haven, M8 opened with a convincing 13-5 win. KRÜ responded immediately on Abyss, taking the map by the same score to tie the series. Sunset was the closest game of the final, ending 14-12 in KRÜ's favor after overtime.
Gentle Mates kept their title hopes alive with a 13-8 win on Split, forcing a fifth map. KRÜ then won Ascent 13-8 to close out the series 3-2 and lift the world championship trophy.
tok1o wins MVP on roster featuring two Brazilian players
Amaro "tok1o" Miranda was named MVP of the Game Changers Championship 2026. The Argentine player recorded 84 kills across the grand final's five maps and delivered one of the standout individual performances of KRÜ's title run.
The championship roster also featured Brazilian players Antônia "antG" Garcia and Kauan "none" Ferreira. Their presence made the victory particularly meaningful for local fans watching KRÜ lift the trophy in São Paulo.
Chilean player Isidora "PoniX" Vásquez Muñoz and Argentine player Lorena Micaela "micaela" Ferreyra completed the lineup. Together, the five players represented Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. This was the LATAM competitive region's first title at the Championship. Team Liquid, representing Brazil, had already won the event in 2025.
Final standings and prize money for the Game Changers Championship 2026
KRÜ Blaze earned $180,000 for winning the title. Runners-up Gentle Mates GC received $100,000. The tournament featured ten teams and awarded a total of $500,000 in prize money.
Here are the final standings and each team's payout:
| Place | Team | Prize money (USD) |
| 1st | KRÜ Blaze | $180,000 |
| 2nd | Gentle Mates GC | $100,000 |
| 3rd | Shopify Rebellion Gold | $70,000 |
| 4th | MIBR GC | $50,000 |
| 5th–6th | Team Liquid Brazil | $25,000 |
| 5th–6th | SK Nebula | $25,000 |
| 7th–8th | G2 Gozen | $15,000 |
| 7th–8th | FENNEL Female | $15,000 |
| 9th–10th | Nova Esports GC | $10,000 |
| 9th–10th | Gen.G GC | $10,000 |
Shopify Rebellion Gold rounded out the top three, with MIBR GC finishing fourth. Team Liquid Brazil placed in the 5th–6th bracket after being eliminated by KRÜ in the lower bracket.
What's changing for Game Changers in 2027?
The São Paulo tournament was the last Game Changers Championship held as a standalone world event. Starting in 2027, the Game Changers Championship final will be integrated into VALORANT Champions, scheduled to take place in Austin, Texas, United States.
The change will bring the Game Changers title match alongside VALORANT's premier international championship. KRÜ Blaze close out the standalone-event era as world champions. Their journey began in the upper bracket, continued through elimination matches, and ended with the trophy in São Paulo.
