Fans from the EMEA region were thrilled and excited at the VALORANT Champions 2025, as both Fnatic and Team Heretics advanced to the Playoffs after winning their respective group matches. With these wins, Team Heretics and Fnatic now join Paper Rex and NRG as the first four teams confirmed for the Playoffs.

Team Heretics dominate T1

Team Heretics kept their strong run going with a 2-0 victory over Pacific’s T1. The first map, Lotus, started well for T1, but Heretics quickly took control by slowing down their opponents and shutting down attacks with solid defensive plays. They ended the map 13-10, with Enes ‘RieNs�Ecirli sealing the win with a clutch finish. Mert ‘Wo0t�Alkan also impressed the fans with his elite performance.

In the second map, Sunset, T1 looked sharper at the start, but their readable attacks allowed Heretics to adapt and take the upper hand. Even with intense moments from Kim ‘Meteor�Tae-oh, T1 could not keep up, and Heretics closed out the map 13-11 to secure the series.

Fnatic stage a comeback against MIBR

Even though Team Heretics faced a rather manageable win, Fnatic faced a tougher fight in their matchup against MIBR. The Brazilian team dominated the first map, Bind, winning 13-5 after controlling the game's pace and catching Fnatic off guard.

However, Fnatic bounced back on the second map, Abyss. Led by captain Jake “Boaster�Howlett, Fnatic’s attack was nearly perfect. Their strong executes and Boaster’s Operator plays allowed them to close out Abyss 13-7 and level the series.

Everything came down to the final map, Haven. Fnatic built a strong lead early on thanks to smart defensive setups that limited MIBR’s options. While MIBR tried to rally in the second half, Fnatic’s Timofey ‘Chronicle�Khromov delivered a key clutch play to secure a 13-10 victory.

What’s next for T1 and MIBR

Despite their losses, T1 and MIBR are still in the tournament but must win their deciding matches on September 22 to advance. T1 will face either G2 Esports or Dragon Ranger Gaming, while MIBR will go up against the winner of Bilibili Gaming versus RRQ.

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Team Heretics made history by winning the 2025 Valorant Esports World Cup after a stunning comeback against Fnatic. The Grand Finals delivered non-stop action across five intense maps, ending 3-2 in Heretics' favour. 

Fnatic dominated early, winning the first two maps with strong play. They took Lotus 13â€? after an 8â€? lead at half and crushed Sunset 13â€? with a one-sided first half. Heretics faced defeat but refused to back down. Heretics turned the tide on Icebox, winning 13â€?1 by staying focused in key moments. 

They carried that momentum onto Haven, where they secured a 13â€?0 win to tie the series at 2â€?. The deciding map on Ascent tested both teams. Heretics built an 8â€? lead at halftime and finished 13â€?0, completing the stunning comeback. 

This win marks Hereticsâ€?first international championship and earns them US$500,000 in prize money. 

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