KRÜ BLAZE win Game Changers Championship 2026

KRÜ BLAZE are the Game Changers Championship 2026 champions. The Latin American side beat Gentle Mates GC 3-2 in a five-map grand final in São Paulo on November 1, winning the decider on Ascent 13-8 after coming through the lower bracket.

The final was played at Riot Games Arena. Gentle Mates had reached it unbeaten and held a two-map ban advantage. KRÜ still found a way, winning four straight series to lift the trophy.

How the Game Changers Championship 2026 final played out

The series opened on Gentle Mates' pick, Haven, and the French side cruised 13-5. KRÜ answered with the same score on Abyss. Sunset was the turning point. KRÜ edged it 14-12 in overtime to take a 2-1 lead.

Gentle Mates hit back on Split, winning 13-8 to force a fifth map. On Ascent, KRÜ looked the calmer side and closed out the map 13-8 and the series 3-2.

KRÜ BLAZE's lower bracket run

KRÜ's event did not start smoothly. They lost 2-0 to Shopify Rebellion Gold in the upper bracket semi-finals on October 27. From there, they did not lose again. According to Pogwire's results, they beat defending champions Team Liquid and then MIBR, both 2-0.

In the October 31 lower bracket final they met Shopify Rebellion Gold again and won 3-1. tok1o was named the tournament MVP.

Why is this title historic?

According to THESPIKE.GG, it is the first international Game Changers title for a Latin American organization. KRÜ had attended every Championship but had never reached a grand final. Their best previous finish was top four in 2025.

Four Argentine players and one Chilean player became the first from their countries to lift the trophy. Only micaela remained from the previous roster, and four of the five players were playing their first grand final.

Final standings and prize money

• 1st, KRÜ BLAZE: $180,000
• 2nd, Gentle Mates GC: $100,000
• 3rd, Shopify Rebellion Gold: $70,000
• 4th, MIBR: $50,000
• 5th-6th: Team Liquid, SK Nebula
• 7th-8th: G2 Gozen, FENNEL GC

The total prize pool was $500,000. For Gentle Mates, it was a strong first appearance at the event. The final was the only series they lost in São Paulo. Their run is covered in our Gentle Mates reach the final story.

How the event worked

Game Changers Championship 2026 ran from October 22 to November 1 with ten teams. They qualified through regional competition in North America, EMEA, China, the Pacific, Brazil and Latin America. The bracket was double elimination, so every team had a second life after its first loss.

The lower bracket final and grand final were best-of-five, and every other series was best-of-three. There was no bracket reset in the final. To create more international matchups, Riot placed teams from the same regional qualifier on opposite sides of the bracket. For 2027, Riot says a non-partner team that qualifies will receive a $100,000 payment.

The last standalone Game Changers Championship

This event also closes a chapter. From 2027, Riot will fold the Game Changers Championship into VALORANT Champions in Austin, Texas. For more VALORANT esports moves ahead of the new season, see Sentinels and FNATIC roster changes and Paper Rex parting with Jinggg and d4v41.

Frequently asked questions

Who won Game Changers Championship 2026?

KRÜ BLAZE won the title on November 1 in São Paulo, beating Gentle Mates GC 3-2 in the grand final. They closed it out 13-8 on Ascent. It is the organization's first international Game Changers trophy.

How much did KRÜ BLAZE win?

The prize pool was $500,000. KRÜ BLAZE took $180,000, Gentle Mates GC earned $100,000, Shopify Rebellion Gold $70,000 and MIBR $50,000.

Will there be a Game Changers Championship in 2027?

Yes, but not as a standalone event. Riot is moving the Game Changers Championship into VALORANT Champions in Austin, Texas, from 2027.

Sources

• THESPIKE.GG: KRÜ Blaze crowned Game Changers Championship 2026 champions
• Pogwire: Game Changers Championship 2026 results and prize money
• Strafe: Gentle Mates GC vs KRÜ Blaze grand final
• rib.gg: Grand final map veto