The US based club 100 Thieves claimed the VALORANT title at the 2026 Esports World Cup after defeating their domestic rivals NRG Esports, the reigning VALORANT Champions title holders, 3-1 in the tournament final held in Paris. The victory earned the team the first-place prize of $600,000, in addition to 1,000 points in the club championship standings.

This outstanding achievement also earned VALORANT star Peter Mazuryk, better known as Asuna, the first major international title of his career, which has spanned more than five years with 100 Thieves. He joined the club at the age of 17.

Since then, Asuna has spent his entire professional VALORANT career with the organization, before finally securing the international title he had long pursued. This success came after the team rebuilt its main roster and added a group of promising talents.

Commenting on the achievement, Peter Mazuryk (Asuna) said: “We have an excellent coaching staff and an outstanding in game leader, which helped us develop great synergy and play together extremely well. It is true that it took us some time to reach our true level, but I am happy that we reached our peak at the right moment.”

The 2026 Esports World Cup in Paris.

A thrilling VALORANT Champions showdown at the 2026 Esports World Cup

100 Thieves secured victory over NRG Esports, their domestic rivals in the VCT Americas tournament, after an overtime battle on the fourth map of the best of five grand final. The win came after 100 Thieves comfortably claimed the first two maps.

NRG Esports managed to avoid a clean sweep by winning the Haven map, before taking a 9 3 lead on Ascent and moving closer to leveling the overall score at 2 2 and forcing a deciding fifth map. However, 100 Thieves, led by their rising in game leader Jordan Polor (vora), mounted a comeback, forced overtime, and eventually closed out the map 14 12 to claim the championship title.

Jordan Polor (vora) said: “I am delighted to win the championship, and I am extremely grateful for the great trust my teammates and the club’s coaching staff have placed in me. I could not have achieved this accomplishment without their confidence in me. I am very happy to be here today in front of this incredible crowd, proving that we are an exceptional team capable of competing at the highest level.”

100 Thieves reached the grand final after progressing through the group stage, where they secured two important victories that guaranteed their qualification for the knockout rounds. They then defeated the star studded MIBR.LOS in the quarterfinals before overcoming Nongshim RedForce, the champions of Masters Santiago, in the semifinals.

The 2026 Esports World Cup in Paris.

Matthew Pangian wins the Sony MVP award at the 2026 Esports World Cup

Star player Matthew Pangian (Cryocells) won the Sony MVP award for the tournament’s best player, in recognition of his outstanding performances throughout the competition. His impressive campaign was highlighted by recording 65 eliminations and providing 25 crucial assists during the grand final against NRG Esports.

Matthew Pangian (Cryocells) commented on the achievement, saying: “I am very happy with the win, although I feel that I did not perform at the level I was aiming for. However, it has been a long time since I last won a title. I have experienced many moments of doubt throughout my career. Ultimately, we should never stop believing in ourselves and in the people around us.”

Before the grand final took place, Nongshim RedForce, the only Korean team to reach the knockout stages, secured third place after defeating BBL Esports in two closely contested matches.

Despite finishing in fourth place, BBL Esports delivered an impressive performance in front of the Paris crowd, with 18-year-old player Yusuf Kanbar (Lar0k) emerging as one of the tournament’s standout stars after showcasing promising potential that could help him shine in the future.