NRG is the first team to reach the VALORANT Champions 2025 Grand Finals after a 2-0 win over Fnatic. The underdogs are ready to take charge.
In the VALORANT Champions 2025 Upper Bracket Finals, NRG defeated FNATIC with a score of 2-0. The North American team entered the competition as underdogs and has been rewriting its narrative since the beginning of the tournament. They will face either DRX or FNATIC in the Grand Finals, scheduled for Oct. 5. Can they lift the trophy?
NRG is the first Champions 2025 finalist
"But I feel like after every match that we've played, we've always had the mindset that there's something to learn, whether it's a win or a loss, it didn't really matter. I just feel like our coach, Bonkar, has been really good at keeping us focused and on a track to improve after each match. I think everyone's pitched in an insane amount of effort, improving as well individually," NRG mada added after their victory over FNATIC.
“I’ve been with NRG for a long time. Every time, they’ve put their trust in me as a player, I owe it to them, and it’s our job to close it out,” said NRG Sam "s0m" Oh. The 23-year-old has been part of the North American roster since its formation in 2020, standing as one of the team’s longest-tenured members.
Reflecting on the match against FNATIC, NRG assistant coach Joe "Strong" Edwards credited the team’s victory to consistent preparation. “If we hadn’t scrimmed against that the past few days, we probably wouldn’t have won,” he said. He noted FNATIC's “weird composition” and added, “Even though you can always read Fnatic, that alone doesn’t let you beat them.” Ultimately, Strong praised the players for their adaptability and for executing the team’s strategies so effectively.
Ethan is the first player to reach the VALORANT Champions Grand Final twice
With their victory over Fnatic, NRG has secured a spot in the VALORANT Champions 2025 Grand Finals. Ethan "Ethan" Arnold becomes the first player in the world to reach the Champions Grand Final twice. There is also a chance to make history as a two-time World Champion. Having already claimed the title in 2023 with Evil Geniuses, another win would not only cement Ethan’s legacy but also mark the first time a North American organization has won Champions twice.
"This is definitely the best iteration we've had. I think everyone's playing insane right now. We've all figured out how to bring the best out of each other, which props to everyone on the team for doing that," IGL Ethan commented. "It feels good to be here again."
Compared to 2023, the "vibes are similar," Ethan believes. "I think any team that makes it this far in a tournament, especially Champs, is going to be a special group of players. At the end of the day, I think just how you work as a team is the biggest part. And we work incredibly well as a team."
As for predictions, NRG Logan "skuba" Jenkins believes that FNATIC will be their opponent in the Grand Finals. With three rookies on the team, can NRG bring the trophy to NA?
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