Valorant EWC 2026 quarterfinals gave fans another tense day at the Esports World Cup. Nongshim RedForce beat Team Vitality 2-1 to keep VCT Pacific hopes alive. Meanwhile, 100 Thieves upset MIBR by the same score in Paris. Both teams needed every map, so the semifinal carried real pressure. The event is part of the official Esports World Cup schedule.
The results also kept a busy playoff bracket moving after several favorites fell earlier. As a result, Nongshim RedForce met 100 Thieves with a grand final spot at stake.
Valorant EWC 2026 quarterfinals: Nongshim RedForce survive
Nongshim RedForce did not take an easy route into the semifinals. Team Vitality pushed the Korean side across three maps. However, Nongshim found another gear when the series reached its deciding map. They jumped ahead 10-2, then closed the map 13-2.
That finish showed why Nongshim entered as the region’s top hope. Earlier, they beat G2 Esports 2-1 in the group stage. In fact, they had already proved they could recover after losing a map. That trait mattered against a confident 100 Thieves lineup in the next round.
100 Thieves turn back MIBR with a key second map
100 Thieves also needed all three maps to reach the semifinals. Still, their win over MIBR carried the feel of an upset. The middle map became the turning point, because 100 Thieves took it 13-5. That result shifted the pace of the whole series.
Asuna sat at the center of that swing with a strong Phoenix performance. Then 100 Thieves used that momentum to finish off MIBR. The victory marked the start of a deeper playoff run in Paris. It also sent them into a direct clash with Nongshim RedForce.
Semifinal stakes rise after two three-map wins
These Valorant EWC 2026 quarterfinals created a semifinal with clear contrast. Nongshim arrived as the final Pacific title hope. On the other hand, 100 Thieves came in with fresh Americas momentum. They had just beaten MIBR, another Americas side, to earn the match.
That semifinal ultimately went 100 Thieves’ way. The result sent them into the grand final against NRG for the Esports World Cup Valorant title.
Who did Nongshim RedForce beat in the EWC 2026 Valorant quarterfinals?
Nongshim RedForce beat Team Vitality 2-1. They closed the series with a 13-2 final map.
How did 100 Thieves beat MIBR in the quarterfinals?
100 Thieves won 2-1 after a key 13-5 second-map win. Asuna also delivered a strong Phoenix performance.
Who did Nongshim RedForce and 100 Thieves play in the semifinals?
The two quarterfinal winners faced each other in the semifinals. 100 Thieves then moved on to face NRG in the grand final.
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