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100 Thieves Edge Out LOUD in a 5-Map Banger to Win VCT Americas 2026 Stage 2
VCT Americas 2026 Stage 2 comes to a close, with 100 Thieves defeating LOUD in a five‑map entertainer. With this victory, the North American roster marks its most successful VALORANT season and will now head to Champions Shanghai as the Americas' top seed.
Both teams had impressive journeys to the Grand Final and appeared evenly matched, as reflected in how the series played out. Three of the five maps were decided in the final round, treating fans to several unforgettable moments in this showdown.
Though only one team could be crowned champions, both delivered a brilliant display of skill. And with both squads fielding young, promising talent, it's safe to say the future of VALORANT is in good hands.
Match Recap
The Grand Final kicked off on 100 Thieves' map pick, Split. Despite it being LOUD's perma‑ban throughout Stage 2, the Brazilian squad dominated the map, particularly on the Attacker side. 100 Thieves' defensive side is known to be strong, but LOUD had a blistering start, winning the first three rounds and ending the half with a 9‑3 lead.
Though 100T attempted a comeback, a standout performance from LOUD's 18‑year‑old IGL, erde, secured them the map win.
Map 2, Sunset, was far more competitive. A strong start from Cryo on Chamber kept 100 Thieves in the fight from the opening rounds. While the game did appear to slip from their grasp early in the second half, a remarkable fragging partnership between Cryo and Timotino kept them alive.
The second map came down to the wire, with a last‑second shot from Asuna denying LOUD overtime and clinching the map for 100 Thieves.
Map 3 proved to be the biggest surprise of the series. LOUD regained their momentum on Ascent and dominated their defensive half, taking a 10‑2 lead. However, 100 Thieves refused to let their dreams slip away.
A strong showing from Cryo on Cypher gave the team a significant defensive advantage against LOUD's Neon. That, paired with Asuna's lethal performance on Phoenix, helped 100 Thieves shift the momentum, take the map to overtime, and ultimately secure the win.
Map 4, Summit, saw a similar start from LOUD as they dominated their attacking half, building an overwhelming 11‑1 lead. Unlike on Ascent, however, they maintained their momentum all the way through, closing out the map 13‑1.
This was by far LOUD's best performance of the night, with their young IGL erde popping off on Sage, posting an 18‑2 KD and leading the scoreboard.
A Bo5 Banger
It all came down to the final map: Haven. 100 Thieves decided to bring back Cypher, a pick that had worked well for them on Ascent. But the real highlight was the duelist duo of Asuna and Timotino. Like Ascent, Haven saw a tight first half followed by another closely contested second.
With the VCT Americas trophy on the line, the final rounds delivered several nail‑biting moments, and the game went to overtime yet again.
Despite LOUD carrying momentum from the previous three rounds and enjoying a massive home‑ground advantage, 100 Thieves tenaciously edged out LOUD to emerge as champions of VCT Americas Stage 2.
Asuna Crowned VCT Americas Stage 2 Grand Final MVP
100 Thieves' Asuna was crowned the Grand Final MVP after an exceptional performance that saw him play Phoenix on all five maps. He finished the series with an overall K‑D‑A of 85‑81‑24.
On the losing side, erde's performance also deserves recognition. The teenager played Astra, Sage, and Omen, posting a personal scoreline of 98‑64‑22, all while leading his team as IGL.
En route to VALORANT Champions Shanghai
Now that VCT Americas has concluded, we'll have to wait until VALORANT Champions Shanghai to see both teams in action again.
The tournament's group stage has been announced. 100 Thieves will compete alongside JD Gaming, T1, and FUT in the double‑elimination Group Stage, with their opening match set against T1. LOUD, on the other hand, will face Global Esports, Vitality, and EDG, kicking off their campaign against EDG.
VALORANT Champions Shanghai begins on September 24. Stay tuned to Strafe for more details on the tournament.
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Featured Image Credit: Riot Games
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