Nongshim Redforce eliminates XLG, continues Shanghai curse

The second elimination match of Valorant Champions 2026 is over, as Nongshim RedForce Nongshim RedForce Korea Rank #1 WoohyuN Moon Woo-hyun (문우현) Xross Jeonghwan (정환) Rb Goo Sang-min (구상민) Francis Kim Mu-bin (김무빈) Dambi Lee Hyuk-kyu (이혁규) Ivy Park Sung-hyeon (박성현) defeated Xi Lai Gaming Xi Lai Gaming China Rank #3 WsLeo Huang Pinwei (黄品维) Sharks Qiu Ge (邱戈) Lysoar Liang Youhao (梁优好) NoMan James Man Rarga Arthur Churyumov happywei Deng Minwei (邓闵维) 2-0 . This marks the second Chinese team eliminated in their home country, echoing the regional struggles from Masters Shanghai.

Summit began with both teams running Sage Chamber double-Sentinel compositions, but Nongshim opted for the Harbor variation. Rarga shot three down to take the pistol and closed out the bonus to put XLG in an ideal start. As the economy came back around for Nongshim, Rb started to slow XLG down with both utility and aim, pulling XLG to four straight round wins and a 4-4 tie.

XLG nearly lost the lead, but Lysoar had back-to-back star rounds with a 2v3 post-plant win and a 4K to convert a round with little time left. Thanks to some clutch rounds from their Omen, XLG entered the half up 7-5.

The fattest Saturate of all time awarded XLG the second pistol win on Summit, and even a bonus round loss didn't knock the Chinese fourth seed's confidence. Both happywei and NoMan looked comfortable in the XLG retakes, reaching a 10-6 lead.