Twice, T1 gave themselves a way back into the series. Twice, 100 Thieves slammed the door shut.
The Americas champions opened their VALORANT Champions 2026 campaign with a 2–0 victory over T1 in Shanghai on September 27, taking Summit 13–8 and Ascent 13–9. Cryocells led the way with 45 kills and 23 deaths across the series, helping 100 Thieves move one win away from the playoffs.
The scoreline was clean, but the route there had a few turns. T1 led at halftime on Summit and pulled level late on Ascent before 100 Thieves took control of both maps’ closing rounds.
Map | 100 Thieves | T1 |
|---|---|---|
Summit (T1's pick) | 13 | 8 |
Ascent (100 Thieves' pick) | 13 | 9 |
Map results: VLR.gg.
T1’s Summit gamble meets a prepared 100 Thieves
Summit was meant to give T1 an opening. Coach KDG explained after the match that the team had confidence in its Sage–Chamber setup and believed the map could punish 100 Thieves’ reliance on Phoenix.
But 100 Thieves had made changes of their own. Coach Nbs said they adapted LOUD’s composition and added Harbor, with scouting helping them anticipate T1’s choices. As he put it in comments published by Sheep Esports: “We have a formula that is working for us.”
The map still swung sharply. 100 Thieves raced into a 5–1 lead, only for T1 to win six consecutive rounds and enter halftime ahead 7–5. That recovery gave T1 a real chance to justify its pick.
It did not survive the side switch. 100 Thieves won eight of the next nine rounds, including the final six, to close Summit 13–8. Cryocells finished with 23 kills and just nine deaths on Chamber.
Asuna helps shut down T1’s Ascent comeback
T1 started Ascent strongly, building a 4–1 advantage. Again, the lead changed hands: 100 Thieves responded with five straight rounds and reached halftime 7–5 ahead.
A 9–5 lead then disappeared as T1 put together four rounds of its own. At 9–9, the possibility of a deciding map was very much alive. Instead, 100 Thieves claimed the final four rounds to finish the sweep.
Asuna delivered 22 kills, 11 deaths and six opening kills on Phoenix. Cryocells matched his 22 kills on Cypher, while Timotino contributed seven opening kills on Jett. That gave 100 Thieves several threats for T1 to contain in the second map.
Cryocells sets the pace as Americas stay unbeaten
Cryocells ended the match with 283 ACS and eight opening kills without a single opening death. Timotino added 39 kills across the series, while bang contributed 33 kills and 22 assists.
The victory also completed a perfect opening round for the Americas representatives, with all four teams winning their first series. For 100 Thieves, it continued the momentum built through their Esports World Cup and VCT Americas Stage 2 titles.
Asuna credited the region’s strong practice environment after the match, pointing to its depth of talent, experienced players and coaching expertise.
100 Thieves face FUT Esports next
100 Thieves will meet FUT Esports on September 30, with the winner advancing to the playoffs. T1 face JD Gaming on October 2 in an elimination match following FUT’s victory in the other Group A opener.
T1 showed they could build leads and recover from deficits. Their next test is turning those stretches into a series win. Against 100 Thieves, the decisive rounds kept going the other way.