A 17-15 win on Ascent sends the Latin American side into Sunday’s grand final in São Paulo, where an unbeaten Gentle Mates GC coached by Ex6TenZ are waiting.
KRÜ BLAZE will play for the Valorant Game Changers Championship after beating Shopify Rebellion Gold 3-1 in the lower final in São Paulo on Saturday. The win came four days after SR Gold had sent them into the lower bracket with a 2-0, and it sets up a grand final against Gentle Mates GC at .
Overtime on Ascent
SR Gold took the first map, Sunset, 13-6, and looked like the side that had beaten KRÜ comfortably earlier in the week. KRÜ answered on Summit and Split, and the fourth map went to overtime before they closed out Ascent 17-15.
It was KRÜ BLAZE’s third win in the lower bracket. Since the loss to SR Gold, they have beaten Team Liquid Brazil, last year’s champions, MIBR GC and now SR Gold without dropping a map until Saturday.
KRÜ BLAZE finished fourth at last year’s championship in Seoul. The lineup is 
antG, nonee, 
ponix, 
tok1o and micaela, coached by bonzitt. One more series win would give them the title.
Gentle Mates GC have not lost a series
Their opponents come in through the upper bracket. Gentle Mates GC swept Team Liquid Brazil in their first match, swept MIBR GC, and edged SR Gold 2-1 in the upper final on Friday, winning the last two maps 13-11 and 13-10.
Gentle Mates GC2-0Team Liquid BrazilSplit 13-6, Summit 13-10Gentle Mates GC2-0MIBR GCAscent 13-4, Haven 13-11Gentle Mates GC2-1Shopify Rebellion GoldSplit 11-13, Sunset 13-11, Summit 13-10The French organisation’s team is coached by 
Kévin “Ex6TenZ” Droolans, the Belgian former Counter-Strike in-game leader. The roster is 
Nami, 
berryx, Wens, 
Marti and safiaa.
Gentle Mates are also in the news for their main team. The organisation released its whole VCT roster and coaching staff on 27 October, and Sheep Esports reported this week that Boaster is set to join for 2027.
$180,000 for the winner
The championship has a $500,000 prize pool. The winner takes $180,000 and the runner-up $100,000. SR Gold leave with $70,000 for third place, and MIBR GC with $50,000 for fourth.
| Place | Team | Prize money |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Gentle Mates GC or KRÜ BLAZE | $180,000 |
| 2nd | Gentle Mates GC or KRÜ BLAZE | $100,000 |
| 3rd | Shopify Rebellion Gold | $70,000 |
| 4th | MIBR GC | $50,000 |
The grand final is a Bo5 at the Riot Games Arena in São Paulo. We covered the start of the event and G2 Gozen’s exit earlier in the tournament.
