From 0–5 to Champions: Karmine Corp Wins VCT EMEA Stage 2, Secures Top Seed at VALORANT Champions

French esports organization Karmine Corp won the grand final of the prestigious VCT 2026 EMEA Stage 2 tournament, defeating Team Liquid 3:1 at the Olimpic Arena in Badalona. The organization claimed its first top-tier VCT trophy, earned $100,000 in prize money, and qualified for the VALORANT Champions 2026 world championship for the first time in franchise history as Europe’s top seed.

Two-Map Blowout and a Comeback from 0:7

The decisive best-of-five series opened with total dominance from the French squad.

According to grand final stats on VLR.gg, Karmine Corp convincingly took the first two maps:

• Sunset: 13:7 victory for KC;
• Ascent: 13:6 blowout over Liquid;
• Lotus: Team Liquid answers back with 7:13;
• Summit: triumphant series closeout at 13:10.

The match’s main drama unfolded on the final map, Summit. Team Liquid seized early control, mounting a seven-round streak (0:7). However, after switching sides, Karmine Corp adjusted its defensive setup, erased the deficit, and turned the match around.

Kazakh Duelist Dastan “dos9” Zhumagali earned Grand Final MVP honors, finishing the series with 70 kills and a 1.28 rating. Marshall “N4RRATE” Massey made a crucial contribution with 67 kills and a 1.16 rating.

The Season’s Ultimate Redemption Story

Karmine Corp’s victory stands as one of competitive VALORANT’s most impressive turnaround stories. Back in the spring during VCT EMEA Stage 1, the team failed to win a single match, ending the group stage with a dismal 0–5 record in last place (11th–12th).

As noted in VLR.gg’s post-match report, the revamped roster transformed during the second half of the season:

1. Won the group stage with four victories (4:1);
2. Ran through the entire playoff bracket undefeated in series, beating Enterprise Esports (2:1), Turkey’s FUT Esports (2:0), and Team Liquid in the final (3:1).

Championship Roster and SUYGETSU’s Return

The championship roster for Karmine Corp featured:

• Dastan “dos9” Zhumagali;
• Burak “LewN” Alkan;
• Hazem “Avez” Khaled;
• Dmitry “SUYGETSU” Ilyushin;
• Marshall “N4RRATE” Massey;
• Head Coach — Ahmed “ZE1SH” El-Sheikh.

For Russian player Dmitry “SUYGETSU” Ilyushin, the title marks his first major win since his historic championship at Masters Copenhagen 2022 with FunPlus Phoenix, while N4RRATE made a triumphant return to Europe following his stint with Sentinels.

QUELLE HISTOIRE.
QUELLE ÉQUIPE.

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/kVpUZlgoVg

— Karmine Corp (@KarmineCorp) August 30, 2026

Prize Pool and Champions Tickets to Shanghai

The tournament featured a total prize pool of $250,000. Winners Karmine Corp took home $100,000, runners-up Team Liquid received $65,000, and third-place finisher FUT Esports earned $40,000.

According to the official VALORANT Esports portal, four teams will represent the European region at VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026:

• Karmine Corp (Stage 2 Champion / #1 seed);
• Team Liquid (Stage 2 Runner-up / #2 seed);
• FUT Esports (Championship Points qualification);
• Team Vitality (Championship Points qualification).

The premier tournament of the year will take place in Shanghai from September 24 to October 18, 2026, where 16 of the world’s best teams will compete for the world championship title.