The upper semis of the VCT Game Changers Championship was a day to remember. It began with an upset, surged into a nail-biter second matchup, and wound down with an ending that, while expected, still packed a punch.
Team Liquid Brazil triumphed over G2 Gozen in an exhilarating three-map opener, crushing many VALORANT fans. The second match brought another intense three-map clash, this time between Karmine Corp GC and Shopify Rebellion Gold. For a moment, it seemed like the day would end in another major upset—especially after KC took an initial lead on the third map—but the North American favorites held their ground and took the victory eventually.
G2 Gozen vs. Team Liquid Brazil match highlights
G2 Gozen haven’t just been consistent in EMEA—they’ve placed in the top three at every VALORANT Game Changers Championship to date, even winning the inaugural title in 2022.
Team Liquid Brazil have also been strong contenders since joining the VALORANT Game Changers circuit in 2022, securing third place that year and finishing second in 2023. Their 2024 season, however, fell short of expectations.
Both teams boast strong international résumés, but G2 Gozen have consistently been the more prominent roster—both regionally and worldwide. However, the EMEA superstars were unable to live up to their reputation in this series.
The series opened on Haven, where Team Liquid’s aggressive, intel-heavy composition dismantled G2 Gozen’s defense in the first half. Their momentum carried through into the second half, leaving G2 with virtually no room to recover. With 11 consecutive round wins, Team Liquid closed out the map decisively at 13–3.
The second map, however, saw G2 Gozen flip the momentum with an equally commanding response. They cut through the Brazilian roster on Corrode with aggressive yet calculated strategies, securing a dominant 13–2 victory.
The decider was a tug-of-war, with both teams battling to hold their spot in the upper bracket. The map went to overtime, but Team Liquid struck first and ultimately closed it out 14–12.
With this win, Team Liquid advanced to the upper final, while G2 Gozen dropped to the lower bracket and will now fight through their final lifeline in the tournament.
Shopify Rebellion Gold vs. Karmine Corp GC match highlights
Another standout matchup this Championship season, the Shopify Rebellion Gold vs. Karmine Corp series was one that could have swung either way.
However, while Karmine Corp have proven themselves a formidable force in their region and this tournament, going up against Shopify, a two-time Game Changers champion, is no easy task.
The series opened with Shopify Rebellion hammering Karmine Corp on Abyss—KC’s own map pick. SR closed out the map 13–5, showcasing the discipline and dominance expected from a team with back-to-back championship titles.
However, momentum shifted on Haven. Despite it being SR’s map pick, they faltered heavily in the first half. Karmine Corp came out swinging with unpredictable aggression, and their pressure prevented the typically composed SR from mounting a second-half comeback.
G2’s earlier stumble had fans concerned—could both tournament favorites really be pushed to their final lifeline today? That tension carried into the decider, as KC jumped ahead with a strong 4–1 start. But what seemed like the beginning of an upset was, in fact, their last surge. From there, KC managed only two more rounds for the rest of the map as SR showcased what they were truly capable of.
With this win, SR Gold advanced to the upper final, where they’ll face Team Liquid Brazil for a direct spot in the grand final—or risk dropping to the lower final for one last shot.
For live scorelines and schedules, you can check out our updated VALORANT Game Changers Championship 2025 guide (and a quick top six recap to catch you up!) to make sure you never miss a celebration or upset at this year-end inclusive tournament.
