Champions 2026 Opening Day: Paper Rex Defeats Team Liquid, TYLOO Shocked by G2 Esports

The opening day of Champions 2026 ended with two contrasting results. Paper Rex defeated Team Liquid 2-1 in a long, hard-fought series, while G2 Esports produced the biggest upset of the day by beating TYLOO, the No. 1 seed of VCT China, 2-0. But what made the opening day special was not only the scores, but also tactical signals, roster decisions, and a rare warning issued by Riot Games. Valorant Champions is Riot Games' annual world championship within the VCT – Valorant Champions Tour. Unlike many other esports tournaments, Champions operates under a franchise model, meaning teams must qualify through regional leagues and are tightly managed by the publisher in terms of scheduling, rosters, and conduct rules. This year, the group stage uses a double-elimination structure within groups: teams that lose their opening match still have a chance to advance if they win a decisive lower-bracket match. This format made TYLOO's shocking loss to G2 not the end of the road. Paper Rex showed why they remain a title contender. something, playing Yoru, finished with 58 kills and 33 deaths, the best performance of the match. d4v41 closed the decider on Lotus with an Ace, proving the team has more than one star. For Team Liquid, rookie GSR posted a 1.06 rating, the only player on the team above 1.00. While that was a decent debut, it also exposed concerns about the form of the veteran core. TYLOO, the No. 1 seed from VCT China, collapsed against G2. After losing the first map, they were dominated 13-3 on Sunset. The loss followed a familiar pattern for teams with strong domestic records but limited international experience: they start competitive but fade when opponents adjust the tempo. TYLOO still has a recovery window in the lower bracket, where they will face Team Liquid in a decisive match next Thursday. G2 entered the tournament amid rumors that babybay and valyn would not continue with the team next season. Despite that uncertainty, they played comfortably and confidently, dismantling TYLOO on Sunset. This could be a "nothing to lose" effect, or a sign of real tactical preparation, but one match is not enough to draw firm conclusions. Riot Games also made headlines by enforcing a new conduct rule: shooting at an opponent's corpse is banned at Champions 2026. something received a warning for such an action in map one. This enforcement shows Riot's commitment to professionalism and broadcast-friendly standards, though repeat violations could lead to harsher sanctions. The tournament continues with a Group D marquee matchup between Nongshim RedForce, the Masters Santiago champion, and NRG, the reigning world champion. Meanwhile, Xi Lai Gaming makes their international debut against Karmine Corp, the No. 1 team from EMEA. The opening day has set the stage for a volatile and highly competitive tournament.