GIANTX defeat Sentinels in a tense clash at Champions 2025

September 14, 2025 — In the group stage of VALORANT Champions Paris 2025, European squad GIANTX pulled off a major upset, defeating tournament favorites Sentinels 2–1 in a thrilling series packed with dramatic moments.

The opening map, Corrode, was all about Sentinels’ dominance. The North American team took control from the very first rounds, with aggressive peaks and sharp aim shutting down GIANTX’s attempts to find their footing. A decisive 13–6 victory for Sentinels seemed to foreshadow an easy series for zekken and his teammates.

But things changed dramatically on Sunset. GIANTX found their rhythm, delivering a disciplined defense backed by quick and precise rotations. Cloud stood out in particular, setting the tempo for his squad. Sentinels looked lost and failed to come up with effective answers, allowing GIANTX to level the series with a commanding 13–4 win.

The decider on Haven turned into a true test of nerves. Sentinels started strong, racing ahead to a 6–0 lead by capitalizing on opponent mistakes and dominating in duels. However, GIANTX showed remarkable resilience, slowly clawing back through smart retakes and clutch plays. With the crowd’s energy fueling them, the Europeans managed to swing the momentum in their favor. The closing rounds went their way, sealing a 13–9 map win and a 2–1 series triumph over Sentinels.

VALORANT Champions 2025 is the largest tournament in the VALORANT discipline, serving as the grand finale of the VALORANT Champions Tour that took place throughout 2025. The event brings together 16 of the best teams from around the world to compete for a prize pool of $2,250,000. It is being held in Paris, France.