VCT 2026: Americas Kickoff — MIBR edge past NRG in a 2:1 Upper Bracket victory

MIBR secured an important win at VCT 2026: Americas Kickoff, defeating NRG 2:1 in a Best of 3 series in the Upper Bracket. The victory keeps the Brazilian squad moving forward in the upper bracket, while NRG drop down and will need to fight through the bracket to stay in contention in the triple-elimination format.

After conceding the opening map, MIBR regrouped and took control of the series, winning the next two maps through disciplined play and strong performances in decisive rounds.

Abyss — 13:6 NRG

NRG started the series in confident fashion. They controlled the pace on both attack and defense, built an early lead, and consistently punished MIBR’s mistakes to secure the first map.

Split — 13:11 MIBR

Split turned into a closely contested battle. Both teams traded rounds, but MIBR found key wins in critical moments, allowing them to edge out NRG and level the series.

Breeze — 13:8 MIBR

With momentum on their side, MIBR looked more composed on Breeze. Strong mid-round decision-making and coordinated executions helped them maintain control and close out the deciding map.

MIBR’s comeback after a slow start defined the series. After dropping Abyss, they stayed calm under pressure and capitalized on crucial rounds on both Split and Breeze. The performance highlighted not only individual firepower, but also effective team coordination in high-pressure situations. As a result, MIBR remain in the upper bracket race, while NRG move into the middle bracket with little margin for error.

VCT 2026: Americas Kickoff features 12 teams competing in Los Angeles for early-season momentum, Championship Points, and qualification spots for Masters Santiago. The triple-elimination format allows teams multiple chances to recover, but upper bracket victories like this one significantly ease the path toward the latter stages of the tournament.