Welcome, Valorant fans! The group stage of VALORANT Champions 2025 is behind us, and the playoffs are finally here — where every mistake can be decisive and only the strongest will advance. Starting October 6, the top teams from each group will fight in knockout battles, all with their eyes on the ultimate prize: the title of “Global Valorant Champions.” Today, the spotlight is on the playoff clash between NRG and GIANTX — a first-ever meeting between these two squads. With NRG entering as slight favorites but GIANTX eager to upset, this promises to be a tense and unpredictable showdown. Let’s dive into the expected map pool, team form, and what to watch for in this matchup.
How bookmakers see it: NRG favorite
According to the bookmakers, NRG are seen as the favorites in their upcoming match against GIANTX at VALORANT Champions 2025. The odds for the North American team are set at 1.57, while GIANTX stand at 2.36. Although the numbers suggest an advantage for NRG, the European roster has shown solid performances throughout the season and is fully capable of challenging their opponents. This matchup is expected to be competitive, with both sides eager to prove themselves on the big stage.
NRG Form: What to Expect from NRG?
NRG has long been considered one of the flagships of the North American Valorant scene. Despite frequent roster changes, the club has consistently competed in VCT tournaments and remains among the contenders for top positions in the region. The 2025 season began with a refreshed lineup, built on a balance of experience and youthful talent.
The current NRG roster looks as follows: Ethan “Ethan” Arnold — a reliable and experienced player whose composure in clutches has often saved the team; Sam “s0m” Oh — one of the best duelists in the region, known for his aggressive style and ability to apply pressure from the very first rounds; Ross “mada” Nielsen — an explosive and creative playmaker capable of turning the tide with unexpected moves; Alan “brawk” Widmann — a stable support, shaping the team’s structure and creating opportunities for teammates; Brendan “skuba” McGrath — a versatile controller who provides consistency in rounds and balance for the whole roster. Behind the lineup stands a coaching staff focused on discipline and strategic flexibility, which allows NRG to remain competitive on the global stage.
NRG roster: Ethan, s0m, mada, brawk, skuba.
In the first half of the 2025 season, NRG competed at VCT Americas Stage 1 and Stage 2, proving they can fight on equal footing with the strongest teams in the region and securing a slot at Champions. At the start of VALORANT Champions 2025, they already made their presence known with a 2-0 victory over EDward Gaming and a 2-1 win against DRX.
Overall, NRG can be described as a team with a solid core, blending aggression with discipline. The roster features players capable of winning matches through individual skill, as well as experienced performers ensuring stability. If the team manages to keep their composure in the playoffs and improve consistency on new maps, NRG has every chance to aim for top placements and contend for the status of one of the world’s elite teams.
GIANTX Form: What to Expect from GIANTX?
GIANTX entered the Valorant scene relatively recently — at the end of 2023, after the merger of two organizations, Excel Esports and Giants Gaming. Since then, the European team has quickly gained momentum, and by 2025 they earned the right to compete at the main event of the season — VALORANT Champions 2025.
The current GIANTX roster unites young and ambitious players: Kirill “Cloud” Nezhokhin — the reliable core of the team, combining sharp aim with disciplined play; Rokas “grubinho” Juskaukas — a fearless duelist, setting the tempo and creating space with his aggression; Emir “westside” Bekrić — a stable controller, locking down the map and holding off enemy pushes; Andreas “Flickless” Ayaz — a support whose precise use of abilities and timings helps teammates shine; Ara “ara” Azmun — a versatile player, adding flexibility to drafts and ensuring mid-round stability. The team is coached by Daniil “pipsoN” Meshcheryakov, known for his experience and ability to build systems where young players gain confidence and unlock their potential.
GIANTX roster: Cloud, grubinho, westside, Flickless, ara.
The 2025 season began successfully for GIANTX in the European league. At VCT EMEA Stage 2, they managed to break into the top tier and secure a slot at Champions. In the region, GIANTX proved they can compete with giants like Fnatic and Team Liquid. Against the backdrop of dominant favorites, their breakthrough became one of the biggest surprises of the season.
GIANTX’s statistics are also impressive: the team’s win rate in certain series exceeded 70%. They are particularly strong on maps where aggression and fast site takes matter most. However, the young roster still lacks stability in clutches and their international experience remains limited.
Even so, GIANTX started the group stage with a 2-1 win over Sentinels, followed by a close 2-1 loss to Paper Rex. In the decisive playoff qualifier match, GIANTX defeated XLG 2-0.
The team can fairly be called a “dark horse” of the tournament. With ambition, good form, and confidence, they are capable of delivering a bold performance. If they manage to maintain composure and make proper use of their strengths — aggressive style, flexible drafts, and powerful round starts — GIANTX has every chance to advance from groups and challenge the tournament favorites.
Head-to-Head History
NRG and GIANTX have not played against each other in professional Valorant yet. Today’s match will be their first meeting and a chance to see how the teams match up.
Players to Watch
NRG:Ethan — the most experienced and reliable player on NRG, whose career in both Valorant and previously CS:GO has made him a true veteran of the scene. Within NRG, he acts as the team’s glue: helping build strategy, taking on key initiator and support roles, and staying ice-cold in clutch situations. His game sense, ability to read opponents, and consistency in aim make him the primary factor behind the North American squad’s success. If Ethan is in good form, NRG can confidently battle even the top tournament favorites.
GIANTX:Cloud – He is the most experienced and consistent player on the roster, the foundation on which the team’s structure is built. Cloud confidently handles key roles, combining aggressive pushes with careful map control. His reliable aim and composure in clutch situations make him the primary factor behind GIANTX’s success. For this young squad, he serves the same role as a captain on the field — setting the tempo, maintaining morale, and preventing the team from crumbling under pressure.
Probable Map Picks
In the upcoming BO3 between NRG and GIANTX, the veto phase will play a key role. NRG have shown their strongest results on Icebox and Lotus, while GIANTX are most comfortable on Sunset but tend to struggle on Bind. Given this, NRG are expected to ban Sunset, while GIANTX will likely remove Bind. As a result, NRG could secure Icebox as their pick, GIANTX should lean toward Sunset or Split, and the decider map may end up being Lotus or Haven.
Match Prediction
The upcoming match between NRG and GIANTX is especially intriguing since these two teams have never faced each other before — today’s clash will be their first-ever encounter. NRG come in as the favorites, but GIANTX have the potential to pull off a surprise with a flawless performance. That said, NRG look stronger on paper and are more likely to secure the victory.
Main prediction — NRG to win.
