NRG sweeps EDG after completing record-tying comeback

The second day of Valorant Champions 2025 began with a matchup between the dark horse of VCT Americas and the former world champions. NRG swept EDward Gaming 2-0, getting their first win of Champions 2025 over the former Champions winners.

The series began on Abyss, with both teams running unique compositions. NRG ran a double-Controller composition with Harbor, Vyse, and Yoru, while EDG debuted a new variation of its regional double-Duelist, this time with CHICHOO on Sage. Smoggy was the star at the start, with a 1v3 classic clutch win on pistol, helping EDG build an early lead on its attack side. Plus, CHICHOO was aware of some sneaky positioning from NRG as EDG converted its bonus. It was hard to start its first series back at Champs any better than EDG did, even as NRG won its first round by stalling the plant on A site. The attack side from EDG looked drilled, with plenty of Sage walls getting value as the team ran ahead to a one-sided 10-2 lead at the half.

Even with its regional struggles and roster changes, EDG seemed to have secured its victory in the Champions 2024 series hours ago with how it was performing. NRG looked shaky, as it had another advantage on its second pistol only to lose another clutch to Smoggy. NRG needed to string some rounds together, which it did off the backs of skuba and mada . That 11-2 lead disappeared as NRG used its set attack strats to roll over CHICHOO and prevented aggression from ZmjjKK to take the map to overtime.

It seemed like only the attack sides could win, as EDG won its attack side thanks to some clean kills from Jieni7 on Neon, but so did NRG thanks to a standard spam-through-smoke post-plant win on Abyss A site. Jieni7 once again led the way for EDG, but mada lurked to secure another easy A site take for NRG. Then, the first OT defense round win went to NRG thanks to a great bait from mada and skuba, but EDG won its first defense round thanks to CHICHOO and ZmjjKK.

Overtime just kept getting longer, with s0m getting four kills to put NRG on top again, but a smart push into EDG's spawn won the round, secured overtime, and completed the 11-2 comeback to win 17-15 to take the series lead. That comeback tied for the largest comeback in international history, which was a great way for NRG to start its Champs run.

After starting the map slow, it was mada that stepped up on attack side to finish the comeback, ending the map with a 31/24/4 statline, 1.23 map rating, and 191 ADR.

Next up was Corrode, and EDG needed to quickly wipe the memory of its collapse on Abyss to come back in the series. EDG stuck to double-Duelist, but no Sentinel this time around, while NRG ran its Waylay composition alongside double-Controller. EDG continued its pistol wins with another to start Corrode, thanks to two kills through smokes at the start. If not for skuba tucking into a corner and getting three, EDG nearly converted another bonus round. Instead, NRG got brawk the Odin and played smart defense rounds to get an early lead and force a timeout from EDG. Even after that, when EDG got into a 2v1 post-plant position, skuba won it to keep the momentum in NRG's favor.

EDG got its third round win thanks to some clutch kills from ZmjjKK, and tied the game late into the first half to recover from some disappointing gun rounds. It was 6-6 at the half, with EDG needing to play strong on defense to keep the series going. Smoggy nearly clutched another pistol, but NRG won its first pistol round to retake the lead. It was unable to convert the bonus, and nobody could prevent an amazing skuba ace to tie the game at 8-8. The game remained close, but NRG regained and kept a small lead to force EDG into a tough position. NRG reached match point up 12-9 and won the map 13-11, ending the series.

After a record-matching map one, mada spoke on the comeback and the win over EDG.

“I think we just stayed in the game the whole time,” mada said post-match. “Our mental is just too good, as a team. Thankfully, the boys had me on map two.”

While a sweep, this game was very tight, with s0m and Ethan preventing any overtime on Corrode. However, skuba was the best player of the series with amazing play on both Vyse and Viper. He ended the series with a 1.21 match rating, 47 kills, 79% KAST, and 237 ACS.

With this win, NRG progresses to the winner's match of Group C, and will face the winner of Team Liquid versus DRX for a spot in the Champions 2025 playoffs. As for EDG, it goes to the elimination game of Group C, and will face the loser of the TL and DRX game to keep its hopes of a back-to-back championship alive.