The 5 Most Iconic Rivalries in VALORANT Esports History

Ahsan Kabir Published October 4, 2026

Since the beginning of the VCT, VALORANT has produced countless remarkable games. Over time, certain matchups grew into much more than standard calendar fixtures – evolving into international rivalries and high-stakes title battles that turned these teams into historic foes.

From legendary international clashes to heated regional showdowns, here are some of the craziest rivalries in VALORANT history that fans still talk about.

Top Rivalries in VALORANT Esports History

1. LOUD vs OpTic Gaming

Image credit: Riot Games

LOUD vs OpTic Gaming is widely regarded as one of the greatest rivalries in VALORANT esports history. These two teams competed against each other throughout the 2022 competitive year, including in the major international tournaments.

What makes their rivalry especially remarkable is that neither team managed to dominate over the other. For instance, during the 2022 season, their head-to-head series record remained 3-3, while their map record was 9-9.

Both teams were engaged in international Grand Finals twice in 2022. OpTic defeated LOUD in the Masters Reykjavík Grand Final with a score of 3-0, while LOUD managed to beat OpTic with a score of 3-1 in the Champions Istanbul Grand Final, becoming the world champion.

2. Paper Rex vs DRX

Image credit: Riot Games

The Paper Rex vs DRX rivalry is one of the most popular fan feuds in the Pacific region. The rivalry started way back at the beginning of the international VCT era when DRX was known as Vision Strikers.

The first encounter between these two took place at Masters Berlin 2021, where Vision Strikers won 2-0. The rivalry progressed further with both teams meeting again at Masters Reykjavík 2022 when DRX won with a score of 2-1. It finally reached international stages once more at Masters Tokyo 2023, where Paper Rex won 2-0.

Beyond the scores, this rivalry captivates fans due to the stark contrast in team playstyles. While DRX represents disciplined, highly structured VALORANT, Paper Rex is famous for hyper-aggressive, chaotic unpredictability. Coined by the community as the “Pacific El Clásico,” this clash of philosophies remains one of the region’s most iconic storylines.

VALORANT Champions Shanghai is coming soon, and only the best two teams from every group will advance to the playoffs phase. Players interested can keep up with the VALORANT esports calendar on our website.

3. Fnatic vs LOUD

Image credit: Riot Games

Fnatic vs LOUD remains one of the most intense cross-region rivalries in VCT history. Their defining moment came at LOCK//IN São Paulo 2023, where Fnatic met LOUD in an unforgettable Grand Final.

Playing on Icebox in front of a hostile Brazilian crowd, Fnatic mounted a historic comeback from a 3-11 deficit in the deciding map, winning in overtime to claim the trophy on LOUD’s home turf.

LOUD exacted their revenge at Champions 2023, defeating Fnatic twice during the tournament – first with a 2-0 sweep in the playoff opening round, and later eliminating them 2-1 in the lower bracket. High-stakes drama, revenge narratives, and passionate crowd dynamics make Fnatic vs LOUD an instant classic.

4. Sentinels vs 100 Thieves

Image credit: Riot Games

Sentinels v 100 Thieves is definitely one of the most enduring rivalries in North America in terms of VALORANT esports. These two teams have played against each other on numerous occasions from the very beginning of the competitive scene in VALORANT.

The rivalry is still very relevant in 2026, with the two teams playing against each other several times during the VCT Americas season. The games resulted in victories for both of them: 2-0 victory for 100 Thieves at Kickoff, a 2-0 victory of Sentinels in Stage 1, and a 2-1 victory for 100 Thieves in Stage 2.

Fans also continued to describe the matchup as one of Sentinels’ classic North American rivalries, with much of the rivalry driven by fan banter rather than genuine bad blood.

5. Sentinels vs Gen.G

Image credit: Riot Games

The Sentinels vs Gen.G rivalry was one of the most exciting international clashes of the 2024 VCT season. Their rivalry began at Masters Madrid, where the teams met twice.

Gen.G first beat Sentinels with a score of 2-1 in the Upper Final match. Sentinels came back and responded with a dominant win of 3-2 in the Grand Final match.

Their rivalry extended to Champions 2024, where Gen.G first won 2-0 against Sentinels. However, Sentinels later beat Gen.G 2-0 in the decider match.

Although Sentinels vs Gen.G does not have the same long history as LOUD vs OpTic, repeated international meetings and dramatic results make it one of the more memorable modern VCT matchups.

Whether it was LOUD versus OpTic Gaming or Sentinels versus Gen.G, VALORANT managed to create rivalries that included exciting games, dramatic turnarounds, and memorable moments.

Although some rivalries have gone cold and others are just forming, these matchups continue to give fans plenty to debate long after the final round. It will be exciting to see how the new rivalries will evolve at the upcoming global showdown at VALORANT Champions 2026 Shanghai.

Featured image credit: Riot Games