On October 18, LOUD defeated Team Vitality 3-1 in the VALORANT Champions 2026 Grand Finals held in Shanghai, claiming the world championship title. Erde, participating in his first international tournament, was also awarded MVP.
LOUD fell behind 3-9 on the first map before mounting a comeback. After tying the series, LOUD took Sunset City on the third map and held off their opponents' push on the fourth map, Forgotten Lands, to seal the victory.
erde stated at the post-match press conference that the team was initially affected by the pressure of the finals and failed to perform at their usual level, but candid discussions became the turning point. He had set this achievement as his goal upon learning earlier in the year that he would serve as the in-game leader. tkzin attributed the victory to the trust among teammates, while his father sent blessings to the team over the loudspeakers.
Coach Bati introduced how analyst balax later shifted to studying LOUD's own match tendencies from the opponent's perspective, helping the team improve their preparation. Several members also spoke about their long stint in the secondary league, roster rebuilds, and coping with family hardships. lukxo used the message on his jersey, "One day it will be your turn, believe in yourself," to encourage future players, while Darker stated that he has always looked up to Faker's professional career as a role model.