MIBR GC sweep FENNEL Female in Game Changers playoff opener

MIBR GC beat FENNEL Female 2-0 on Thursday, 22 October, in the first upper-bracket match of the VCT Game Changers Championship 2026 playoffs. They will face G2 Gozen in their next match.

The best-of-three series ended in two maps, with the opening map lasting 38 minutes and the second 37. FENNEL Female could not take a map in their first playoff series at the Championship.

Rankings favour MIBR GC

MIBR GC entered the match third in the Elo power rankings, with a rating of 1824 and a 43-17 record from 60 rated matches. FENNEL Female were 26th, rated 1721, with a 23-11 record from 34 rated matches.

The result followed those rankings, but it was still a strong start for MIBR GC against a team that had recently won several series in the Pacific competition. Their sweep also continued a run of series wins that began after a difficult route through qualification.

Different routes to the Championship

At the VCT Game Changers Brazil Final Stage 2026, MIBR GC lost 1-2 to Team Liquid Brazil and 2-3 to Evil Geniuses GC. They then opened the VCT Game Changers Americas Last Chance Qualifier 2026 with a 0-2 defeat to FlyQuest RED.

MIBR GC responded by beating Akave Esports Black 2-0 before winning a rematch with FlyQuest RED 3-2. They have not lost a series since that opening Last Chance Qualifier defeat, and Thursday’s result carried that run into the Championship playoffs.

FENNEL Female arrived after beating Sasanqua 3-0 at the VCT Game Changers Japan Split 2 2026. In VCT Game Changers Pacific 2026, they defeated wiwiwi 2-0, Gen.G GC 2-1 and Team Falcons VEGA 2-0.

A 2-3 rematch loss to Gen.G GC ended that Pacific run. The defeat to MIBR GC was therefore a second consecutive series loss for the Japan-based team.

G2 Gozen await in the upper bracket

MIBR GC’s next upper-bracket match is against G2 Gozen on Saturday, 24 October. The Championship runs until 1 November.

The other opening upper-bracket match also finished 2-0, with SK Nebula beating Nova Esports GC. Neither of the first two playoff series needed a deciding map.