MIBR GC beat FENNEL Female to win Game Changers Championship 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. The best-of-three ended in two maps, and MIBR GC now face G2 Gozen in their next match.

The opening map lasted 38 minutes and the second 37. FENNEL Female did not take a map in either.

Third against 26th in the power rankings

The result followed the Elo power rankings. MIBR GC are 3rd with a rating of 1824 and a record of 43-17 from 60 rated matches. FENNEL Female are 26th on 1721, with a 23-11 record from 34 rated matches.

This was the higher-rated team winning, not an upset. A clean sweep against a side with FENNEL Female’s recent results still counts as a strong start for MIBR GC on the opening day of the playoffs.

MIBR GC build on their Last Chance Qualifier recovery

MIBR GC did not have an easy route to this event. At the VCT Game Changers Brazil Final Stage 2026 they lost 1-2 to Team Liquid Brazil and 2-3 to Evil Geniuses GC. Their path to the Championship then went through the VCT Game Changers Americas Last Chance Qualifier 2026, where they started with a 0-2 defeat to FlyQuest RED.

They have not lost a series since. MIBR GC beat Akave Esports Black 2-0, then won a rematch with FlyQuest RED 3-2. The win over FENNEL Female extends that unbeaten run into the Championship itself.

FENNEL Female’s Pacific form checked again

FENNEL Female arrived with a strong record from their own region. They beat Sasanqua 3-0 at the VCT Game Changers Japan Split 2 2026. At VCT Game Changers Pacific 2026 they then won 2-0 against wiwiwi, 2-1 against Gen.G GC and 2-0 against Team Falcons VEGA.

That run ended in a 2-3 rematch defeat to Gen.G GC. This loss to MIBR GC makes it consecutive series defeats for the Japan-based team, who could not take a map from one of the highest-rated teams in the field.

G2 Gozen next for MIBR GC on Saturday

MIBR GC’s next match in the upper bracket is against G2 Gozen on Saturday 24 October. The event runs until 1 November.

The other opening upper-bracket match was also a sweep. SK Nebula beat Nova Esports GC 2-0, so both of the first playoff series at the Championship ended without a deciding map.