Brazilian champions Stellae Gaming are on the brink of elimination from the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Americas Ascension tournament after suffering an opening match defeat to TSM.
The 2-1 loss against the North American team means Stellae Gaming cannot afford another defeat if they hope to secure a coveted spot in the elite VCT Americas league for 2026. This tournament offers the pathway to the franchised esports circuit.
TSM dominated the first map, Haven, with a 13-3 victory. Stellae Gaming then mounted a comeback on Ascent, winning 14-12 in overtime, evening the series.
However, TSM secured the decisive third map, Lotus, with a commanding 13-2 score, closing out the series.
Stellae Gaming, who are the reigning Brazilian VALORANT champions, now face a win-or-go-home scenario in the coming days.
The team acknowledged their disappointment following the match. On social media, they posted: “Unfortunately it didn’t work out today, now the focus is on tomorrow’s match, playing for survival in the competition! Thank you to everyone who cheered for us today and supported us even with the unfavorable score.”
The date and opponent for Stellae Gaming’s next critical match have not yet been announced. Matches are streamed on official VALORANT Esports channels.