Four months after his last match in the CGN jersey, David “DaviH” Cruz has been crowned VALORANT World Champion with LOUD, becoming the first Portuguese player ever to lift the trophy.
Cologne, Germany, October 20, 2026. Mercedes-Benz Arena, Shanghai. 18,000 seats, a best-of-five Grand Final against Team Vitality. When the last round was over, LOUD had won 3:1. In the middle of the celebration stood a player every CGN fan knows. In June, David “DaviH” Cruz was still competing for us in VALORANT Challengers. In July, he made his VCT debut. In October, he lifted the biggest trophy VALORANT has to offer.
A face of CGN
DaviH joined CGN from SAW in November 2023 and quickly became one of the defining players of our VALORANT roster. In April 2024, he helped us secure our third consecutive DACH title with a 2:1 comeback against MOUZ, decided in overtime on the third map in front of our community at XPERION Cologne.
The same year brought the biggest moment of that era: third place at VCT Ascension EMEA, one step away from the top flight. In 2025, another DACH title followed with a 3:2 in the final. In autumn 2025, DaviH left CGN to trial for a Tier 1 opportunity, a step we fully supported.
The comeback
Early in 2026, CGN were heading into the VCL DACH Stage 1 final without a complete lineup after kovaQ earned his move to FunPlus Phoenix. The answer was a familiar face: at the end of February, DaviH came home.
Three days later, on March 1, CGN were DACH champions again, winning the final 3:0 without dropping a map. In May, the team followed up with the Stage 2 title, once more 3:2, once more with DaviH. Two titles in one season, and a ticket to VCL EMEA Stage 3.
The call from VCT
In June, we transferred DaviH to LOUD ahead of VCT Americas Stage 2, just days before our own opener in EMEA Stage 3. It was the first VCT opportunity of his career, and for us the decision was easy: when one of our players gets the call to the top flight, we try to make it happen.
LOUD entered Stage 2 as outsiders. With only three Championship Points on the board, nothing short of a top-two finish would take them to Shanghai. DaviH made his VCT debut as LOUD’s initiator on July 17. Weeks later, LOUD were in the Stage 2 final and had booked their place at Champions.
World champions in Shanghai
In Shanghai, LOUD opened with a 2:0 over EDward Gaming, dropped a 0:2 against Team Vitality and secured their playoff spot with a 2:0 against Global Esports. In the playoffs they made it to the upper final, where they beat Vitality 2:1.
The Grand Final on October 18 was the third meeting of the two teams. LOUD trailed 3:9 on Summit and still won it 13:11. Vitality answered on Lotus, before LOUD closed out the series 13:5 on Sunset and 13:10 on Haven. On Sova and Fade, DaviH delivered the utility LOUD’s duelists built their rounds on.
The title makes history on several levels. LOUD become the first organization to win VALORANT Champions twice, with the youngest roster at the event. DaviH is the first Portuguese player ever to win Champions. Next to him stood assistant coach Miguel “Bati” Batista, his former SAW teammate and now the first Portuguese coach to lift the trophy.
A path that stays open
From the Challengers stage to the world title took DaviH less than four months. His story shows what we have believed for years: the road from the DACH scene can lead all the way to the top.
“We watched Davi compete when hardly anyone outside Tier 2 knew his name. Seeing him become a world champion makes all of us incredibly proud. Obrigado, DaviH. Cologne is celebrating with you,” says David Dick, COO and Co-Owner of CGN Esports.
The timing could hardly be more fitting. Shanghai was the last Champions of the franchise era, and from 2027 VCT reopens through open qualification. The path DaviH took is now open to teams like ours.
Congratulations, DaviH. Once CGN, always CGN. #VIVACGN
For more information about the partnership, please visit the official CGN Esports website and follow CGN on X or TikTok, and XPERION on Instagram and TikTok.
About CGN Esports
Founded in 2020, CGN Esports has rapidly risen to become one of the standout names in the VALORANT esports scene and is now considered a leading brand in the DACH region. Its teams and players compete in top European titles including VALORANT, Fortnite, World of Warcraft, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. CGN combines competitive excellence with a vibrant mix of street style, entertainment, and lifestyle. With more than 8 million followers across its team, creator, and player channels, CGN offers cutting-edge content and strong community engagement.
About VALORANT
VALORANT is a competitive 5v5 tactical shooter developed by Riot Games. Each player picks an agent with unique abilities, and the first team to win 13 rounds takes the map. Precise aim, utility and teamwork decide every round. The VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) is the game’s global competitive circuit, culminating each year in VALORANT Champions, the world championship.