**Technical issues from conductive metal desks caused repeated mouse interference, input stutters, and multiple tech pauses during the group stage at VALORANT Champions 2026 in Shanghai, most notably in the FUT Esports vs 100 Thieves series on Split.** Riot Games identified the problem, implemented temporary fixes including mandatory wired mice for players, and scheduled full desk replacements with non-conductive materials. These measures were rolled out before or early in the playoff bracket, which began October 7 at the Jing’an Sports Center and shifts to the Mercedes-Benz Arena for the October 16–18 finals weekend. No comparable disruptions have been widely reported in playoff matches to date. Remaining variables include any last-minute venue or hardware adjustments, map-specific server stability, and the compressed schedule of best-of-three and best-of-five series that could amplify even isolated incidents.