London Grand Tournament 2025 Champion’s List: Breaking Down the Winning Warhammer 40K Army

Discover the Warhammer 40K list that won the 2025 London Grand Tournament. We break down the champion’s army, key units, and what it means for the meta.

The 2025 London Grand Tournament is officially in the books, and Liam VSL, piloting Chaos Space Marines, has once again proven why he is regarded as one of the best Warhammer 40K players in the world.

Liam has built a reputation for playing lists that don’t always align perfectly with the prevailing meta, yet he consistently delivers results at the highest level. With this win at the largest Warhammer 40K tournament in history, his legacy only grows stronger.

Check out Liam’s winning list here.

The Winning Warhammer 40K List

Detachment: Veterans of the Long War

• HQs: Cypher, Fabius Bile, Chaos Lord

• Battleline: Cultist Mob, 5 Legionaries

• Other Units: 10 Chosen, 5 Nemesis Claw, 6 Noise Marines, 2×2 Obliterators, 10 Warp Talons, 3 Chaos Bikers, 2 Chaos Predator Destructors, 2 Chaos Rhinos

At first glance, the list might not look groundbreaking. It mixes common Chaos Space Marine staples like the Chaos Lord, Legionaries, Cultists, and Rhinos with more unusual picks such as Noise Marines, Warp Talons, and even Chaos Predator Destructors. On paper, it appears like a mash-up of units you’d expect to see across Renegade Raiders and Creations of Bile lists—yet Liam has made it work in a detachment that is rarely considered top-tier.

Breaking Down the Key Units

Fabius Bile and the Chosen
This is the list’s centerpiece melee threat. With Bile enhancing the toughness of the 3-wound Chosen, this unit becomes both durable and deadly. Access to Fights First via stratagems makes them a nightmare for enemy bricks, particularly in a meta where World Eaters and their 20-model squads are prominent.

Obliterators
Often overlooked in current lists, Obliterators bring immense value here. By starting in reserves and deep striking, they can reliably target and eliminate the Oath of the Moment unit each turn. Their flexibility against both vehicles and infantry makes them a problem opponents can’t easily solve.

Noise Marines
An all-star datasheet that transcends faction boundaries. Their high-volume Strength 10 and Strength 5 firepower, combined with the ability to ignore cover, means they’re useful in nearly any matchup. Re-roll support only amplifies their efficiency, raising questions about whether Noise Marines are too strong even outside of Emperor’s Children.

Nemesis Claw and Warp Talons
Both units feel more at home in Creations of Bile lists, but they thrive here as well. Nemesis Claws skirmish on the mid-table while shutting down stratagem support, while Warp Talons are excellent deep strike threats capable of clearing backline chaff.

Chaos Bikers
Not the stars of the show, but still valuable. They provide fast scoring, surprise firepower with plasma, and utility with a Power Fist, giving Liam another flexible tool in his arsenal.

Predator Destructors

Does your opponent have infantry that borders on elite? Well, they don’t anymore. Predator Destructors bring some of the best anti-infantry shooting in the game and they make sense in any CSM list at their price.

Why This List Works

Liam’s list is built around adaptability. It has the tools to grind down hordes, delete elite units, and threaten vehicles in equal measure. In the current meta, where many armies struggle with activation efficiency, his strategy of leveraging Oath of the Moment-style targeting ensures he can consistently eliminate key threats turn after turn.

What sets this list apart isn’t just the unit selection but the way it maximizes durability, melee punch, and ranged support without overcommitting to one archetype. It’s an all-comers army designed to weather diverse matchups in a massive field—exactly what’s needed to win the LGT.

Implications for the Warhammer 40K Meta

Liam’s win demonstrates that Chaos Space Marines have far more flexibility than many assumed. Even though this build diverges from the standard meta list with Raiders and Bile, his success may inspire others to experiment with similar approaches. If history is any guide, players will soon start adapting elements of this army into their own competitive lists.

Still, it’s important to remember that list-building is only part of the equation. Liam’s exceptional skill, preparation, and ability to adapt on the tabletop are what truly carried him to victory. Copying the army wholesale won’t guarantee success—but understanding why it works and how to pilot it effectively is the real lesson.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 London Grand Tournament was a showcase of the highest level of competitive Warhammer 40K, and Liam VSL’s victory with Chaos Space Marines will be remembered as a defining moment. His blend of meta awareness, creative list-building, and sheer gameplay ability continues to set him apart from the rest of the field.

If you’re looking to improve your own game, don’t just chase the winning list—study it, learn from it, and adapt it to your style.

Stick with us for more Warhammer 40K coverage, analysis, and insights from the LGT and beyond.

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