Nongshim RedForce secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Paper Rex in the Grand Final of VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026, marking a historic win.
Nongshim RedForce won the VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 by defeating Paper Rex 3-0 in a commanding Grand Final held on March 15, 2026. The tournament, which took place in Santiago, Chile, featured twelve teams from around the globe, showcasing some of the best talent in the VALORANT esports scene.
This victory is particularly notable as Nongshim RedForce became the first VALORANT team to debut from Ascension and win a Masters tournament in their inaugural year. Throughout the tournament, they displayed exceptional skill, dropping only one game across all matches.
The Grand Final attracted significant attention, peaking at 883,000 concurrent viewers, although the overall viewership for the tournament saw a decline of 15-20% compared to the previous Masters event held in Toronto.
The format of VALORANT Masters Santiago included a playoff bracket and a Swiss Stage, which allowed for a competitive structure that engaged fans and participants alike. Despite their strong performance, Paper Rex faced an early exit, being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by NRG.
Historically, this tournament ranks seventh overall in the Masters series, excluding the VALORANT Champions events, highlighting its significance in the competitive landscape of VALORANT esports.
Looking ahead, the next major international event is VALORANT Masters London 2026, scheduled for June 6-21, 2026. Participating teams will return to their respective regional leagues to compete in VCT 2026: Stage 1 matches starting April 1.
As the esports community reflects on the outcomes of VALORANT Masters Santiago, observers are keen to see how teams adapt and prepare for the upcoming challenges in London.
