Nongshim RedForce qualifies for VALORANT Masters Santiago

Nongshim RedForce has turn into the second Ascension staff to win a VCT Kickoff occasion after defeating RRQ within the 2026 Pacific Higher Finals.

Following within the footsteps of America’s G2 Esports final 12 months, the South Korean organisation gained 3-2 within the Higher Remaining and can head to VALORANT Masters Santiago because the area’s first seed.

RRQ, however, nonetheless has two possibilities left to qualify for Masters Santiago earlier than going through elimination from the occasion.

Ever since Nongshim RedForce requalified to the Tier 1 ecosystem after ending second at Ascension Pacific 2025, it hasn’t misplaced a single collection. This features a victory over Masters Bangkok champion T1.

That development continued in opposition to RRQ as effectively, although the win didn’t come simply. The primary half on Corrode ended with a 6-6 scoreline already hinting at a nail-biting best-of-five collection.

Whereas RRQ kicked off the second half with three back-to-back spherical wins, Nongshim RedForce snatched away six of the following seven rounds to succeed in map level. RRQ pushed again to pressure extra time and finally took the early collection lead 14-12.

On map two, Nongshim RedForce recorded a dominating begin on Bind, hardly ever giving the Indonesian facet many possibilities within the first half because the scoreline reached 9-3. What appeared like a one-sided affair was a detailed battle as RRQ gained 5 of the primary six rounds within the second half to place the staff solely two factors behind.

That mentioned, RRQ failed to complete the job this time as Nongshim RedForce gained momentum again to shut out the map 13-8 to degree the collection.

The South Korean facet as soon as once more had a robust displaying on Haven to place 9-3 on the board. Furthermore, not like Bind, RRQ may solely handle to assert 5 rounds in whole as Nongshim RedForce moved one step nearer to successful the collection, attaining a 13-5 victory.

RRQ discovered itself on the again foot as soon as once more on Abyss, with its VCT Ascension opposition gaining an early 6-1 lead. Nevertheless, the skilled roster wasn’t prepared to surrender simply but, because it gained the remainder of the rounds within the first half to degree the rating. Whereas Nongshim RedForce stole just a few rounds within the second half, RRQ dominated the latter half to safe a detailed 13-11 win and take the collection to the decider.

The fifth map, Breeze, practically noticed Nongshim RedForce’s greatest blunder of its complete VCT Pacific tenure. The staff destroyed RRQ to succeed in a 12-1 lead and was only one spherical away from punching its ticket to Masters Santiago.

Nevertheless, Pujan ‘FNS‘ Mehta’s worst concern was near changing into a actuality as RRQ took the sport to 12-5. In the long run, although, the South Korean organisation prevented a brutal collapse. Nongshim RedForce claimed the one spherical it wanted to lock in a Masters Santiago look, taking the map 13-7 and collection 3-2.

Nongshim RedForce’s initiator Jung ‘Xross’ Hwan was named MVP of the collection with a 1.19 score and a 79/62/20 KDA. Nevertheless, the staff’s duelist Lee ‘Dambi’ Hyuk-kyu scored the best ACS of 224.

Whereas Nongshim RedForce will now begin making ready for its first worldwide VCT occasion, RRQ will face T1 within the Center Remaining on February 14th for an additional shot at Masters Santiago qualification. The match, similar to the remainder of the event, will probably be streamed reside on VCT Pacific Twitch and YouTube channels.