VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 preview: format, schedule, groups, and extra

With the conclusion of VCT Kickoff, prime groups throughout all 4 areas are actually gearing up for the primary worldwide VCT occasion of 2026, VALORANT Masters Santiago.

The occasion will characteristic a complete of 12 groups competing for the trophy over the course of two weeks. Along with this, essential VCT Championship Factors will probably be up for grabs that may contribute in the direction of VALORANT Champions Shanghai qualification. 

Listed below are all the main points about VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026, together with its schedule, format, groups, and extra. Followers can take a look at the data under.

The occasion will happen in entrance of a reside viewers from February twenty eighth to March fifteenth at Espacio Riesco, the most important conference centre in Chile. That is the primary time a VALORANT Masters occasion is headed to South America, and it’s the first VCT occasion hosted in Chile. 

The venue holds a seating capability of as much as 10,000 individuals. Contemplating the immense viewership of LOCK//IN 2023 São Paulo, the earlier South American VCT occasion, comparable success may happen at Masters Santiago as properly.

VCT EMEA, Americas, China, and Pacific will every ship three representatives to battle on the worldwide stage. Listed below are all of the groups that superior to VALORANT Masters Santiago:

From being one of many worst-performing groups to successful Kickoff Americas, FURIA shocked the group because it defeated an MIBR superteam, which incorporates Erick ‘aspas’ Santos and Zachary ‘zekken’ Patrone, within the Higher Remaining. MIBR additionally misplaced its Bo5 Center Remaining in opposition to G2 Esports 3-0, with the latter securing the area’s second seed.

Within the Decrease Remaining, regardless of being only one map away from becoming a member of FURIA and G2 Esports on the worldwide occasion, MIBR suffered a reverse sweep in opposition to reigning VALORANT world champion NRG Esports.

VCT EMEA was arguably essentially the most unpredictable area throughout Kickoff. BBL Esports’ roster, that includes PCIFIC Esports’ Ascension line-up, defeated giants comparable to 2023 Masters Tokyo winner Fnatic and Workforce Vitality to lock instead in Masters Santiago. 

Light Mates, the organisation that changed KOI in VCT EMEA for 2026, turned the second workforce to qualify. The ultimate spot went to Workforce Liquid because it clean-swept Fnatic 3-0 within the best-of-five Decrease Remaining, ensuing within the latter lacking out on solely its second VCT worldwide occasion ever.

The signing of Gao ‘iamgrq’ Ruiqi, Zhu ‘Au1’ Yihao, and Roman ‘f4ngeer’ Smirnov did wonders for All Players, because the workforce lifted its first-ever VCT trophy and certified for its first worldwide occasion. 

Ascension workforce Xi Lai Gaming continued its momentum from the earlier season, defeating organisations comparable to 2024 VALORANT Champions winner EDward Gaming and Wolves Esports to safe its place at Masters Santiago. 

EDward Gaming claimed the ultimate spot to signify China after successful the Decrease Remaining in opposition to Bilibili Gaming 3-1.

Nongshim RedForce turned VCT Pacific’s first seed heading into Masters Santiago, changing into the second Ascension organisation to win a VCT occasion after G2 Esports. Skilled sides comparable to 2025 Masters Bangkok winner T1 and 2025 Masters Toronto champion Paper Rex are the opposite two groups that may signify the Pacific area. 

Curiously, VALORANT Masters Santiago would be the first Masters occasion to characteristic three Ascension groups, together with Nongshim RedForce, Xi Lai Gaming, and G2 Esports.

Heading into the event, it is going to be fascinating to see whether or not G2 Esports will have the ability to carry its first-ever worldwide trophy after dominating the regional leagues in 2025. BBL Esports from EMEA will probably be one other workforce to look out for because it goals to tug off extra upsets with its aggressive playstyle. 

In the meantime, T1 and Paper Rex will look to additional set up their dominance on the worldwide stage by claiming one other Masters trophy.

VALORANT Masters Santiago will encompass two phases, the Swiss Stage and Playoffs.

First seeds from every area will get a direct bye to the Playoffs, whereas the remainder of the groups will start their journey within the Swiss Stage, happening from February twenty eighth to March 4th. To qualify for the Playoffs, groups have to safe two Bo3 collection wins.

With the assistance of a random draw held after the conclusion of VCT Kickoff throughout all areas, Riot Video games revealed the next opening matches for VALORANT Masters Santiago:

Among the many above-listed matchups, G2 Esports and Paper Rex will face one another for the fifth time in VCT. The North American organisation gained the primary two encounters in 2024, whereas the Singaporean facet discovered success within the subsequent two conferences in 2025.

The highest 4 groups from the Swiss Stage will advance to the Playoffs, working from March sixth to fifteenth, to compete in a double elimination bracket and decide the champion. 

Along with the trophy, the top-ranking groups will earn Championship Factors as follows:

Choose’ems for the Swiss Stage are already reside in VALORANT. Followers can lock of their predictions by heading to the Esports part in-game or the official VCT Choose’Ems web site. 

In return, gamers will probably be awarded with the next unique objects:

Choose’ems for the Playoffs will probably be accessible at a later date as soon as the entire certified groups are confirmed. Furthermore, followers can tune in to the Masters Santiago livestreams and full duties to earn the next drops:

Followers will have the ability to buy tickets from Punto Ticket’s official web site to attend the occasion in-person. Those that are unable to fly to Santiago can catch the motion reside on VALORANT Champions Tour’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.