Paper Rex lock in Pacific’s third seed for Masters Santiago, joining Nongshim and T1 in Chile

VCT Pacific Kickoff has concluded with three teams earning their tickets to Masters Santiago: Nongshim RedForce, T1, and Paper Rex. After nearly a month of intense competition at Seoul’s Sangam Colosseum, these squads emerged victorious.

Nongshim RedForce: First Seed, Ascension Champions Make History

Nongshim RedForce claimed Pacific’s first seed at Santiago after defeating Rex Regum Qeon 3-2 in a dramatic upper bracket final. The victory marks a historic achievement for the organization, becoming the first team to win Ascension twice back-to-back (2024 and 2025) and now the first Pacific Ascension squad to qualify for an international Masters event.

The five-map thriller showcased both teams’ resilience across Corrode, Bind, Haven, Abyss, and Breeze. RRQ struck first with a 14-12 overtime victory on Corrode, but Nongshim responded with conviction on Bind (13-8) and Haven (13-5). When RRQ forced a decider with a 13-11 win on Abyss, Breeze became the stage for Nongshim’s crowning moment. After building an insurmountable 11-1 halftime lead, they closed out 13-7 to secure their Santiago berth.

Nongshim’s path through the bracket was commanding. They swept Team Secret 2-0 in upper round one, then delivered a statement win over tournament favorites T1 with a 2-1 victory in upper round two. After dismantling FULL SENSE 2-0 in upper round three, they entered the upper final with momentum firmly on their side.

Dambi emerged as Pacific’s breakout star, terrorizing opponents with his Neon play throughout the tournament. His 262.3 ACS across 141 rounds showcased elite fragging ability, particularly on Haven and Bind where he consistently found multi-kill rounds. Francis complemented Dambi’s aggression perfectly, posting a 245.6 ACS with a team-high 28 first kills across the event, opening up sites for his teammates to capitalize. Rb, the veteran addition who played in China with Titan Esports Club last year, brought invaluable flexibility and championship experience to the roster. His ability to play smokes, particularly Omen, allowed the team to execute their aggressive strategies with proper support.

Speaking after their upper final victory, Rb reflected on the team’s journey: “Since this is my first international appearance in three long years, I am looking forward to showing my new style, new team play and performances, 100%.” When asked about his legendary flexibility across roles, he emphasized team-first mentality: “I have never really thought about that much and just basically, when I was within a team, I just complied with whatever the coaches wanted from the team… I just felt that, for my team, I will do it.”

Ivy and Xross provided the glue that held everything together, with Xross delivering crucial clutch rounds including a memorable ace in a 1v2 situation against RRQ. This will be Nongshim’s first appearance on the global stage, making them the latest in a growing list of successful Ascension teams. However, unlike many Ascension winners who struggle in their first international showing, Nongshim enters with the confidence of back-to-back domestic dominance and a roster that has grown together through adversity.

T1: Second Seed, Munchkin Addition Pays Dividends

T1 secured Pacific’s second seed after a dominant 3-0 sweep of Rex Regum Qeon in the middle bracket final. The Korean powerhouse’s journey to Santiago was marked by resilience, bouncing back from an early upper bracket loss to ultimately punch their ticket with authority.

The middle final sweep showcased T1’s complete control. On Pearl, RRQ’s map pick, T1 stormed to a 9-3 halftime lead and never looked back, closing 13-7. Breeze was even more dominant—a 10-2 defensive half set up a swift 13-2 victory. Abyss, the closest map of the series, saw RRQ mount a furious comeback from 9-3 down to take the lead in regulation, but T1 held their composure through six overtimes to prevail 19-17.

T1’s tournament began with adversity: a 1-2 loss to Nongshim RedForce in upper round two sent them to the middle bracket. However, they responded with conviction, defeating Gen.G 2-1, then DRX 2-0, before beating Paper Rex 2-1 in middle round three. A 2-0 victory over DetonatioN FocusMe in middle round four set up their clash with RRQ, where they sealed their Santiago qualification in style.

The addition of Munchkin to T1’s roster has proven transformative. The veteran brought structure and adaptability that complemented the team’s aggressive tendencies, posting a 185.2 ACS and contributing crucial support plays. IZu emerged as a revelation, consistently delivering high-impact performances with a 208.2 ACS and leading the team in opening picks throughout the event, being crowned the grand finals MVP. His 20-kill performance against Gen.G demonstrated his ability to take over maps when needed. Meteor provided explosive firepower with a 211.2 ACS on multiple roles.

T1 enters Santiago with a revitalized roster and the confidence of having overcome adversity in their qualification run. Their ability to close out series after dropping to the middle bracket demonstrates the mental fortitude that defined their Bangkok championship.

Paper Rex: Third Seed, f0rsakeN’s Masterclass Completes Lower Bracket Run

Paper Rex secured Pacific’s final Santiago spot with a remarkable 3-1 victory over Rex Regum Qeon in the lower bracket final, powered by one of the greatest individual performances in Pacific Valorant history. f0rsakeN dropped an astronomical 101 kills across four maps, going +43 to cement his status as one of the game’s all-time greats.

The series played out on Haven, Corrode, Breeze, and Pearl, with PRX winning 13-8, losing 10-13, then winning 13-10 and 13-10 to close out the series. f0rsakeN’s versatility was on full display, playing three different agent roles across the four maps while consistently delivering 20+ kill performances. His 23 kills on Haven set the tone, with 14 coming on the crucial attack side that swung momentum.

PRX’s road to Santiago was arduous. After losing 0-2 to RRQ in upper round three, they faced elimination in every subsequent match. They defeated Global Esports 2-1 in lower round three, eliminated DRX 2-1 in lower round four, then routed DetonatioN FocusMe 2-0 in lower round five before finally exacting revenge on RRQ in the lower final.

F0rsakeN’s 101-kill, +43 performance in the lower final stands as one of Pacific’s greatest individual showings. His ability to dominate on Veto (a new addition to his agent pool), Omen, and Yoru demonstrated unparalleled flexibility. The performance put him on pace to break global kill records before PRX closed out in four maps. Beyond the statistics, his clutch factor shined through with his sendoff ace to clinch Pearl and the series.

Jinggg provided his trademark explosive duelist play, while something delivered crucial moments including multi-kill rounds that broke RRQ’s economy. The team’s newest addition, invy (replacing Patmen from last year’s roster), proved his worth with a massive 1v3 clutch on Pearl that swung a critical round and broke RRQ’s buy. D4v41 anchored the defense with steady sentinel play throughout their lower bracket gauntlet and his Chamber gameplay this season has been a highlight for the team.

PRX’s qualification extends their record as the Pacific team with the most Masters appearances, now set to make their eighth all-time in Santiago. With the Masters Toronto champions looking to defend their crown and prove their 2025 success wasn’t a fluke, PRX arrives battle-tested from their lower bracket run and riding the momentum of f0rsakeN’s transcendent performance.

.@nsr_valorant, @T1, and @pprxteam will be the 3 teams representing #VCTPacific at #VALORANTMasters Santiago! pic.twitter.com/8qfHbRWCrp

— VCT Pacific (@vctpacific) February 15, 2026

What VCT Pacific Brings to Masters Santiago

Pacific dominated international play in 2025, claiming both Masters Bangkok (T1) and Masters Toronto (PRX). Now, with Korea claiming both the first and second seeds through Nongshim and T1, while Singapore’s Paper Rex rounds out the trio, the region enters with justified confidence that they can extend their championship streak. Whether Nongshim can replicate the magic of previous Ascension Cinderella stories, if T1 can recapture their Bangkok form, or if PRX can ride f0rsakeN’s brilliance to back-to-back Masters trophies remains to be seen.