Spencer Crossley
2026-03-16 02:36:06
March 15, 2026 • Espacio Riesco, Santiago, Chile • Nongshim RedForce 3-0 Paper Rex
The first international event of the 2026 VCT season concluded in dramatic fashion as **Nongshim RedForce (NS)** delivered a dominant 3-0 sweep over **Paper Rex (PRX)** in the Grand Final of Valorant Masters Santiago. Held at Espacio Riesco in Santiago, Chile, the tournament featured a $1,000,000 prize pool and marked NS's first major international title.
Nongshim RedForce went undefeated throughout the event, showcasing incredible form. Paper Rex, a veteran Pacific squad, dropped into the lower bracket after an upset loss but mounted an impressive run, defeating strong opponents including NRG to reach the Grand Final.
The series was one-sided. On **Corrode**, NS fought back from a deficit to take a close 13-11 win. They then cruised on **Split** (13-4) and delivered a near-perfect performance on **Abyss** (13-3), with standout plays from players like Xross and Jung.
The sweep set a new record for the quickest international Grand Final in recent VCT history, highlighting NS's coordination and map control. [](grok_render_citation_card_json={"cardIds":["0d9747","1602cf"]})
| Place | Team | Prize | Championship Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Nongshim RedForce | $350,000 | 6 |
| 2nd | Paper Rex | $200,000 | 4 |
| 3rd | NRG | $125,000 | 3 |
| 4th | G2 Esports | $75,000 | 2 |
Nongshim RedForce's players delivered exceptional individual and team performances across the bracket. Xross in particular shone in the Grand Final with high ACS and impact. Paper Rex showed resilience in the lower bracket but couldn't match NS's momentum in the decider. [](grok_render_citation_card_json={"cardIds":["9edd62"]})
This victory extends Nongshim's impressive winning streak and positions them as early frontrunners in the 2026 Championship Points race. The event also featured a new agent reveal during the Grand Final broadcast, adding excitement for the community.
With Masters Santiago complete, teams now prepare for the upcoming VCT Stage 1 leagues and the next international event — Masters London.
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