VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 Preview

Masters Santiago 2026 is the first VALORANT S-Tier event of 2026. From February 28 to March 15, 12 teams will compete in a LAN tournament in Santiago, Chile. The event is divided into two stages: Swiss Stage and Playoffs. The total prize pool for VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 is $1,000,000, with $350,000 awarded to the winners.

This preview will cover all key tournament information and the main favorites.

Masters Santiago 2026 will begin with a Swiss Stage group phase, where eight teams will compete. FURIA, All Gamers, BBL Esports and NS RedForce will skip the group stage, as they have already secured their place in the Playoffs.

All Swiss Stage matches are played in a BO3 format. After the Swiss Stage four teams move on to the Playoffs, while the teams that finish in 5th to 8th place are eliminated from the esports tournament.

In both the Swiss Stage and the Playoffs Skirmish Side Selection will be used. The two players from the competing teams face off in a 1v1 in the in-game Skirmish mode. All abilities are disabled and only guns can be used. The first player to reach 5 rounds wins and gives their team the choice to be the starting or the second team in the Map Veto.

In the Playoffs an Upper Bracket and a Lower Bracket will be used. Teams that lose in the Upper Bracket will drop to the Lower Bracket, while teams that lose in the Lower Bracket will be immediately eliminated from the tournament.

All matches are BO3, except for the Lower Bracket Final and the Grand Final, which are BO5.

The team that reaches the Masters Santiago Grand Final from the Upper Bracket will have a two-map ban advantage.

Out of the 12 teams at the event four are highlighted as the main favourites:

• NRG Esports
• Paper Rex
• G2 Esports
• NS RedForce

Of these four only NS RedForce already have a place in the Playoffs. The other three will start Masters Santiago 2026 in the Swiss Stage.

VALORANT Champions, which took place from 12 September to 5 October 2025, was won by NRG, who defeated fnatic in the final. It is no surprise that NRG Esports are regarded as one of the main favourites at Masters Santiago 2026 as well.

Last season Masters Toronto 2025 was won by Paper Rex, who defeated fnatic in the final. Masters Bangkok 2025 was won by T1, who beat G2 Esports in the final. Since 2021 no team has managed to defend a title at VALORANT Masters tournaments. Paper Rex, who won Masters Toronto 2025, can become the first team to defend the title.

All esports teams participating in VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026: NRG Esports, Paper Rex, G2 Esports, NS RedForce, BBL Esports, Gentle Mates, T1, FURIA, Team Liquid, All Gamers, XLG Esports, Edward Gaming. 

NRG Esports, who became world champions last year, made one change before the 2026 season. Sam “s0m“ Oh left the team and was replaced by Georgio “keiko“ Sanassy, who arrived from Team Liquid.

VCT 2026: Americas Kickoff was not very successful. First they lost to MiBR in the Upper Bracket Semifinal, later they lost to G2 Esports in the Mid Bracket Semifinal, and only in the Lower Bracket Final did they get revenge on MiBR with a 3:2 win and secure a place at this tournament.

The main thing is that they managed to qualify for Masters Santiago 2026, the team had enough time to reach better form and in Chile we should see a much better level of play from them. It should also help that they will start the tournament in the Swiss Stage.

The winners of the last VALORANT Masters tournament arrive in Santiago with only one goal, to become the first team to win a Masters tournament twice in a row.

Before the 2026 season Paper Rex, like NRG Esports, made one change. John Patrick “PatMen“ Ramos Mendoza left the team and was replaced by Adrian Jiggs “invy“ Aisa Reyes, who arrived from Team Secret.

Paper Rex stand out for the longevity of their core. “d4v41” and “f0rsakeN” have been playing together since the beginning of 2021, “something” joined in 2023, and “Jinggg” in 2024.

At VCT 2026: Pacific Kickoff Paper Rex had problems, but they focused in the decisive stretch and secured the last ticket to Masters Santiago 2026. At the start of the Playoffs Paper Rex lost to Rex Regum Qeon and T1, and when there was no room for error left, they won four matches in a row.

G2 Esports also made one change before the 2026 season. Jonah “JonahP“ Pulice left the team and was replaced by Andrej “babybay“ Francisty.

Three G2 Esports players have been playing together since 2023, and Alexander “jawgemo“ Mor joined at the end of 2024. The core has been together for many years, so it is clear what kind of play can be expected. When G2 Esports play their best game, they can beat any opponent.

In the VCT 2026: Americas Kickoff Playoffs G2 Esports suffered one defeat against FURIA. They will start their VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 campaign in the Swiss Stage, which is not a bad thing, since they will have enough time to find their rhythm before the Playoffs.

The South Korean team NS RedForce are the only one among the favourites who already have a place in the Playoffs.

Before the 2026 season the team did not make any changes. Four players have been playing together since the end of 2024. In June last year Goo “Rb“ Sang min joined the team.

The team did not manage to record any headline making wins last season, but the 2026 season has started in a very solid way. In the VCT 2026: Pacific Kickoff Playoffs they put together four wins in a row and secured a place in the Masters Santiago 2026 Playoffs.

The VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 Swiss Stage starts on February 28 and will end on March 4. Then there will be a one day break and the Playoffs will start on March 6. The Masters Santiago 2026 Grand Final will be played on March 15.

VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 is the first S-Tier tournament of this season. There are only a few S-Tier tournaments played in a season, so all teams arrive fully focused and highly motivated. Since 2021 nobody has won two VALORANT Masters tournaments in a row, which reflects the current level of competition between the teams.

The main favourites to win Masters Santiago are NRG Esports, Paper Rex, G2 Esports and NS RedForce. We give the fewest chances to NS RedForce, who, although they already have a place in the Playoffs, will start the tournament without any warm up. 

All three remaining teams made one change before 2026 and at the start of the season had not yet reached their best form. The Swiss Stage will be a good time to get to know the teams and prepare bets for top betting sites before the start of the Playoffs.