Nongshim RedForce makes Pacific's first Masters Santiago berth

Almost a week after the three VCT China teams secured their spots for VCT 2026 - Masters Santiago 2026, the Pacific region has finally crowned its first qualifier. Nongshim RedForce overcame a grueling five-map battle to punch their ticket to Chile, marking their debut on the international stage.

Underdogs Rise to the Occasion

Despite entering the matchup as underdogs according to Paper Rex's Ahmad Khalish "d4v41" Rusyaidee bin Nordin, Nongshim RedForce proved they belonged among the elite. While the South Korean squad stumbled with crucial chokes on maps one and four, they maintained control throughout the series, dictating the tempo and keeping Rex Regum Qeon on the back foot.

RRQ managed to snatch their map pick of Corrode in overtime, but Nongshim responded immediately. The Ascension squad dominated on Bind and Haven, securing convincing 13-8 and 13-5 victories, respectively. This momentum carried into Breeze, where despite losing the pistol round, Nongshim unleashed a devastating 12-round win streak to reach match point at 12-1. Though RRQ clawed back several rounds, the Korean roster proved unstoppable, closing out the map 13-7 to seal the series.

Breaking Barriers for Ascension Teams

Nongshim RedForce becomes the fourth team overall to qualify for Masters Santiago, joining Chinese powerhouses All Gamers, Xi Lai Gaming, and EDward Gaming. More significantly, they're the first-ever Pacific Ascension team to reach an international tournament, shattering expectations for promoted rosters.

"A lot of the fans or the people watching would think that it's going to be really difficult for [Ascension teams] to go into international tournaments, to VCT Masters or Champs. But, we have some experience in Ascension... Personally, I don’t think we’ll have many problems in Masters Santiago.” –Nongshim RedForce IGL Goo "Rb" Sang-Min

(Translated from Korean with the help of the provided translator and using AI)

What's Next?

RRQ now faces elimination pressure in the middle bracket, where T1 awaits. The Indonesian squad has one more chance through the lower bracket if they fall short, but with stakes rising and competition intensifying, every match only ups the pressure.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: Riot Games