NS RedForce secures first-ever VALORANT Champions qualification

For the first time in its history, Nongshim RedForce has qualified for VALORANT Champions. They secured their ticket to Champions Shanghai 2026 after defeating Gen.G Esports in the Upper Bracket Semifinals of the VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Pacific Stage 2.

The victory guaranteed them enough VCT Championship Points to qualify for the event, while they still have the opportunity to fight for the regional title.

A historic moment for NS RedForce

Despite missing the VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Masters London 2026, 2026 has been nothing short of a success for Nongshim RedForce. In their debut season in the VCT, they secured their first trophy at VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Pacific Kickoff and went on to earn their first international qualification, where they went on to claim the Masters title in Santiago, Chile.

Now, just six months later, they have made history once again, securing their first-ever qualification for the game's biggest tournament as they will make their way to VALORANT Champions 2026 in Shanghai.

Following their 2-1 victory over Gen.G, Jung "Xross" Hwan delivered an emotional post-match interview on the official broadcast, highlighting just how much the victory meant to both him and the team.

This qualification also marks the return of Goo "Rb" Sang-Min to the VALORANT Champions stage, having last competed at the event in 2023, when he represented KIWOOM DRX. The remaining four members of the team will be making their Champions debut.

VALORANT Champions 2026

In the Pacific region, two spots remain to be filled, with only Paper Rex and Nongshim RedForce having secured their qualification through VCT Championship Points. The remaining spots will be determined by the outcome of the regional competition.

So far, only VCT China has concluded, with the remaining regions still battling for their spots at VALORANT Champions 2026 in Shanghai. While the VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Stage 2 will conclude on August 30, the Pacific and Americas regions are both scheduled to play their Grand Finals on September 6.

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 by VCT Pacific // Riot Games