Top 5 newcomers to watch at Masters Santiago

VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Masters Santiago 2026 is right around the corner, and many veterans will once again take the stage in search of glory. But even more exciting are the several newcomers who are about to face the international crowd for the very first time. THESPIKE has voted, and here are the top five newcomers taking the stage at Masters Santiago.

Koalanoob

A Masters newcomer with serious upside is Gianfranco "koalanoob" Potestio of FURIA. He has experience in both the Americas and EMEA scenes. His journey began in the Americas, where he played for M80 in VCT 2024 - Ascension: AMERICAS, unfortunately missing out on VCT qualification.

After that setback, he switched regions and joined Natus Vincere in EMEA. Despite competing there for an entire year, koalanoob never made a Masters appearance. Once again seeking a fresh start, he returned to the Americas and signed with FURIA.

That move reignited his fire. At VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Americas Kickoff, he ranked as the fourth-highest-rated player at the event, delivering standout performances for his squad. Koalanoob’s raw mechanics and high-energy playstyle are a big part of what makes FURIA such a dangerous team heading into Masters Santiago.

lovers rock

EMEA’s Umut "lovers rock" Pekdoğan from BBL Esports is another rookie making serious waves in 2026. VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Kickoff marked his first-ever Tier 1 VCT event after previously competing exclusively in Tier 2. He and the entire BBL core were signed after their success in VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Ascension EMEA on BBL PCIFIC, and despite being a roster full of newcomers, they stormed through EMEA and claimed the Kickoff title, therefore earning the first seed at Masters Santiago.

Lovers rock played a massive role in that run, finishing Kickoff as the second-highest-rated player with a 1.22 rating across 12 maps. As the team’s Duelist, he exclusively played Yoru and grabbed headlines with jaw-dropping Operator plays. Considering this was his first Tier 1 stage appearance, his level of composure and impact was remarkable. Lovers rock is absolutely a player to watch in Santiago.

Dambi

Lee "Dambi" Hyuk-kyu will also be making his international debut in Santiago. He joined Nongshim RedForce in November 2024 and helped the organization secure not just one, but two Ascension tournaments wins to remain in Tier 1 VCT.

While the team failed to qualify for any international events in 2025, 2026 has told a completely different story. Nongshim RedForce entered Kickoff with a new identity and secured the first seed heading into Masters Santiago.

Dambi was central to that success, finishing Kickoff with a 1.22 rating and third on the region’s leaderboard. Unlike many Duelists in the current meta, Dambi has avoided Yoru, opting instead for Neon and Waylay. Whether he sticks to that agent pool against international competition remains to be seen.

f4ngeer

Another important newcomer at Masters Santiago is Roman "f4ngeer" Smirnov of All Gamers. He joined the roster late in December but adapted almost instantly. The Russian Duelist bulldozed his way through his first Tier 1 VCT event, VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - China Kickoff, quickly establishing himself as one of the top Duelists in the region.

He played a key role in helping All Gamers secure the first seed in their region as the organization heads to its first-ever Masters appearance. F4ngeer’s preferred agents are Yoru and Waylay, and he has yet to post a negative total K/D in an official matchup. His ability to rise in high-pressure moments makes him one of the most exciting newcomers on the international stage. Given his age and immediate impact, he looks poised for a long career in the VCT.

invy

Jiggs Adrian "invy" Reyes of Paper Rex has never attended a Masters before. He previously competed at one international event—VCT 2023 - LOCK//IN—with Team Secret, but this will be his Masters debut. Invy joining PRX in the 2025 offseason was one of the biggest roster moves of the year in the Pacific. Since linking up with PRX, he’s found a new level of confidence, finishing as the second-highest-rated player on the roster at VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Pacific Kickoff. A true Initiator specialist, invy consistently finds multifrags in impossible situations and has been a crucial asset for PRX, especially after their shakier Kickoff run compared to expectations.

With PRX’s massive fanbase watching closely at Masters Santiago, all eyes will be on invy, and he looks more than ready for the moment.

honorable mention

The “unc” himself, Andrej "babybay" Francisty of G2 Esports, will make his first true international appearance at Masters Santiago. Back in 2021, he competed in VCT 2021 - Stage 1 - North America Masters, but that was a regional event to kick off the VCT. This time, he’ll face the best teams from every region.

When babybay stepped in as a substitute for G2 in 2025, few expected him to lock in a starting role for 2026—but here we are. His performances have been outstanding, silencing the “unc” allegations by finishing as the second-best player on the team at Kickoff.

His drive and stage presence have helped keep G2 in the conversation as one of the top teams in the Americas. Now, he heads into Santiago with serious momentum behind him.

Time to handle the pressure

While there are even more promising newcomers stepping onto the international stage for the first time at Masters Santiago, these are the five (+ honorable mention) that THESPIKE feels deserve extra attention before the event kicks off. Soon, we’ll see whether these players can handle the pressure and continue performing at a high level in front of the international crowd in Chile.

Stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG to follow these newcomers and every other star through their journeys at Masters Santiago.

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