The 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) season’s first international event, VCT Masters Santiago, is set to kick off on March 1st in Chile, with Pacific teams once again in the spotlight.

According to a release from Riot Games, the publisher of VALORANT, the tournament will take place at Espacio Riesco in Santiago over the course of two weeks. The event brings together top teams from the game’s four International Leagues — Pacific, Americas, EMEA and China — as they compete for prize money and crucial Championship Points.

T1 and Paper Rex begin in swiss stage, Nongshim RedForce advance to playoffs

Representing VCT Pacific, T1 and Paper Rex will begin their campaigns in the tournament’s swiss stage on March 2nd.

Paper Rex, which qualified as the region’s third seed, is scheduled to face G2 Esports in its opening match. T1, the second seed from Pacific, will take on Team Liquid as it looks to secure its first win of the event.

Under the tournament’s format, teams that suffer two losses in the swiss stage will be eliminated, increasing the stakes from the outset.

Meanwhile, Nongshim RedForce, which secured the Pacific region’s top seed after an undefeated run in the VCT Pacific Kickoff, has advanced directly to the playoffs. The organisation’s qualification marks its first appearance at a Masters event, placing additional attention on how deep it can progress in Santiago.

Opening day fixtures on March 1st will see Gentle Mates face EDward Gaming, followed by a match between XLG Esports and NRG.

Championship Points increased for 2026 season

Masters events are held twice a year within the VCT ecosystem and play a key role in determining qualification for the season-ending VALORANT Champions event.

Recent editions of Masters have been dominated by Pacific representatives. Gen.G lifted the trophy at Masters Shanghai, while T1 claimed victory at Masters Bangkok, extending the region’s run of international success since 2024.

Performance in Santiago will directly impact qualification scenarios for Champions Shanghai, scheduled to take place in September. This is due to adjustments made to the Championship Points system for 2026.

According to the release, Riot Games has increased the number of points awarded at Masters events and expanded the range of teams eligible to earn them. The winner of Masters Santiago will receive six Championship Points, with four awarded to the runner-up. Third and fourth place will earn three and two points respectively, while teams finishing fifth and sixth will each collect one point.

With cumulative Championship Points influencing which teams advance to Champions later this year, a strong showing in Santiago could provide an early advantage in the race for the world championship.

Masters Santiago will be livestreamed via YouTube and other online platforms, with additional information available through official VALORANT esports channels.