Valorant Masters Santiago 2026 is the first international stop on the VCT 2026 circuit, running February 28 through March 15 at Espacio Riesco in Santiago, Chile. Twelve teams from across all four VCT regions are competing for a share of a $1,000,000 prize pool, with VCT Points on the line that feed directly into Valorant Champions 2026 qualification. It's also the first time the best Valorant teams in the world have played on Chilean soil.
Dates and Location
The tournament runs across three weekends, split between a Swiss Stage and a double-elimination Playoffs bracket.
- Swiss Stage: February 28 - March 5, 2026
- Playoffs: March 6 - March 15, 2026
- Grand Final: March 15, 2026
Venue: Espacio Riesco, Av. El Salto 5000, 8440000 Huechuraba, Región Metropolitana, Chile
All 12 Teams and Rosters
Every team at Masters Santiago earned their spot through the VCT 2026 Kickoff tournament. Each of the four regions sent three teams, and Kickoff seeding determines which teams go straight to Playoffs and which ones play through the Swiss Stage first.
China Region
| Seed | Team | Players |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | All Gamers | f4ngeeR, Sh1mp, K1ra, Au1, iamgrq |
| 2nd | Xi Lai Gaming | NoMan, Rarga, WsLeo, Lysoar, happywei |
| 3rd | EDward Gaming | nobody, ZmjKK, Smoggy, CHICHOO, cb |
Pacific Region
| Seed | Team | Players |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Nongshim RedForce | Rb, Dambi, Francis, Ivy, Xross |
| 2nd | T1 | stax, BuZz, Munchkin, Meteor, iZu |
| 3rd | Paper Rex | Jinggg, invy, f0rsakeN, d4v41, something |
Americas Region
| Seed | Team | Players |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | FURIA | nerve, eeiu, koalanoob, artzin, alym |
| 2nd | G2 Esports | BABYBAY, valyn, jawgemo, leaf, trent |
| 3rd | NRG Esports | brawk, mada, skuba, Ethan, keiko |
EMEA Region
| Seed | Team | Players |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | BBL Esports | Rosé, Crewen, Loita, Lar0k, lovers rock |
| 2nd | Gentle Mates | starxo, GLYPH, marteen, bipo, Minny |
| 3rd | Team Liquid | nAts, purp0, kamo, MiniBoo, wayne |
Tournament Format
Masters Santiago runs a two-phase structure: a Swiss Stage that determines the final four Playoff qualifiers, followed by a double-elimination bracket to crown the champion. Teams come in either with a direct seed to Playoffs or competing in the Swiss from match one with no buffer.
Swiss Stage
The four regional Kickoff winners bypass the Swiss entirely: All Gamers (China), Nongshim RedForce (Pacific), FURIA (Americas), and BBL Esports (EMEA). The remaining eight teams play through the Swiss Stage from February 28 to March 5, with every match as a best-of-three.
The bracket plays out across three rounds:
Round 1 - All teams at 0-0:
- Match 1: Gentle Mates vs. EDward Gaming
- Match 2: T1 vs. Team Liquid
- Match 3: G2 Esports vs. Paper Rex
- Match 4: Xi Lai Gaming vs. NRG Esports
Round 2 - Teams split into 1-0 and 0-1 pools:
- Match 5: Winner M1 vs. Winner M2
- Match 6: Winner M3 vs. Winner M4
- Match 7: Loser M1 vs. Loser M2
- Match 8: Loser M3 vs. Loser M4
Round 3 - 1-1 crossover matches:
- Match 9: Winner M7 vs. Loser M5
- Match 10: Winner M8 vs. Loser M6
The top four finishers advance to Playoffs. The bottom four are eliminated.
Playoffs
Eight teams compete in the Playoffs from March 6 to March 15: the four direct seeds and the four Swiss qualifiers, seeded first through fourth based on their Swiss finish.
Upper Bracket Quarterfinals:
- FURIA vs. Swiss Seed #4
- BBL Esports vs. Swiss Seed #3
- Nongshim RedForce vs. Swiss Seed #2
- All Gamers vs. Swiss Seed #1
Winners move through semifinals to the Upper Final. Losers drop into the lower bracket, which still offers a path to the Grand Final.
Lower Bracket path:
- Round 1: Upper Bracket Quarterfinal losers face off
- Round 2: Round 1 winners vs. Upper Bracket Semifinal losers
- Semifinal: Last two lower bracket teams
- Lower Final: Survivor vs. Upper Final loser (Best of Five)
Match formats:
- All Upper Bracket matches: Best of Three
- Lower Bracket Rounds 1 and 2: Best of Three
- Lower Bracket Semifinal: Best of Three
- Lower Bracket Final: Best of Five
- Grand Final: Best of Five
Prize Pool and VCT Points
The $1,000,000 prize pool is distributed across all twelve teams by final placement. Placements from first through sixth also award VCT Points that count toward Valorant Champions 2026 qualification. Teams finishing seventh or lower collect prize money only.
The winner receives the Masters trophy, which features an illuminated core centerpiece, along with a tournament MVP honor. The MVP recipient will be announced during the event.
| Placement | Prize Money (USD) | VCT Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | $350,000 | 6 |
| 2nd | $200,000 | 4 |
| 3rd | $125,000 | 3 |
| 4th | $75,000 | 2 |
| 5th - 6th | $50,000 | 1 |
| 7th - 8th | $35,000 | 0 |
| 9th - 10th | $25,000 | 0 |
| 11th - 12th | $15,000 | 0 |
Teams eliminated in the Swiss Stage still take home at least $15,000 USD.
How to Watch
All matches stream live on the official VALORANT Champions Tour YouTube and Twitch channels, from the Swiss opening matches through the Grand Final. Broadcasts include pre-show and post-match analysis segments. Partnered co-streamers on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok (including Tarik, TenZ, and Binks) offer additional coverage alongside the main feed.
Official streams:
- YouTube: VALORANT Champions Tour official channel
- Twitch: VALORANT official Twitch channel
Tickets and Live Attendance
Masters Santiago 2026 is open to a live audience at Espacio Riesco across all stages. Tickets are on sale through PuntoTicket (puntoticket.com) and available globally. International buyers need a valid passport or government ID to complete the purchase, with a maximum of four tickets per checkout. Using a VPN or private relay may cause purchase issues.
Tickets went on general sale on December 10 at 12 PM CLST (7 AM PT).
Two seating options are available: Platea Numerada (reserved, numbered seats) and Platea General Admission. Pricing scales up as the tournament progresses.
Early Stage Weekdays (March 2, 3, 4, 9, 10)
- Platea Numerada: 13,640 CLP (~$15 USD)
- Platea General Admission: 9,999 CLP (~$11 USD)
Early Stage Weekends (February 28, March 1, 6, 7, 8)
- Platea Numerada: 18,180 CLP (~$20 USD)
- Platea General Admission: 13,640 CLP (~$15 USD)
Upper Final and Lower Bracket Final (March 13-14)
- Platea Numerada: 22,725 CLP (~$25 USD)
- Platea General Admission: 18,180 CLP (~$20 USD)
Grand Final (March 15)
- Platea Numerada: 27,275 CLP (~$30 USD)
- Platea General Admission: 22,725 CLP (~$25 USD)
Fan Activations and On-Site Experience
Activities run from opening day through the Grand Final weekend, with additional surprises planned specifically for the final.
El Foro
El Foro is a new community space introduced at Masters Santiago. Press conferences, player autograph sessions, Q&A panels, developer talks, live art, meet-and-greets, interviews, and giveaways are all hosted there throughout the event.
Confirmed panels and guests:
- VALORANT Voices with Raze and Tejo: Voice actors Carolina Ravassa (Raze) and Victor Turpin (Tejo) discuss their roles and perform iconic voice lines live on stage
- Agents & Lore: Gameplay Designer June Cuervo and Narrative Writer Arden Youngblood on how story and gameplay come together in Agent creation
- Maps: Map Designer Diego Varona on the philosophy behind map updates, including Breeze
- Modes: Armand Asdourian
- Competitive: Product Lead Stephen Kraman on how the MMR system works, how it affects rank, and what's being done about smurfing
- Sound Design: Ryan Recto on how sound supports the competitive experience, from Agent abilities to in-game audio prioritization
Artist Alley
Artist Alley returns at Masters Santiago, spotlighting community artists who bring Valorant to life through their work. Featured artists: Darayart, Fofi, GalaxyTurtle, Hezee, Jose Escamilla, Kim Maa, MEKANEL, Ornasha, Saitamon, Smol Sofi, Sodani_Draws, and Ventiscats.
Official Merch Store
An exclusive merch store will be open on-site throughout the event, stocking items only available to in-person attendees. Specific merchandise details haven't been announced yet.
Other Activities
The venue will also feature a Masters Santiago Trophy Exhibition, a PC Bang for on-site play, Watch Lounges between matches, fanboard stations, charging stations, Player Card photo opportunities, cosplayers throughout the venue, and a mystery booth described as a place where attendees will "scream their soul out."
Pick'Ems
Masters Santiago 2026 includes a bracket prediction system open to all fans. Rewards are based on final percentile ranking and overall accuracy, with in-game titles and cosmetic items across four tiers.
| Tier | Requirement | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | Submit eligible predictions | "Cachando Todo" Title |
| Top 50 Percentile | Finish in top 50% | "¡Rico, Po!" Buddy |
| Top 20 Percentile | Finish in top 20% | Pick'Ems Master "¡Rico, Po!" Buddy |
| Perfect Bracket | Correctly predict the entire bracket | "Perfect" Title |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many VCT Points does the Masters Santiago winner earn?
The champion earns 6 VCT Points, which count toward qualification for Valorant Champions 2026.
Which teams skip the Swiss Stage?
All Gamers, Nongshim RedForce, FURIA, and BBL Esports go straight to the Playoffs upper bracket as the regional first seeds from VCT 2026 Kickoff.
Is Masters Santiago played in front of a live audience?
Yes. The event is hosted at Espacio Riesco in Santiago, Chile, with tickets available for every stage of the tournament.
Where can fans watch online?
Matches stream on the official VCT Twitch and YouTube channels. Co-streamers on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok (including Tarik, TenZ, and Binks) offer additional coverage options.
