The arena lights stuttered and the chat filled with a single sentence: “Who even picked this?” I locked my Pick’Ems an hour before kickoff and watched the bracket breathe—half triumph, half regret. You feel that tightness in your chest when a rare buddy is on the line; it’s the same rush that keeps you making picks.
Fans chanted in the venue: Valorant Pick’Ems Best Picks and Prediction for Masters Santiago 2026
I track tournaments the way a detective tracks clues, and you should treat Pick’Ems the same way: a small, careful bet that compounds. Most teams here scraped through lower brackets, so pedigree matters less than matchup and momentum. I’ll give you short, defensible picks and the reasoning—so you can decide where to take risk and where to play it safe.
Quick picks I’d lock right now:
- PRX — Undefeated (best chance to go 2-0)
- M8
- T1
- NRG
Lines snaked around the venue: Swiss Stage Pick’Ems
Every Swiss match felt like a chess clock — fast, pressured, and often decisive. Because so many teams fought through losses, I favored squads that peak under stress and have flexible maps. PRX, M8, T1, and NRG show those qualities: PRX has the cleanest path to an undefeated run, which is where the big Pick’Ems points live.
Pick an Undefeated candidate carefully; getting that one right is narrow precision, like threading a needle. If you need the shortest rationale: favor teams with reliable IGLs, varied map pools, and consistent map vetoes.
Browsers and the client were both buzzing: How to Make Pick’Ems in Valorant
I use both the Riot Client and the in-game client depending on whether I’m at my desk or on my phone. You can do the same—make picks wherever you are, just watch the lock times.
How do I make Pick’Ems in Valorant?
You have two simple routes: the Valorant in-game client or the Valorant Esports website (accessible through the Riot Client or at valorantesports.com). Both sync to your Riot ID; I recommend the client when you want quick toggles and the website when you want to read match context before choosing.
From the Valorant client
- Open Valorant, go to the Esports tab next to Collection.
- Click Pick’Ems, then Get Started.
- Select Make Picks and toggle your choices; the team you pick as Undefeated scores bonus points if they go 2-0.
From the Riot Client or website
- Open the Riot Client or visit the Valorant Esports site.
- Choose Pick’Ems and Make Picks.
- Toggle your teams and submit; edits are allowed until locks.
Can I change my Valorant Pick’Ems predictions after submitting them?
Yes—you can edit picks as many times as you want before the stage locks. Once lock hits, your choices are final. I always save a backup screenshot of my picks; it’s a small habit that saves regret.
Lock times flashed across feeds: Valorant Pick’Ems Start and End Dates
When you miss a lock, there’s no backtracking—I’ve lost picks to late coffee runs more than once. Mark the times on your calendar and set a reminder in your phone.
| Stage | Opens | Locks |
|---|---|---|
| Swiss Stage Pick’Ems | February 19 at 9:00 AM PT | February 28 at 10:00 AM PT (start of Groups) |
| Playoffs Pick’Ems | March 4 after draw (around 4:00 PM PT) | March 6 at 10:00 AM PT (start of Playoffs) |
Fans held up signs at the entrance: All Valorant Pick’Ems Rewards for Masters Santiago 2026
Swag matters more than you’d admit in a fanbase. Riot is handing out cosmetics and titles tied to performance brackets—some are easy to reach, others are rare enough to brag about.
- Top 50% of eligible participants: ¡Rico, po! buddy
- Top 20% of eligible participants: ¡Rico, po! golden buddy
- Perfect Picks (100% correct): the ultra-rare “100%” title — very few achieve this
- All eligible participants: Cachando todo title for making your first picks
What rewards can I earn from Pick’Ems?
Points ladder into buddy cosmetics and titles. The larger the percentile you hit, the better the prize. If you chase the perfect bracket, remember it’s improbable but distinctive—those who get it earn the rare title and lasting bragging rights on streams and social.
I use Twitch and VCT coverage to verify team form before locking anything; watching a couple of recent matches changes my picks more often than any stat sheet. The bracket itself can shift fast, like a weather map, so keep an eye on last-minute roster or map news via Valorant Esports and Riot’s official channels.
Which pick are you tempted to gamble on at Masters Santiago—safe points or the chance at a rare title?