They landed in Santiago at 3 a.m., faces still unreadable under team hoods, and the practice room smelled faintly of coffee and ozone. You could feel a deadline folding the air—one lost map and the season redraws itself. I watched the last warm-up and knew this event would not be kind to the indecisive.
I’ve followed VCT long enough to know the rhythms: momentum, tilt, and the little habits that separate winners from also-rans. You and I will move through the facts fast—teams, dates, ticket angles, and the numbers that matter—so you can pick a side and start arguing. Read with the kind of attention that changes a bet into an informed cheer.
The venue smells like hot metal and printed passes: Dates and location
Espacio Riesco already has banners up and a security crew doing walk-throughs; that’s where the tournament lives. Valorant Masters Santiago 2026 opens on February 28, 2026. The event splits into a Swiss Stage and Playoffs across two stretches:
- Swiss Stage: February 28 – March 5, 2026
- Playoffs: March 6 – March 16, 2026
- Location: Espacio Riesco, Santiago, Chile
A crate of jerseys in the hallway: Teams and full rosters
The Kickoff tournaments left us with 12 teams—four regional champions who go straight to the upper bracket and eight Swiss entrants hungry for four Playoff slots. Below is the full roster roll-call by region; read it and file away the names you think will tilt the meta.
China
| Team Name | Seed | Players |
|---|---|---|
 All Gamers |
1st | f4ngeeR, Sh1mp, K1ra, Au1, iamgrq |
 Xi Lai Gaming |
2nd | NoMan, Rarga, WsLeo, Lysoar, happywei |
 EDward Gaming |
3rd | nobody, ZmjKK, Smoggy, CHICHOO, cb |
Pacific
| Team Name | Seed | Players |
|---|---|---|
 Nongshim RedForce |
1st | Rb, Dambi, Francis, Ivy, Xross |
 T1 |
2nd | stax, BuZz, Munchkin, Meteor, iZu |
 Paper Rex |
3rd | Jinggg, invy, f0rsakeN, d4v41, something |
Americas
| Team Name | Seed | Players |
|---|---|---|
 FURIA |
1st | nerve, eeiu, koalanoob, artzin, alym |
 G2 Esports |
2nd | BABYBAY, valyn, jawgemo, leaf, trent |
 NRG Esports |
3rd | brawk, mada, skuba, Ethan, keiko |
EMEA
| Team Name | Seed | Players |
|---|---|---|
 BBL Esports |
1st | Rosé, Crewen, Loita, Lar0k, lovers rock |
 Gentle Mates |
2nd | starxo, GLYPH, marteen, bipo, Minny |
 Team Liquid |
3rd | nAts, purp0, kamo, MiniBoo, wayne |
A whiteboard filled with arrows: Format explained (Swiss → Playoffs)
The Swiss stage is a pressure cooker for teams that can’t afford a single, slow map—every match matters. Four regional winners (All Gamers, Nongshim RedForce, FURIA, BBL Esports) skip the Swiss and go straight into the upper bracket; the remaining eight teams battle in the Swiss Stage for four more Playoff slots.
- Byes to Playoffs: All Gamers (China), Nongshim RedForce (Pacific), FURIA (Americas), BBL Esports (EMEA).
- Swiss entrants: G2 Esports, NRG, Gentle Mates, Team Liquid, T1, Paper Rex, Xi Lai Gaming, EDward Gaming.
- Swiss match format: Best of three; Swiss runs February 28 – March 5.
- Playoffs: Double-elimination bracket, March 6 – March 16; most matches Bo3; Lower Final and Grand Final Bo5.
- Opening Swiss matchups: Gentle Mates vs EDward Gaming, T1 vs Team Liquid, G2 vs Paper Rex, Xi Lai Gaming vs NRG.
The Playoffs feel like a chessboard—every move predicts another’s reaction, and a single misread costs maps.
A packed monitor: Full schedule and Swiss bracket
The Swiss Stage opens with four simultaneous Bo3 series and then layers into the standard Swiss pairing system. I’ll keep this bracket live as results fall, but here’s the starting slate and how the rounds flow.
Swiss / Group Stage Bracket (Best of 3)
| Match | Round | Record Bracket | Matchup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Round 1 | 0 to 0 | M8 vs EDG |
| 2 | Round 1 | 0 to 0 | T1 vs TL |
| 3 | Round 1 | 0 to 0 | G2 vs PRX |
| 4 | Round 1 | 0 to 0 | XLG vs NRG |
| 5 | Round 2 | 1 to 0 | Winner M1 vs Winner M2 |
| 6 | Round 2 | 1 to 0 | Winner M3 vs Winner M4 |
| 7 | Round 2 | 0 to 1 | Loser M1 vs Loser M2 |
| 8 | Round 2 | 0 to 1 | Loser M3 vs Loser M4 |
| 9 | Round 3 | 1 to 1 | Winner M7 vs Loser M5 |
| 10 | Round 3 | 1 to 1 | Winner M8 vs Loser M6 |
The lights go hot: Playoffs format and bracket flow
Players file into the stage and the commentators patch in the stat overlays; that’s when mistakes cost more than a map. The Playoffs use an eight-team double-elimination bracket: four byes meet four Swiss qualifiers in the upper bracket quarterfinals, and the bracket progresses with most matches Bo3; Lower Final and Grand Final are Bo5.
Upper Bracket quarterfinals → Upper Final
| Match | Round | Matchup |
|---|---|---|
| UB1 | Quarterfinal | FURIA vs Swiss #4 |
| UB2 | Quarterfinal | BBL vs Swiss #3 |
| UB3 | Quarterfinal | Nongshim RedForce vs Swiss #2 |
| UB4 | Quarterfinal | All Gamers vs Swiss #1 |
| UB5 | Semifinal | Winner UB1 vs Winner UB2 |
| UB6 | Semifinal | Winner UB3 vs Winner UB4 |
| UB7 | Upper Final | Winner UB5 vs Winner UB6 |
Lower Bracket route to Grand Final
| Match | Round | Matchup | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| LB1 | Round 1 | Loser UB1 vs Loser UB2 | Bo3 |
| LB2 | Round 1 | Loser UB3 vs Loser UB4 | Bo3 |
| LB3 | Round 2 | Winner LB1 vs Loser UB5 | Bo3 |
| LB4 | Round 2 | Winner LB2 vs Loser UB6 | Bo3 |
| LB5 | Semifinal | Winner LB3 vs Winner LB4 | Bo3 |
| LB6 | Lower Final | Winner LB5 vs Loser UB7 | Bo5 |
| Grand Finals | Grand Final | Winner UB7 vs Winner LB6 | Bo5 |
A spreadsheet with red highlights: Prize pool and VCT Points
Riot set the purse at 1,000,000 USD (≈ €846,000 using the European Central Bank reference conversion on mid-February 2026). ([ecb.europa.eu](https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/eurofxref-graph-usd.en.html?utm_source=openai))
Individual placings carry USD awards; I list each with the euro equivalent beside it so you can judge the money and the points quickly:
| Placement | Prize Money (USD) | VCT Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 350,000 USD (≈ €296,100) | 6 |
| 2nd | 200,000 USD (≈ €169,200) | 4 |
| 3rd | 125,000 USD (≈ €105,750) | 3 |
| 4th | 75,000 USD (≈ €63,450) | 2 |
| 5th to 6th | 50,000 USD (≈ €42,300) | 1 |
| 7th to 8th | 35,000 USD (≈ €29,610) | 0 |
| 9th to 10th | 25,000 USD (≈ €21,150) | 0 |
| 11th to 12th | 15,000 USD (≈ €12,690) | 0 |
There’s also an individual MVP award; Riot and the broadcast desk will announce that during the closing showpiece.
How many VCT Points does the Valorant Masters Santiago winner earn?
The champion takes 6 VCT Points, a meaningful haul toward Valorant Champions qualification and a clear advantage in the season race.
Camera checks and co-streams: How to watch
The broadcast team at Riot will host the main feed; if you prefer alternate commentary, high-profile co-streamers like Tarik, TenZ and community talent will run Twitch and YouTube streams. I watch the official VCT channels for the clean feed and co-streams for banter or niche analysis.
Official streams and platforms:
- VALORANT Champions Tour on YouTube
- VALORANT on Twitch
- Co-streams and creators on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok
Where can fans watch the Valorant Masters Santiago matches online?
Follow Riot’s VCT channels on YouTube and Twitch for the official broadcast; co-streams from creators add alternate mini-analyst perspectives and community energy.
A ticket queue beneath fluorescent lights: Tickets and venue info
The venue address and the ticket platform are public—Espacio Riesco and PuntoTicket—and the live crowd will shape the event’s energy. Tickets sold during the general sale are already moving; international buyers should have ID ready at checkout.
- Venue: Espacio Riesco — Av. El Salto 5000, Huechuraba, Región Metropolitana, Chile
- Official ticketing: PuntoTicket
- General sale opened: December 10 at 12 PM CLST (ongoing as of publishing)
Ticket pricing (CLP with rounded EUR equivalents)
I converted Chilean Peso prices to euro using mid-February 2026 CLP→EUR rates; see the source note below for the conversion basis. ([forbes.com](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/money-transfer/currency-converter/clp-eur/?utm_source=openai))
- Early Stage Weekdays (March 2, 3, 4, 9, 10)
- Platea Numerada (13,640 CLP) — ≈ €13
- Platea General Admission (9,999 CLP) — ≈ €10
- Early Stage Weekends (February 28, March 1, 6, 7, 8)
- Platea Numerada (18,180 CLP) — ≈ €18
- Platea General Admission (13,640 CLP) — ≈ €13
- Finals Stage — Upper Final & Lower Bracket Final (March 13–14)
- Platea Numerada (22,725 CLP) — ≈ €22
- Platea General Admission (18,180 CLP) — ≈ €18
- Grand Final (March 15)
- Platea Numerada (27,275 CLP) — ≈ €27
- Platea General Admission (22,725 CLP) — ≈ €22
A glittering in-game reward box: Pick’Ems and fan rewards
If you play the Pick’Ems on Riot’s event page, you’ll earn in-game titles and buddies tied to final rank and bracket accuracy. Rare rewards go to the top percentile and a perfect bracket nets an exclusive title—small vanity wins, but they matter to the community.
| Tier | Requirement | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | Submit eligible predictions | “Cachando Todo” Title |
| Top 50 Percentile | Finish in top 50 percent | “¡Rico, Po!” Buddy |
| Top 20 Percentile | Finish in top 20 percent | Pick’Ems Master “¡Rico, Po!” Buddy |
| Perfect Bracket | Correctly predict entire bracket | “Perfect” Title |
Which teams skip the Swiss Stage and go straight to Playoffs in Masters Santiago 2026?
Four regional Kickoff winners jump directly to the upper bracket: All Gamers (China), Nongshim RedForce (Pacific), FURIA (Americas), and BBL Esports (EMEA).
Final notes — what to watch and who to follow
The meta will shift on day one as teams test new approaches; keep an eye on Paper Rex’s tactical tempo, All Gamers’ raw aim, and how European teams like Gentle Mates handle pistol rounds. Follow Riot Games for official updates, and watch VCT channels on Twitch and YouTube for the clean feed; community creators add perspective and sometimes sharper critique.
My betting advice—if you want it—is simple: prioritize consistency over hype. Expect upsets; the Swiss stage rewards momentum and punishes complacency.
Conversion notes: USD→EUR equivalents above use European Central Bank reference rates from mid-February 2026 (see source). CLP→EUR ticket conversions use up-to-date market converters from February 2026 (see source). ([ecb.europa.eu](https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/eurofxref-graph-usd.en.html?utm_source=openai))
Who are you backing to walk away with the trophy in Santiago—an old favorite or a breakout region team?