VCT Masters Santiago: Paper Rex Exact Revenge, Storm into Grand Final | Live from San Diego
To all the VALORANT fans burning the midnight oil, our trip to Santiago, Chile, has been an absolute nail-biter right down to the wire! At the first stop of the 2026 VCT Masters, the lower bracket final just concluded with a result that has the Pacific region absolutely buzzing. Our pride, the team that simply doesn't know the meaning of quit, Paper Rex (PRX), tore through North America's last hope, NRG, with a 3:1 scoreline in a genuine epic BO5 slugfest. They've fought their way through the lower bracket and punched their ticket to the Grand Final!
From Devastation to Vengeance: The Pacific Kings are Back
Remember when PRX got sent down by NRG a few days ago, and all the armchair experts were saying their "all-out aggression" had been figured out? Well, PRX sent a clear message to the world today: give them a second chance, and they'll take back what's theirs. This wasn't just a ticket to the finals; it was a sweet, sweet dish of revenge served cold.
The start had me sweating. NRG came prepared on their own map pick, Pearl, with keiko landing shots with insane precision, taking it 13:8. Seeing NRG's momentum, I honestly feared PRX might fall into their old "slow start" trap and get crushed. But our Pacific princes weren't having any of it.
Clutch Time: Every Man a Hero
From the second map, Bind, PRX flipped the switch into full "W-gaming" mode. The shift was seamless, like a car changing gears smoothly. f0rsakeN, in particular, when the team needed him most, wasn't just lurking in the shadows. He whipped out the Operator, secured a four-kill round right in their faces, and the final takedown on brawk? That's going straight into the VCT highlight reel.
- Map 2 - Bind (13:7): something's Operator came online and completely shattered NRG's economy.
- Map 3 - Lotus (13:6): Jinggg's "Jett" plays were pure disrespect, completely breaking NRG's mental.
- Map 4 - Breeze (13:9): Even after NRG clawed back five straight rounds, coach alecks called a crucial timeout, fired the lads up, and got them back on track to close it out.
This kind of match isn't about the stats; it's about the sheer momentum. Any veteran player knows, when a team like PRX gets that confidence, their flow-state offence is simply unstoppable.
NRG's Heartbreak and PRX's Shot at History
Of course, credit where it's due to NRG. As world champions, aside from their Pearl pick, their map pool weaknesses were ruthlessly exploited by PRX. Ethan's shot at becoming the first player to hold two Champions titles and a Masters trophy simultaneously just wasn't meant to be. For PRX, after grinding out this hard-fought victory, they're just one step away from becoming the first team in VCT history to secure "back-to-back" Masters championships (Toronto 2025 + Santiago 2026).
The Ultimate Battle: Showdown with Nongshim RedForce
Take a breather, because the Grand Final is next. PRX will face their Pacific league rivals, Nongshim RedForce (NS), who've been waiting fresh from the upper bracket. This isn't just a regional face-off; it's a clash of two completely different styles. NS's discipline and team coordination are terrifying – they're not a team you can just overpower. Can PRX stick to their relentless "W-gaming" philosophy all the way? Or will they need the same smart, adaptive gameplay they showed against NRG today?
Personally, I'm betting on PRX's momentum. Fighting from the Swiss stage through the lower bracket and back again, they're peaking at exactly the right time. And let's not forget, countless fans back home are sending their energy through the streams.
As for all the folks looking for Jinggg highlights, specific VTVCab VODs, or even that Chief VCTUB XL universal tool-free projector mount that's apparently all the rage with streamers for their second screens – the online buzz is hitting fever pitch right along with PRX's win. That's the beauty of esports, isn't it? Winning makes everything better.
The Grand Final is tonight (local time, March 15th) – we'll see you there! No matter what, PRX has etched the Pacific region's name deep into Chilean soil. Bring it home, lads!