VCT Masters Santiago: Paper Rex Gets Sweet Revenge, Roars Into Grand Finals | Live from Chile
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! The first stop of the 2026 VCT Masters circuit just wrapped up its lower bracket final in a way that has the Pacific region absolutely buzzing. Our pride and joy, the team that simply doesn't know the meaning of the word 'quit,' Paper Rex (PRX), tore through North America's last hope, NRG, with a 3-1 victory in a truly epic BO5 slugfest. They've clawed their way out of the lower bracket and punched their ticket to the Grand Finals!
From Heartbreak to Revenge: The Pacific Kings Are Back
Remember a few days ago when PRX got sent to the lower bracket by NRG, and all the armchair analysts were saying their "all-out aggression" had been figured out? Well, today, PRX sent a message to the world: give them a second chance, and they'll take back what's theirs. This wasn't just a ticket to the finals; it was the sweetest kind of revenge.
The start had me sweating bullets. NRG came prepared on their own pick, Pearl, and keiko's insane aim helped them draw first blood with a 13-8 win. Seeing that momentum from NRG, I was genuinely worried PRX might fall into their old "slow start" trap and get dominated again. But our Pacific princes weren't having any of it.
Clutch Time: Heroes All Around
Starting from the second map, Bind, PRX fully shifted into "W-gaming" mode. The gear shift was seamless, like a whole car getting a new transmission. Especially f0rsakeN. When the team needed him most, he wasn't just a lurking ninja; he whipped out the Operator and secured a quad-kill right in their faces, finishing off brawk in a highlight that will surely be etched into VCT history.
- Map 2 Bind (13-7): something's Operator goes online, completely shattering NRG's economy.
- Map 3 Lotus (13-6): Jinggg's "Jett" outplays tilt NRG, messing with their heads completely.
- Map 4 Breeze (13-9): Despite NRG clawing back five straight rounds, a crucial timeout and a fiery speech from coach alecks steered the ship back on course to close it out.
A match like this isn't about the stats; it's about the aura. Any veteran gets it—when a team like PRX builds that confidence, their silk-smooth offense is simply unstoppable.
NRG's Missed Chance and PRX's Date with History
Of course, we've got to tip our caps to NRG. As world champions, their shallow map pool, aside from Pearl, was something PRX ruthlessly exposed today. Ethan won't get the chance to become the first player ever with two Champions titles and a Masters trophy; that's just how the cookie crumbles sometimes. On the PRX side, after grinding out this hard-fought victory, they're now just one step away from becoming the first team in VCT history to win back-to-back Masters titles (Toronto 2025 + Santiago 2026).
The Ultimate Battle: Versus Nongshim RedForce
Take a breather, because the Grand Finals are up next. Waiting for PRX in the winners' bracket are their Pacific League brethren—Nongshim RedForce (NS). This isn't just an intra-region clash; it's a collision of two distinct styles. NS's discipline and team coordination are terrifying; they're definitely not a team that wins through brute force alone. Can PRX stick to their guns and run their wild "W-gaming" all the way through? Or will they need the smart, adaptive playstyle they showed against NRG today?
If you ask me, I'm betting on PRX's momentum. Fighting their way from the Swiss stage through the lower bracket, they're peaking at the perfect time. And don't forget, countless fans tuning in via streams are sending all their energy their way.
As for the match highlights everyone's asking for, whether it's for Wu Jixiang, specific VTVCab VODs, or even that Chief VCTUB XL universal tool-less projector mount that's been trending with streamers (apparently great for mounting a secondary monitor to watch matches), the hype surrounding all this stuff is peaking right alongside PRX's victory. That's just the beauty of esports—winning makes everything sweeter.
See you all tonight (local time 3/15) for the Grand Finals! No matter what, PRX has already etched the Pacific region's name deep into Chilean soil. Bring that trophy home, boys!