The 12 teams heading to VALORANT Masters Santiago have been confirmed, and Riot Games has now revealed the full tournament format along with the opening match schedule for the first international VCT event of 2026.
Running from February 28 to March 15, Masters Santiago will bring together three teams from each of the four VCT regions: Americas, EMEA, China, and Pacific. Here is everything you need to know about the qualified teams, the bracket format, and where to watch.
All 12 Teams Qualified for VALORANT Masters Santiago
The 12 participating teams are split evenly across the four international regions, with each region sending its top three finishers from the VCT Kickoff.
China
- All Gamers (1st Seed)
- Xi Lai Gaming (2nd Seed)
- EDward Gaming (3rd Seed)
Pacific
- Nongshim RedForce (1st Seed)
- T1 (2nd Seed)
- Paper Rex (3rd Seed)
Americas
- FURIA (1st Seed)
- G2 Esports (2nd Seed)
- NRG Esports (3rd Seed)
EMEA
- BBL Esports (1st Seed)
- Gentle Mates (2nd Seed)
- Team Liquid (3rd Seed)
Notable Absences: Fnatic, RRQ, and MIBR Miss Out
Not every team was able to secure their spot at Masters Santiago. Fnatic will be missing from an international VCT event for only the second time since the Partnership Programme was introduced, marking a rare absence for one of the most recognised names in VALORANT esports.
RRQ and MIBR both came close, reaching the Upper Finals in the Pacific and Americas Kickoff respectively. However, both teams lost three consecutive best-of-five series, which ended their hopes of qualifying for the event.
VALORANT Masters Santiago Format: Swiss Stage and Playoffs
The tournament is divided into two main stages: a Swiss Stage and a Playoffs bracket.
The four first seeds, one from each region, receive a direct bye into the Playoffs. These teams are All Gamers, Nongshim RedForce, FURIA, and BBL Esports.
The remaining eight teams will compete in the Swiss Stage, which runs from February 28 to March 4. The top four teams from the Swiss Stage will advance to join the four first seeds in the Playoffs.
The Playoffs will use a double-elimination bracket format and are scheduled to run from March 6 to March 15, with the final matches determining the Masters Santiago champion.
VALORANT Masters Santiago Opening Matches
The opening matchups for the Swiss Stage have been confirmed as follows:
- Gentle Mates vs EDward Gaming
- T1 vs Team Liquid
- G2 Esports vs Paper Rex
- Xi Lai Gaming vs NRG Esports
Championship Points Toward VCT Champions Shanghai
Performance at Masters Santiago will also contribute to Champions Shanghai qualification. The top four finishers at the event will earn Championship Points as follows:
- 1st Place: 4 Points
- 2nd Place: 3 Points
- 3rd Place: 2 Points
- 4th Place: 1 Point
How to Watch VALORANT Masters Santiago
All matches from VALORANT Masters Santiago will be broadcast live on the VALORANT Champions Tour’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.