Valorant Masters Santiago 2026 results: The absolute triumph of NS RedForce

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VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026, one of South America's premier international Valorant events, wrapped up in Chile on March 15. The grand final featured an all-Pacific showdown between the legendary Paper Rex and the South Korean underdog NS RedForce. Esports Charts has compiled viewership data to analyze the tournament's performance.

VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 results

The format for VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 mirrored that of the previous event in Toronto: top-seeded teams from regional leagues earned direct entry into the playoff bracket, while the remaining contenders battled through the Swiss Stage. The biggest shock of the opening round was the early elimination of T1, the reigning VALORANT Masters Bangkok 2025 champions. Conversely, France's Gentle Mates exceeded expectations, surging into the playoffs in their Masters series debut.

The playoff bracket's primary drama centered on Paper Rex. As one of the most veteran rosters in Valorant, they suffered a second-round upset against NRG, dropping them into the lower bracket. With their tournament life on the line, the Southeast Asian powerhouse shifted into high gear, taking down All Gamers and G2 Esports before exacting revenge on NRG. Following that run, Paper Rex advanced to the Grand Final for a showdown against NS RedForce.

The South Korean squad put on a stellar performance, despite having no prior experience on such a massive international stage. Few expected them to hold their own against Paper Rex, but the momentum was squarely on the underdog’s side. In a shocking upset, NS RedForce cruised to a 3:0 victory over Paper Rex to claim their first major Valorant title. It was a poetic finish, securing the trophy by taking down the reigning VALORANT Masters Toronto 2025 champions.

VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 viewership statistics

Viewership data indicates that VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 saw a decline in popularity compared to previous events in the series. Key metrics fell by 15–20% relative to the Toronto Masters, driven by a perfect storm of factors. These included the early elimination of fan-favorite teams from North America and Europe, challenging time zone differences, and direct competition from other major events — most notably the ESL Pro League Season 23 Counter-Strike final, which aired simultaneously.

It’s also worth highlighting the viewership growth in Portuguese and French broadcasts. This surge can largely be credited to the efforts of community casters like TcK10, sacy, and Squeezie, who drew massive audiences to their streams. 

Most popular matches at VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026

To no one's surprise, the Grand Final was the tournament's standout attraction, with the clash between Paper Rex and NS RedForce drawing a peak of over 883,000 concurrent viewers. This match marked a historic milestone for NS RedForce, becoming the most-watched game in the organization's history. Rounding out the top three matchups were Paper Rex’s bouts against NRG and FURIA Esports, further cementing the Southeast Asian squad's status as a massive draw for global audiences.

When compared to other events in the series, VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 delivered a mid-tier performance, trailing the all-time peak viewership record by nearly 50%. Excluding VALORANT Champions events, the tournament in Chile ranks only seventh overall in the history of the Masters series.

Most popular VALORANT Masters tournamets

In an exciting twist on finals day, Riot Games unveiled VALORANT’s 30th agent: Miks, a Controller hailing from Croatia. His kit is centered entirely around sound manipulation, rhythm, and team synergy. Players won't have to wait long to try him out, as the agent is set to debut on March 18, coinciding with the launch of Episode 2026, Act 2.

So, ready to make some noise? pic.twitter.com/zsxX1BLTsK

— VALORANT (@VALORANT) March 15, 2026

Following the conclusion of VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026, participating teams will return to their respective regional leagues to compete. VCT 2026: Stage 1 matches are set to kick off as early as April 1. The next major international event on the calendar is VALORANT Masters London 2026, scheduled for June 6–21. As always, Esports Charts will provide real-time viewership analytics throughout the event.