Nongshim sweep Paper Rex to win Masters Santiago

Nongshim RedForce swept Paper Rex 3–0 in the Masters Santiago 2026 final on March 15. The Pacific teams met after Nongshim moved through the upper side of the playoffs without losing a series, while Paper Rex reached the rematch through the lower bracket.

The result gave Nongshim its first global VCT trophy and ended the first Masters event of the 2026 season in Santiago, Chile.

Nongshim controlled the final before it could expand

A 3–0 final can hide the decisions that prevent a series from becoming competitive. Nongshim repeatedly converted early advantages without offering Paper Rex the chaotic recovery rounds that usually make the team dangerous. Clean anti-eco play and disciplined post-plants kept the scoreboard moving in one direction.

Paper Rex had defeated NRG 3–1 in the lower final and eliminated G2 in the round before it. The additional matches proved its resilience, but Nongshim entered the final with a direct recent read from their earlier playoff meetings and more preparation time.

The Santiago title established a new Pacific reference

Nongshim’s run showed that structure did not require passive VALORANT. The team could take space decisively, then stop offering isolated duels once the round’s advantage was secured. That balance made Paper Rex’s attempts to accelerate less reliable.

The trophy also gave Nongshim a major Championship Points boost for the 2026 qualification race. It did not guarantee later results; patches, map pools and opponent adaptations continued to change after March.

Read our Masters Madrid final recap for another regional matchup on the global stage, and our playoff preparation guide for practical series resets. Riot’s official grand-final VOD is the primary match record.

Source: VALORANT Esports, March 15, 2026.