Valorant Masters Santiago 2026 — Every Team, Match, and Dollar on the Line in Chile

Valorant Masters Santiago 2026 is the first international LAN of the VCT 2026 season, bringing together the top three finishers from each of the four regional Kickoff tournaments — Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China. The event runs from February 28 through March 15 at Espacio Riesco in Santiago, Chile, marking the first time a Valorant Masters has been held in the country.

Quick answer: Four Kickoff winners (FURIA, BBL Esports, Nongshim RedForce, All Gamers) skip straight to Playoffs. The remaining eight teams fight through a Swiss Stage starting February 28, with the top four advancing to a double-elimination Playoff bracket that concludes with a best-of-five Grand Final on March 15.

Qualified Teams and Rosters by Region

Each of the four VCT international leagues sent three teams to Santiago. The first seed from every region earned a direct bye into the Playoff upper bracket, while the second and third seeds enter the Swiss Stage.

Americas

EMEA

Pacific

China

Tournament Format — Swiss Stage and Playoffs

Masters Santiago splits into two distinct phases. The Swiss Stage runs February 28 through roughly March 4–5 and features the eight second- and third-seeded teams. Every match is a best-of-three. Teams that reach two wins advance to Playoffs; teams that hit two losses are eliminated. In Round 1, each second-seeded squad is drawn against a third-seeded squad from a different region. Rounds 2 and 3 allow intra-regional matchups, with seeding based on win-loss record and no repeat opponents in Round 3.

The Playoffs phase begins March 6 and wraps up March 15. It is an eight-team double-elimination bracket combining the four Swiss survivors with the four Kickoff champions. In the upper bracket quarterfinals, each top-seeded team picks an opponent from the Swiss qualifiers in a randomized selection order. All Playoff matches are best-of-three except the Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final, both of which are best-of-five.

Swiss Stage Opening Matchups

The draw produced four Round 1 series that pit second seeds against third seeds from different regions:

Round 2 pairs the four winners against each other in the 1-0 bracket and the four losers in the 0-1 bracket. Round 3 then determines the final two Playoff spots from the 1-1 teams, with no rematches allowed.

Playoffs Bracket Structure

Once the Swiss Stage concludes, the bracket fills in as follows. The four Kickoff champions occupy the upper bracket quarterfinal slots, and each selects a Swiss qualifier as their opponent.

Losers drop into the lower bracket, which runs from LB Round 1 through a best-of-five Lower Final. The Grand Final is also best-of-five, pitting the upper bracket winner against the lower bracket survivor.

$1,000,000 Prize Pool and VCT Points

The total prize pool is $1,000,000 USD, distributed across all twelve participants. Beyond cash, placements award VCT Points that feed directly into qualification for Valorant Champions 2026. The winner also receives the Masters trophy, which features an illuminated core centerpiece, along with a tournament MVP honor.

How to Watch Masters Santiago

All matches broadcast live on the official VALORANT Champions Tour channels on YouTube and Twitch, with pre-show segments and post-match analysis included. Partnered co-streamers on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok will also carry the event with alternative commentary. Expect names like Tarik, TenZ, and Binks among the co-streaming lineup.

Tickets, Venue, and Pricing

Masters Santiago takes place at Espacio Riesco, located at Av. El Salto 5000, Huechuraba, in Santiago's metropolitan region. The venue hosts live matches alongside fan activations, community zones, and on-site experiences. Tickets went on general sale December 10 through PuntoTicket and remain available globally. International buyers need a passport or government ID, and each checkout is capped at four tickets. Using a VPN or private relay may trigger purchase restrictions.

Pricing scales with the stage of the tournament:

Pick'Ems Rewards

Riot is running Pick'Ems predictions throughout Masters Santiago, rewarding players with exclusive in-game items based on how accurately they call the bracket. Simply submitting eligible predictions earns the "Cachando Todo" title. Finishing in the top 50 percent unlocks the "¡Rico, Po!" buddy, while the top 20 percent receive a Pick'Ems Master variant of that same buddy. Anyone who nails the entire bracket perfectly gets the "Perfect" title.

Key Dates at a Glance

Masters Santiago is the first of two international Masters events in VCT 2026, with Masters London scheduled later in the season. The VCT Points earned here will shape the race toward Valorant Champions 2026, making every series in Chile carry weight well beyond the immediate prize money.