Santiago crowned new kings this Sunday. In the first international
VALORANT tournament of its history,
Nongshim RedForce defeated
Paper Rex in the
Masters Santiago final. Undefeated throughout the event, the first seed from the
VCT Pacific region completely overpowered the winners of the most recent Masters in Toronto in a one-sided series.
This victory at the first international event of the season represents the culmination of a remarkable rise for a team that has appeared unstoppable since the beginning of the year. After their inaugural VCT season last year, Nongshim RedForce had to pass through Ascension to secure their place in the league for the current campaign, becoming the first team originating from the VCL circuit to win an international tournament. Since then, their momentum has only grown. Having already finished first in their region during Kickoff, the team once again demonstrated its strength in the tournament’s decisive series.
A one-sided final
Despite a promising start from Paper Rex on Corrode, Nongshim responded in the second half, led by one of their players who had remained relatively quiet compared to his teammates up to that point. Jung “Xross” Hwan dominated the opening map with 25 kills, including 19 on defense. Unbeaten on Split throughout the Masters, PRX suffered a heavy defeat on the map (13–4) before experiencing a similar outcome on the deciding map, Abyss (13–3), in a final that ultimately turned into a rout. The other four members of Nongshim also delivered strong performances, reflecting the team’s characteristic blend of aggressive and disciplined play.
Across the stage, Paper Rex—an organization well accustomed to international competition—were overwhelmed in the final. Outstanding throughout the earlier stages of the Masters, Ilia “something” Petrov and Adrian “invy” Reyes were largely neutralized in the series. Despite a few attempts from Wang “Jinggg” Jing Jie and Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee to turn the tide, the familiar image of Paper Rex—dominant in duels and typically unfazed even after lost rounds—was notably absent. It was a bitter conclusion to an otherwise impressive run for the Singaporean organization, which had progressed through the Swiss Stage.
MVP: Dambi
Perhaps not the most spectacular performer in the final itself, Lee “Dambi” Hyuk-kyu nevertheless once again demonstrated the qualities that had defined his tournament and was awarded the event’s MVP title. Widely acknowledged as the best Neon in the world, he consistently placed Paper Rex under pressure through his highly aggressive style and several decisive rounds secured with his Judge. The season has so far marked a breakthrough for the player who, much like his team, has shown exceptional consistency. Still undefeated in series since the beginning of the year, Nongshim RedForce will continue their campaign carrying the status of the world’s top team—at least for the weeks to come.
