Nongshim RedForce has secured an undefeated championship run at the Valorant Masters Santiago, which concluded at the Espacio Riesco in Santiago, Chile, on the 16th. This marks the team's first official international tournament victory since its inception.

Entering from the playoffs, Nongshim RedForce built momentum by defeating Gentle Mates and G2 Esports. On the 14th, they secured a spot in the finals by defeating the 2025 Champions Paris winners, NRG, with a 2-0 scoreline. Their final opponent was Paper Rex from the Pacific region. With this matchup, the Pacific region has now produced four consecutive Masters winners, following Shanghai 2024, Bangkok and Toronto 2025, and now Santiago. Nongshim RedForce dominated the series with a 3-0 shutout, showcasing a flawless performance.

The first map of the finals was 'Koro-d'. Despite trailing 4-8 in the first half, Nongshim RedForce rallied behind 'Xross' Jeong Hwan's Fade, winning six of the final seven rounds to secure a 13-11 comeback victory. In the second map, 'Split', Nongshim RedForce dominated with a 9-3 first half and a 13-4 final score. In the third map, 'Abyss', Jeong Hwan's Sova recorded a +16 kill-death margin, leading the team to a 13-3 victory.

The MVP title was awarded to 'Dambi' Lee Hyuk-gyu. Lee utilized Neon and Vyse, remaining undefeated in all seven matches he played as Neon, earning him the reputation as the world's premier Neon specialist. Lee received a bracelet as his prize.

Nongshim RedForce has emerged as a rising powerhouse in Valorant esports, following up their VCT Pacific Kickoff success with this Masters win. Although they operated a Valorant team since 2023, they struggled to make an impact in the lower Challenger leagues until they reorganized by acquiring the 2024 Pacific Ascension winners, Shin Prisa Gaming. After finishing in the middle-lower ranks of the 2025 VCT Pacific, they competed in the Pacific Ascension again. Despite an opening loss to NAOS, they went on a six-game winning streak—defeating Full Sense, Riddle Order, and Velocity Gaming—to reclaim their spot in the 2026 VCT Pacific.

Nongshim RedForce secured their Masters slot by finishing top of the upper bracket with a perfect 4-0 record at this year’s VCT Pacific Kickoff, and they delivered a stunning performance at Masters Santiago. Riot Games noted that this is the first time an Ascension-origin team has claimed a prestigious Masters title, and the 14-game winning streak achieved during this process is an unprecedented record.

Meanwhile, the 30th new agent, 'MIKS', was unveiled at the Masters Santiago finals. MIKS is a support-oriented strategist who manipulates sonic energy, acting as a wingman to support teammates, which differentiates the agent from existing strategists. The recently released trailer, 'Don’t Fight Alone', emphasizes this team-focused playstyle. MIKS is scheduled to launch on the 19th alongside the 2026 Season Act 2. Additionally, a new game mode called 'Annihilation' and a new Battle Pass were also introduced during the event.