The 2026 VCT Pacific Stage 1 Playoffs are set to kick off from Thursday the 7th to Sunday the 10th at the SOOP Sangam Colosseum, nestled within the S-Plex Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul. This stage serves as the crucible to determine which teams will head to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for the final week, with the top three sides ultimately punching their tickets to Masters London.

The opening gambit on the 7th features a high-stakes clash between Kiwoom DRX and Full Sense (FS) for a spot in the upper bracket. Kiwoom DRX recently stumbled against Paper Rex, while Full Sense is reeling from consecutive losses to T1 and Rex Regum Qeon. With the loser relegated to the treacherous lower bracket, victory is paramount. All eyes will be on the 'clutch' potential of Kiwoom DRX's 'MaKo' Kim Myeong-kwan and Full Sense's 'foxz' Panyawat Subsiriroj.

The victor of the 7th's match will face T1 on Friday the 8th, who sailed into the upper bracket with an undefeated group stage run. T1 is widely tipped as the favourite for Stage 1, thanks to their clinical macro and near-impenetrable cohesion. While their veteran roster is formidable, it is worth noting that Kiwoom DRX remains undefeated against T1 in the Pacific region—a significant variable, indeed. Full Sense also managed a tight scrap against T1 recently, promising a proper battle. We shall see if T1's 'iZu' Ham Woo-ju can maintain his flawless form under the playoff pressure.

For the loser of the 7th's bout, it is the brink of elimination as they face Nongshim RedForce on the 9th. Nongshim RedForce has been experimenting with their tactical identity, notably with 'Dambi' Lee Hyeok-gyu swapping his signature Neon for Phoenix and Raze, while 'Flashback' Kim Mu-bin takes up the Neon mantle. Whether they can replicate the explosive pace they showcased at Masters Santiago to secure another international berth remains the burning question.

The playoffs follow a double-elimination format. With the exception of the lower final and the grand final, which are best-of-five, every match is a best-of-three affair. You can catch the action live across YouTube, Chzzk, and SOOP. For granular details regarding the schedule and results, head over to the official Valorant esports website to see the full breakdown.