Masters Santiago 2026 is almost here
Santiago is getting ready to host a spectacular tournament: VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026 kicks off on February 28
In just a few days, one of the most anticipated tournaments of the season will begin in the capital of Chile — VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026. From February 28 to March 15, 2026, the world’s top teams will battle for a prize pool of $1,000,000 at the prestigious exhibition center Espacio Riesco.
The tournament is organized by Riot Games, and the competition will be played on patch 12.03. This year, 12 teams will take part, split into two categories: the winners of the regional leagues and the teams that finished in second and third place.
Tournament format: from Swiss system to playoffs
The competition will be divided into two key stages:
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Swiss Stage (February 28 — March 4):
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Eight teams that placed 2nd and 3rd in the international leagues (EMEA, Americas, Pacific and China) will fight for four playoff spots.
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All matches in this stage will be played in a best-of-three format.
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The four best teams will advance further, while the other four will be eliminated from the tournament.
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Playoffs (March 6 — 15):
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At this stage, the four survivors of the Swiss Stage will be joined by 4 champions of the regional leagues.
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Eight teams will compete for the trophy in a double-elimination bracket.
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All matches, except for the lower-bracket final and the grand final, will be played in a Bo3 format. The decisive battles will be stretched out to three maps (Bo5).
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Schedule for the first match day
The organizers have published the opening matchups, and they promise to deliver a real celebration for fans from the very first minutes of the tournament.
On February 28 we can expect two thrilling clashes:
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Gentle Mates will face EDward Gaming
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XLG Esports will meet NRG
On March 1 the action continues with:
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Team Liquid vs T1
Playoff participants: the champions are already in place
While some teams are fighting to get out of the group stage, others have already secured their spot in the playoffs. Four regional champions will arrive in Chile to compete for the trophy:
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FURIA Esports — champion of VCT 2026: Americas Kickoff
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All Gamers — champion of VCT 2026: China Kickoff
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BBL Esports — champion of VCT 2026: EMEA Kickoff
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Nongshim RedForce — champion of VCT 2026: Pacific Kickoff