Rb says winning VALORANT Champions in Shanghai would mean the world

Rb says winning VALORANT Champions in Shanghai would mean the world

Nongshim RedForce player Goo "Rb" Sang-min has spoken about the team's adaptation at VALORANT Champions 2026 and the personal significance of potentially winning the tournament in Shanghai.

The comments followed Nongshim's 2–0 elimination-match victory over XLG Esports , which kept the Masters Santiago champions alive in Group D.

Experience helps Nongshim adjust

Rb credited the amount of time Nongshim's players have spent together for helping the team adjust when changing compositions.

He said the team's communication and familiarity make adapting to new setups easier than it might be for less-established lineups.

Nongshim had opened Champions with a 0–2 loss against NRG but recovered against XLG to reach the Group D deciding match.

Motivation after Santiago

Rb also discussed how the team maintained its motivation following its international success earlier in the season.

Nongshim won Masters Santiago after defeating Paper Rex in the final, and Rb said the team's shared mentality has helped keep the roster united since that victory.

Shanghai carries personal significance

Winning Champions in China would carry additional meaning for Rb because of his previous time competing in the Chinese league during 2024 and 2025.

Nongshim must now defeat Karmine Corp in the Group D deciding match to reach the VALORANT Champions playoffs.