Nongshim reach VCT Pacific grand final as T1 eliminate VARREL
Nongshim reach VCT Pacific grand final as T1 eliminate VARREL
Nongshim RedForce advanced to the grand final of VCT 2026: Pacific Stage 2 after defeating Global Esports 2:1, while T1 kept their title run alive with a 2:0 sweep over VARREL .
The results also finalized Pacific’s four representatives for VALORANT Champions 2026, with Paper Rex , Nongshim RedForce , T1 and Global Esports all securing places in Shanghai.
Nongshim RedForce 2:1 Global Esports
Nongshim opened the upper-bracket final on Haven, one of their most-played maps of the season.
They returned to a Yoru-Neon composition with Killjoy, while Global Esports experimented with a Sage-Chamber double-Sentinel setup.
After a relatively even start, Nongshim gradually took control and entered halftime ahead 8:4.
A second-half pistol victory gave them the momentum needed to close Haven 13:7.
Global Esports responded on Ascent.
GE built an early 6:2 advantage and maintained enough control to push the map into overtime despite a huge individual performance from Dambi.
The Nongshim duelist finished Ascent with 32 kills, but Global held their nerve and edged the map 14:12.
Abyss decided the series.
Both teams used aggressive Waylay-Yoru setups, but Nongshim found far more value from Francis .
The sniper repeatedly created opening advantages, starting 12/2 and finishing with eight Operator kills across the map.
Nongshim took another 8:4 halftime lead and closed Abyss 13:6.
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Haven — Nongshim RedForce 13:7 Global Esports
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Ascent — Global Esports 14:12 Nongshim RedForce
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Abyss — Nongshim RedForce 13:6 Global Esports
Francis finished as the match MVP with 264 ACS.
The victory sends Nongshim directly into the Stage 2 grand final.
T1 then faced VARREL in the lower-bracket semifinal.
Haven remained competitive, but T1 consistently held the stronger closing positions and took the map 13:9.
Lotus looked set to become a blowout.
T1 raced to an enormous 11:1 halftime lead and appeared moments away from an easy finish.
VARREL finally found some momentum after switching sides and began cutting into the deficit, but the comeback started far too late.
T1 eventually secured another 13:9 victory to complete the sweep.
Meteor led T1 with 239 ACS.
The defeat ends VARREL 's Stage 2 run in fourth place, while T1 advance to face Global Esports in the lower-bracket final.
Pacific Champions field finalized
The results also locked all four VCT Pacific representatives for VALORANT Champions 2026.
Paper Rex had already qualified through Championship Points.
Nongshim RedForce secured their place earlier in the playoffs and now hold a direct qualification route through reaching the Stage 2 grand final.
Nongshim's advancement mathematically guaranteed T1 a Champions berth through points before T1 even played VARREL .
T1 's subsequent victory then eliminated VARREL and secured Global Esports the region's final Champions position.
Paper Rex , Nongshim RedForce , T1 and Global Esports will therefore represent Pacific in Shanghai.
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