Nongshim RedForce Crushes PRX 3-0 to Win VALORANT Masters Santiago

Nongshim RedForce has defeated Paper Rex 3-0 in the VALORANT Masters Santiago Grand Final to claim their first-ever international trophy. With the victory, Nongshim RedForce secures the $350,000 winner's cheque and six Championship Points, propelling them to the top of the Pacific points leaderboard. Paper Rex entered the finals as the favorites, but Nongshim's exceptional run only strengthened their momentum, ultimately carrying them to the title.

Nongshim RedForce Makes VALORANT History After a Stunning Win Against PRX

The Grand Final win caps off an extraordinary run. Nongshim RedForce went a perfect 4-0 in the Pacific Kickoff and followed it up with another 4-0 sweep in Santiago. Paper Rex also had a great set of performances in the lead-up to the Grand Finals, going 5-2 in the Kickoff and 7-1 in the Masters. Interestingly, despite competing in the same region, this marked the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

The clash of these Pacific giants delivered an exciting finale filled with countless memorable moments. Below are the scores from each map:

Corrode: 13-11
Split: 13-4
Abyss: 13-3

What you see in the scoreline pretty much reflects what happened in the match. PRX is more than capable of competing with the world's best. They entered their fourth international final with deep LAN experience and excellent form, having beaten NRG, the only team to defeat them in their previous 11 matches. But on the day, Nongshim RedForce simply bulldozed through them on the final two maps.

The match began with PRX dominating the first half on Corrode, racing to an 8-4 lead. However, a shaky attacking side soon shifted momentum in Nongshim's favor. The Korean team carried that energy into Split, where they were unstoppable from the opening round. Abyss told a similar story, with Nongshim suffocating Paper Rex at every turn.

Notably, PRX's something turned in one of the most difficult performances of his career, a rare sight for the Russian duelist. After going 20-18 on Corrode, he finished Split with a staggering 1-17 scoreline. Though he attempted to regain his footing on Abyss, it was a bit too late. By then, Nongshim was playing with an almost casual confidence, as if they were in a ranked match, bringing a swift end to the first Masters of the year.

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Nongshim RedForce's Dambi deserves special recognition. The 19-year-old emerged as the tournament MVP, impressing fans worldwide with his ability to wield the Judge and play Neon. His well-calculated aggression creates numerous multi-frag opportunities while also opening up space for his teammates. With a stellar performance in Santiago, Dambi has firmly made his mark and sent a clear message that he's a player to watch. If this run is any indication, Dambi has plenty more to offer in the months ahead.

Nongshim's Fairy-tale Run: From Premier Winners to Masters Champions

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This isn't the first time Nongshim has completed a flawless run to win a crucial tournament. The core trio of Dambi, Ivy, and Francis has been playing together since 2022, when they were just 16 years old. Playing under Sin Prisa Gaming, they competed in the 2024 VCL Korea Split 1 Qualifiers and were one win away from making it to the main event. The team then went on to win the in-game Premier tournament, securing a spot in Korea Split 2, where they delivered a flawless run and advanced to Pacific Ascension.

Their dominance continued. In the Ascension tournament, Sin Prisa Gaming went a perfect 5-0 against the Pacific region's top Challengers teams. This culminated in a best-of-five Grand Final against BOOM Esports that ended with a nail-biting 17-15 overtime on the last map. Francis was named tournament MVP, and the squad officially qualified for VCT Pacific 2025. Shortly after, the roster was picked up by Nongshim RedForce.

The missing piece for Nongshim came in the form of Rb, a key piece of Vision Strikers' legacy as the team that first put Korean VALORANT on the global map. With extensive experience under his belt, Rb guides Nongshim as their captain and has been instrumental to the team in every sense. Xross, who played for Nongshim before they acquired the Sin Prisa Gaming roster, later returned to the starting lineup and completed the Masters-winning squad.

With this historic victory, Nongshim hasn't just showcased their talent to the world; they've also highlighted the success of VALORANT's Premier system and offered hope to aspiring players everywhere that their dream of competing on the big stage could be just a few matches away.

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Four Consecutive Masters Titles For Pacific

With Nongshim RedForce's victory in Santiago, the Pacific region now boasts four Masters trophies, all won consecutively. This streak includes Gen.G's triumph in Shanghai 2024, followed by T1 winning in Bangkok and Paper Rex claiming the title in Toronto, both in 2025. The region's dominance was sealed when Paper Rex won the Lower Final, but with Nongshim's finals victory, the trophy officially stays in Pacific hands.

Comprising teams from Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, the Pacific has long been a stronghold in VALORANT, even before the game entered its franchised era. Since the establishment of international leagues, however, the region has only grown deeper with talent. Nongshim RedForce and their young star Dambi are prime examples. A Premier and Challengers team winning Masters is no small feat, and seeing players as young as 19 claim an international title in such dominant fashion signals a region on the rise.

[embed]https://x.com/vctpacific/status/2033302314120093845[/embed]

Notably, three of the four Pacific Masters winners have been Korean teams, suggesting that perhaps the subregion deserves its own share of the credit.

You can also check the full results on the Strafe Esports tournament page.

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Featured Image Credit: Riot Games

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