VALORANT Masters Santiago Heats Up
Brazilian team FURIA is generating massive hype at VALORANT Masters Santiago playoffs, with fans forming hour-long lines before gates open at Espacio Riesco venue. Americas region is dominating — both G2 and NRG secured playoff spots while Asian powerhouse T1 and European favorite Team Liquid have been eliminated. Captain 1artzin's pre-match interviews are going viral as Brazil rallies behind their home team.
VALORANT Masters Santiago is the first international event of the 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour, featuring a $1,000,000 prize pool. The tournament runs from February 28 to March 15 at the Espacio Riesco venue in Santiago, Chile. The Swiss Stage of the tournament generated over 8.53 million hours watched, with a peak viewership of over 500,000 during matches involving Paper Rex. The elimination of T1 came in a dramatic fashion against G2 Esports. T1 held a commanding 10-2 lead at halftime on the second map, Haven, before G2 mounted a significant comeback, pushing the game to overtime and eventually winning 16-14 to take the series 2-0. Team Liquid was eliminated by NRG in a 2-0 sweep, with former Liquid player Georgio "Keiko" Sanassy leading NRG with 43 kills across the two maps. With the Swiss Stage concluded, the eight-team double-elimination playoff bracket is set. As a top-seeded team from the Americas, FURIA had the opportunity to choose their first-round opponent and selected Paper Rex. The other opening-round matchups include Nongshim RedForce versus Gentle Mates, All Gamers against G2 Esports, and BBL Esports taking on NRG. FURIA's in-game leader, Arthur "artzin" Araujo, has embraced an underdog mentality for his team. In a recent interview, he expressed pride in his team's performance and their ability to overcome challenges, stating they will continue to play their game regardless of external perceptions. This sentiment is shared by his teammates, who have expressed a desire to prove themselves on the international stage.
