G2 Shocks T1 at VALORANT Masters
G2 Esports pulled off a revenge 2-1 victory over T1 at VALORANT Masters Santiago's Swiss Stage playoffs, with @trentFPS delivering an astounding performance on Haven including an insane comeback. NRG also advanced with a 2-1 dismantling of Team Liquid. Both EDward Gaming and XLG Esports were eliminated after failing to pass the Swiss Stage, with EDG swept 0:2.
This victory for G2 Esports was a full year in the making, a direct rebuttal to their heartbreaking 3-2 loss to T1 in the Grand Final of VALORANT Masters Bangkok in 2025. That previous matchup was an epic five-map series where T1 secured their first major international title. The revenge arc was completed in dramatic fashion on the second map, Haven. T1 stormed to a commanding 10-2 lead, making a G2 comeback seem all but impossible. However, G2 orchestrated a massive turnaround, spearheaded by Trent "trent" Cairns, winning a staggering nine consecutive rounds to force overtime and eventually seize the map 16-14, sealing T1's elimination. For NRG, the victory over Team Liquid was fueled by a compelling subplot. Former Team Liquid player Georgio "keiko" Sanassy was instrumental in his new team's success, putting up 43 kills across the two maps with a 1.46 rating to eliminate his old squad and secure a playoff berth. The elimination of both EDward Gaming and XLG Esports marked a disappointing showing for the VCT China region. The exit of EDG was particularly noteworthy as they were the reigning champions from VALORANT Champions 2024, yet they failed to win a single map in Santiago, losing 0:2 to both Gentle Mates and T1. With the Swiss Stage concluded, the playoff bracket is now set. G2 Esports will move on to face China's last hope, All Gamers, while NRG is set to clash with BBL Esports. The other quarterfinal matchups will see FURIA take on Paper Rex and Nongshim RedForce challenge Gentle Mates.
