Nongshim RedForce Stun NRG 2-0, Advance to VALORANT Masters Santiago Grand Finals

In one of the most stunning upsets of VALORANT Masters Santiago, Nongshim RedForce dismantled NRG Esports in a dominant 2-0 sweep in the Upper Bracket Finals, booking their spot in the Grand Finals of their very first international tournament.

David vs. Goliath

The matchup had all the ingredients of a mismatch on paper. NRG entered as one of the most fearsome sides in the tournament. The reigning Champions 2025 titleholders had dropped only two maps throughout the entire campaign. Nongshim, although the first seed out of Pacific, were largely considered underdogs, as they were rookies on the international stage. 

And just like with David and Goliath’s story, nobody expected just how thoroughly Nongshim would dismantle their opponents.

Nongshim's map pick of Bind was where the statement started. Despite a few shaky rounds, they controlled the pace from the opening pistol. The standout element was their trademark double-duelist composition, with Dambi running rampant on Neon, leaving NRG's defense in shambles. A 13-9 scoreline sent the message loud and clear that this was no fluke.

Abyss was where NRG managed to regain their footing a bit and keep things competitive. Nongshim came out firing on the attack, building an imposing 9-3 lead at the half and looking to close things out quickly. But they nearly fell to the 9-3 curse. NRG ground their way back into the map, and an incredible comeback push that brought the score to 11-12 threatened to force overtime. However, Nongshim held their nerve in the final round of regulation, closing the map 13-11 and sealing the series.

History Made for Nongshim

From Ascension, to the Pacific league, to a Grand Finals berth — Nongshim RedForce's trajectory is nothing short of extraordinary. For NRG, the road gets tougher. They now drop to the Lower Bracket Finals, where they'll face the winner of G2 Esports versus Paper Rex, with their dream of back-to-back international titles hanging by a thread.

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Featured Image Source: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games