Nongshim RedForce have punched their ticket to VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026 after outlasting Global Esports 2-1 in a high-stakes VCT Pacific Stage 2 upper-bracket final.

The thrilling victory propels Nongshim straight into the Stage 2 grand final, but Global Esports’ tournament run is far from over. They drop down to the lower-bracket final for a high-tension showdown against T1 on September 5, with one final Shanghai slot hanging in the balance.

Nongshim RedForce Lock In Champions Shanghai Berth

Nongshim kicked off the series in style, putting on a dominant display on Haven. After building a comfortable 8-4 lead at the break, the Korean squad kept their foot on the gas to shut down the map 13-7.

Refusing to go down without a fight, Global Esports mounted a fierce comeback on Ascent. In a nail-biting, back-and-forth battle that pushed past regulation, GE held their nerve in overtime to steal the map 14-12 and force a decider.

However, Nongshim quickly recaptured their rhythm on Abyss. Shutting down Global Esports’ attempts to build momentum, they powered through with a decisive 13-6 win to wrap up the 2-1 series victory.

With this win, Nongshim RedForce become the first grand finalist of VCT Pacific Stage 2 and guarantee themselves one of the region’s prized playoff qualification spots for Champions Shanghai. Under Riot Games’ qualification system, the top two Stage 2 playoff finishers advance directly to Champions alongside two teams earning their way through Championship Points.

Nongshim now get to sit back and wait as Global Esports and T1 clash for the remaining spot in the Stage 2 grand final on September 6.

Global Esports Keep the Champions Dream Alive

Though they took a hit in the upper final, Global Esports are still very much in the hunt to reach the first VALORANT Champions event in the franchise’s history.

They’re currently piecing together their strongest VCT Pacific postseason run yet, having already upset KIWOON DRX 2-1 before sweeping VARREL 2-0 in the upper-bracket semifinals.

The Filipino duo of Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza and Xavier “xavi8k” Juan has been instrumental to this charge. Juan put up a colossal 56 kills during the grueling three-map win over KIWOON DRX, while Mendoza dropped 38 kills against VARREL, including a stellar 19-kill performance on Summit.

That stellar run earned Global Esports a ticket to the VCT Pacific Stage 2 finals in Busan, South Korea, though the stumble against Nongshim leaves them with no safety net left.

Global Esports now face a do-or-die best-of-five against T1 in the lower-bracket final on September 5. T1 earned their shot by sweeping VARREL 2-0, setting up an explosive match where the winner takes it all: a spot in the grand final against Nongshim and a guaranteed seat at Champions Shanghai.

Punching that ticket would mark a landmark moment for Global Esports. A staple of VCT Pacific since the league launched in 2023, the organization is aiming to make its first-ever appearance at VALORANT’s premier world championship.

VCT Pacific’s Champions Shanghai Picture

Paper Rex and Nongshim RedForce are currently locked in as Pacific’s confirmed representatives according to Riot Games, with the remaining slots to be settled as the Stage 2 playoffs and Championship Points draw to a close.

Set for September 24 to October 18, VALORANT Champions Shanghai marks the first time China will host the global flagship event. Sixteen elite teams will battle it out four each from the Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China leagues.

The teams will be split into four GSL-style groups, with the top two teams from each group moving on to an eight-team, double-elimination playoff bracket.

For Nongshim RedForce, the journey to Shanghai is already locked in. For Global Esports, it all comes down to one final best-of-five against T1 to secure a historic place on VALORANT’s biggest stage.