Global Esports won the VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 2 grand final 3-2 over Nongshim RedForce in Busan, South Korea, on September 6. GE dropped the first two maps — Sunset (11-13) and Split (2-13) — then won three straight: Abyss (13-10), Lotus (13-5), and Haven (13-10), to take the title and the Pacific's first seed into Valorant Champions Shanghai 2026.
Reverse sweeps are rare in Valorant at this level, and rarer still in a grand final. Global Esports fell 0-2 behind Nongshim RedForce at the Sajik Indoor Gymnasium, capped by a lopsided 2-13 loss on Split, before winning three maps in a row to close out the series.
It's Global Esports' first VCT Pacific title and the biggest trophy the Indian organization has picked up since entering Valorant. The win also locks in the Pacific's top seed for Valorant Champions Shanghai 2026 and a $100,000 payout. Nongshim RedForce took home $65,000 as runner-up — they'd already secured a Champions spot through Championship Points earlier in the season, so the loss cost them seeding, not qualification.
Map-by-map breakdown
The series opened on Sunset, Nongshim's pick, where the Korean side edged out a tight 13-11 win. Nongshim then took over on Split, GE's own pick, jumping to an early lead and closing it out 13-2 — one map from the trophy.
Facing a sweep, GE turned it around on Abyss, winning 13-10 to stay alive. They followed with a 13-5 win on Lotus that tied the series 2-2, then held on to win the decider on Haven 13-10.
| Map | Pick | Winner | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sunset | Nongshim RedForce | Nongshim RedForce | 11–13 | Nongshim closed it out late after GE briefly threatened overtime. |
| 2. Split | Global Esports | Nongshim RedForce | 2–13 | Nongshim dominated from the start of the half; GE never found a foothold. |
| 3. Abyss | Nongshim RedForce | Global Esports | 13–10 | GE's first win of the series, and the turning point of the final. |
| 4. Lotus | Global Esports | Global Esports | 13–5 | A lopsided win that leveled the series at 2-2. |
| 5. Haven | Decider | Global Esports | 13–10 | GE closed out the reverse sweep on the deciding map. |
What changed after Split
Something shifted between Split and Abyss. Whatever it was worked: GE outscored Nongshim 39-25 across the final three maps and, according to Hotspawn's breakdown of the series, never trailed by more than a couple of rounds after halftime on any of them.
The number that matters: After going down 2-13 on Split, Global Esports won the next three maps by a combined 39-25 — the kind of swing that usually doesn't happen in a best-of-five grand final.
The clearest sign of the shift showed up on Lotus, where GE ran out to an early lead and never let Nongshim back into the map, closing it out 13-5.
UdoTan's MVP run and the rest of the roster
Go "UdoTan" Kyung-won, GE's South Korean duelist, took home Finals MVP after a 77-81-28 series and 30 first engagements — one of four GE players to pass 70 kills across the five maps. His prize, per tournament sponsor details, was a Pulsar mouse with a 3.2-carat diamond scroll wheel.
He wasn't actually the top fragger, though. That was Xavier "xavi8k" Juan, who led the team with 79 kills and posted the series' highest individual rating at 1.19, according to VLR.gg's recap. Juan and teammate Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza are both Filipino — the win is PatMen's second regional title and Juan's first Pacific trophy.
What it means for Valorant Champions
The result doesn't change who's headed to Shanghai. Nongshim RedForce had already qualified for Valorant Champions 2026 through Championship Points regardless of how the final went. What it changes is seeding: Global Esports enters as the Pacific's first seed, Nongshim as the second.
For GE, the run caps a season of firsts — a maiden Pacific playoffs appearance, a first Masters trip, and now a first regional trophy. It's a real jump for an organization that spent recent seasons in the middle of the Pacific table.
Frequently asked questions
Global Esports won 3-2 in the best-of-five grand final. Map scores: Sunset (11-13), Split (2-13), Abyss (13-10), Lotus (13-5), and Haven (13-10).
Go "UdoTan" Kyung-won was named Finals MVP after a 77-81-28 stat line across all five maps. Teammate xavi8k actually led the team in kills with 79.
The grand final was played at the Sajik Indoor Gymnasium in Busan, South Korea, on September 6, 2026.
Yes. Nongshim RedForce had already secured a Champions Shanghai 2026 spot through Championship Points before the Busan finals. Global Esports enters as the Pacific's first seed, Nongshim as the second.
Global Esports earned $100,000 for the win. Nongshim RedForce took home $65,000 as runner-up, from a total Stage 2 prize pool of $250,000.
- VLR.gg: Global Esports pulls off miraculous reverse-sweep to lift first VCT title
- Liquipedia: VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 2 — full bracket and prize pool
- Inven Global: Global Esports wins first VCT Pacific championship
- GosuGamers: Global Esports complete reverse sweep to win VCT Pacific Stage 2
- Hotspawn: A five-map rollercoaster in the VCT Pacific grand final
Stay connected with Globe Trigger
Get coverage on roster moves, agent meta shifts, and tactical breakdowns heading into Valorant Champions. Check out our latest esports analysis or bookmark our match center for tournament schedules.
Back to top ↑