The 2026 VALORANT competitive season is set to explode in the Pacific region with the highly anticipated VCT Pacific Kickoff. This tournament is far more than a simple curtain-raiser; it is the essential gateway to global prestige, specifically offering direct qualification slots for VALORANT Masters Santiago. Held at the Sangam Colosseum in South Korea, the event runs from January 22nd to February 15th, pitting 10 established partnered organizations against two newly ascended challengers in a high-stakes, three-week marathon.
Riot Games has mandated a distinct and complex format for this opening clash—a system that will test not only raw skill but also mental fortitude and strategic resilience.
The New Calculus of Competition: Triple Elimination Arrives
In alignment with other International Leagues, the Pacific Kickoff introduces a crucial strategic innovation: the Triple-Elimination Format. For those accustomed to the traditional double-elimination bracket, this new structure offers teams an unparalleled degree of recovery. Instead of two lives, teams now effectively possess three paths to victory—the Upper, Middle, and Lower brackets.
While granting a third chance might sound merciful, the format ensures that every match remains intensely pressurized. Navigating these brackets is an exercise in resource management, where winning remains the simplest path, but losing merely shifts a team`s focus from one grueling path to the next. Only the winners of these three distinct elimination brackets will ultimately secure their passage to Masters Santiago.
The Strategic Advantage: Champions Receive a Head Start
Not all competitors start at the same point. Due to their exceptional performance and qualification at VALORANT Champions 2025, four premier teams have earned a significant strategic head start: T1, Paper Rex, DRX, and RRQ. These teams receive a direct bye into the second round of the upper bracket.
This bypass is a substantial advantage. While the remaining eight teams must immediately engage in Best-of-3 matches just to survive the opening weekend, these four privileged teams get a crucial opportunity to analyze their competition, finalize their strategies, and avoid the early-season pitfalls that often plague opening matchups.
The Initial Battle Lines Are Drawn
The remaining eight teams—including the two newly promoted Ascension squads—must immediately enter the elimination gauntlet. The first round of matchups is designed to immediately test the mettle of the field, pairing new narratives against established rivals:
- Match 1: Nongshim RedForce vs Team Secret
- Match 2: ZETA DIVISION vs FULL SENSE
- Match 3: VARREL vs Global Esports
- Match 4: DetonatioN FocusMe vs Gen.G Esports
The winners of these intense opening duels will then advance to face the four seeded teams in the Upper Bracket Round 2:
- Match 5: T1 vs Winner of Match 1
- Match 6: DRX vs Winner of Match 2
- Match 7: Paper Rex vs Winner of Match 3
- Match 8: RRQ vs Winner of Match 4
For the non-seeded teams, the objective is simple: win the first round and leverage the momentum to upset the established hierarchy. Failing to do so throws them immediately into the chaotic lower half of the triple-elimination system.
High Stakes: Qualification and Championship Points
The VCT Pacific Kickoff determines the region’s first three representatives for the VALORANT Masters Santiago, set to run from February 28th to March 15th. This is the primary incentive; however, the secondary reward is equally critical for long-term season planning.
The top four teams in the Kickoff event will earn vital Championship Points. These points are accumulated throughout the year and serve as the qualification metric for the ultimate tournament of the season: VALORANT Champions 2026 Shanghai. Early points are invaluable for reducing pressure in the later stages of the league play.
The point distribution is as follows:
- 1st Place: 4 Championship Points
- 2nd Place: 3 Championship Points
- 3rd Place: 2 Championship Points
- 4th Place: 1 Championship Points
The 2026 VCT Pacific Kickoff is less about finding the “best” team right away and more about surviving the brutal new format. With three weeks of non-stop action, the Pacific region is poised to deliver a highly competitive opening that sets the tone for the entire VALORANT competitive year.
Fans can follow all the strategic plays and dramatic eliminations on VCT Pacific`s official broadcasting channels.
Callum Darby 
Oliver Brampton