NongShim RedForce vs Gentle Mates: VCT Masters Santiago predictions
Nongshim RedForce will take on Gentle Mates in the first round of the VCT Masters Santiago 2026 playoffs. Can the Pacific first seed stop marteen and his team? Here are our VCT Masters Santiago Nongshim RedForce vs Gentle Mates predictions.
| Match | Nongshim RedForce vs Gentle Mates – VCT Masters Santiago 2026 |
|---|---|
| Kick-off | 6 March 2026, 18:00 EST |
| Our pick(s) | Gentle Mates to Win, Over 2.5 Maps |
| Betting favorite | Gentle Mates |
Nongshim RedForce vs Gentle Mates Match Preview
- Tournament: VCT Masters Santiago 2026
- Stage: Playoffs
- Game: Valorant
- Format: Best of 3
Betting tip: Gentle Mates’ marteen is currently the highest-rated player at the event, boasting an insane 1.48 rating. He will likely be the key factor in deciding this matchup.
Our best Nongshim RedForce vs Gentle Mates pick: Over 2.5 Maps @ 1.82
Nongshim RedForce vs Gentle Mates Match Analysis
Gentle Mates have already shown that they’re capable of on the international stage after steamrolling both of their opponents in the Swiss Stage with little to no issue. marteen is currently the player of the tournament, posting nuclear ratings against his opposition.
The young duelist was the highest-rated player in the EMEA Kickoff and has maintained that consistency in Santiago. The key question is whether he can carry this form into the playoffs.
Nongshim RedForce finished first in the Pacific Kickoff, taking down the likes of T1 and RRQ to secure their tickets to Santiago. However, outside of these matches, we don’t really have much information on their current form, as they are yet to play any matches leading up to the event. However, we can use historical data to find some useful insight, primarily in their veto tendencies.
NSR won the VCT Pacific title (Image via VCT Pacific)
In terms of map pool, Gentle Mates have favored Pearl as their primary map pick. However, Pearl is also conveniently Nongshim RedForce’s perma-ban, which gives the South Korean squad a veto advantage. That said, Gentle Mates have shown some impressive map pool depth, playing two Best of 5 matches against BBL Esports and Fnatic. They’ve also managed to take their opponents’ map picks twice in Santiago, winning both matches 2-0, so the Mates still have fallback options if Pearl is off the table.
Maps aside, we expect this series to be a battle between Dambi and marteen, each team’s duelist who has consistently performed above expectations throughout the season.
Nongshim RedForce vs Gentle Mates Betting Odds Snapshot
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Nongshim RedForce to Win | 2.13 |
| Gentle Mates to Win | 1.67 |
| Over 2.5 Maps | 1.82 |
Valorant betting odds via GG.BET.
Nongshim RedForce vs Gentle Mates Betting Picks and Predictions
In terms of momentum and the way marteen has been playing, it’s hard to doubt the Gentle Mates here. They’re playing fearless Valorant and have already shaken off the early tournament jitters that tend to trip teams up.
Gentle M8s have been playing exceptional Valorant with marteen leading the charge (Image via Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
However, Nongshim do have the veto advantage we discussed earlier, and haven’t shown their full hand, leaving room to catch the Mates by surprise.
We expect this to be the closest matchup in the first round of the playoffs, and the winner could become a serious threat for the rest of the event. That said, we anticipate both teams are good to win at least one map, leading us to take over 2.5 maps.
If marteen continues his current level of play and the rest of the lineup stands strong under pressure, we predict Gentle Mates to take the series.
Nongshim RedForce vs Gentle Mates Predictions
- Gentle Mates Match Winner @ 1.67
- Over 2.5 Maps @ 1.82
Odds via GG.Bet. More on this esports betting site in our GG.Bet review.
Owen lives for competition, spending most of his gaming hours on Dota 2, CS2, and Valorant. A regular on the SEA Dota 2 leaderboards, he combines his first-hand experience with a deep passion for esports journalism, following the professional scenes of all three esports betting titles religiously. When he’s not writing, he’s most probably betting on esports and watching the latest events.
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