NRG vs Nongshim RedForce: Best picks for VCT Champions 2026

Owen Harsono Published 24/09/2026

Two tournament favorites face off in the first round of the VCT Champions 2026 group stage, as NRG will take on Nongshim RedForce in their opening match. There is no room for slow starts at this event, making it an incredibly important match for both teams. Here are our NRG vs Nongshim RedForce predictions.

Match	NRG vs Nongshim RedForce – VCT Champions 2026
Kick-off	25 September, 2026, 04:00 EST
Our pick(s)	Nongshim RedForce Match Winner
Betting favorite	Nongshim RedForce

NRG vs Nongshim RedForce Match Preview

Tournament: VCT Champions 2026
Stage: Group Stage
Game: Valorant
Format: Best of 3

Betting tip: These two teams have only played against each other once, with Nongshim RedForce winning the series 2-0 in March 2026.

Our NRG vs Nongshim RedForce pick: Nongshim RedForce Match Winner @ 1.80 odds

NRG vs Nongshim RedForce Match Analysis

This matchup between NRG and Nongshim Red Force is easily the most exciting match we could possibly get in the VCT Champions 2026 group stage.

NRG are the defending champions and have looked very consistent all year. They’ve performed well in groups and consistently made deep runs at international events this year, and we should expect nothing different here in Shanghai.

Image via VCT Americas

Nongshim RedForce were the undisputed best Valorant team in the world at the start of the year, but have slowed down since their victory at VCT Masters Santiago. However, they’ve bounced back after a strong showing at VCT Pacific Stage 2, and are in good form for the biggest tournament of the year.

Overall, both teams are in decent shape heading into this event as reflected in our VCT Champions Power Ranking, but we do see gaps in one team’s map pool. NRG have set Split as their perma-ban, but also have terrible win rates on Abyss (0-3) and Sunset (0-5) in the past three months.

On the other hand, Nongshim have great records on Abyss (2-1) and Sunset (5-3). Additionally, Nongshim were also seen setting Lotus as one of their first-bans, which is also conveniently one of NRG’s strongest maps, allowing them to hit two birds with one stone.

These combinations give the South Korean side a coherent veto advantage heading into this series, which could make a big difference in a series this close.

NRG vs Nongshim RedForce Betting Odds Snapshot

Market	Odds
NRG to Win	1.95
Nongshim RedForce to Win	1.80
Over 2.5 Maps	1.91

Valorant betting odds via GG.BET.

NRG vs Nongshim RedForce Betting Picks and Predictions

We’re really getting treated to such a high-profile match this early into the event, as the matchup between NRG and Nongshim could easily be the grand final of the event. Both teams are among the best picks to win VCT Champions 2026, after all.

Image via VCT Pacific

It’s hard to pinpoint which team is in better form, as we are yet to see them play for two weeks. However, we believe the veto advantage Nongshim has over NRG is going to be the difference maker in the series, which is why we’re backing the former to win the match. The GGBET odds on Nongshim’s victory also look very juicy, making it an attractive pick.

On top of our Nongshim RedForce match winner prediction, we also think this series has very good potential to go the distance, leading us to take over 2.5 maps as our secondary choice.

NRG vs Nongshim RedForce Predictions

Nongshim RedForce Match Winner @ 1.80 odds
Over 2.5 Maps @ 1.91 odds

Owen Harsono

About Owen Harsono

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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