Paper Rex vs Nongshim RedForce: VCT Masters Santiago Predictions

It looks like Asia Pacific is the strongest region in Valorant, as Paper Rex will face Nongshim RedForce in the VCT Masters Santiago 2026 grand final. Will South Korean Valorant put itself back on the map, or are Paper Rex due for their second international title? Here are our VCT Masters Santiago Paper Rex vs Nongshim RedForce predictions.
| Match | Paper Rex vs Nongshim RedForce – VCT Masters Santiago 2026 |
|---|---|
| Kick-off | 15 March 2026, 13:00 ET |
| Our pick | Paper Rex to Win |
| Betting favorite | Paper Rex |
Paper Rex vs Nongshim RedForce Match Preview
- Tournament: VCT Masters Santiago 2026
- Stage: Grand Final
- Game: Valorant
- Format: Best of 5
Betting tip: Paper Rex and Nongshim RedForce are yet to face each other in 2026. The grand final will be their first matchup of the year.
Our Paper Rex vs Nongshim RedForce pick: Paper Rex Match Winner @ 1.71
Paper Rex vs Nongshim RedForce Match Analysis
Asia Pacific are guaranteed to take the title, with Paper Rex and Nongshim RedForce duking it out in the grand final. Both teams have deservedly earned their spots in the top two, and we’re in for a banger of a match.
Paper Rex are riding extremely high on momentum. Despite getting knocked down to the lower bracket, the Southeast Asian squad has kept the ball rolling, chaining three wins in a row. This includes a Best of 5 victory against NRG, the reigning champions.
When this team is in form, it’s really hard to stop them. If Paper Rex can replicate their performance from yesterday, Nongshim are in big trouble.
If Paper Rex’s current win streak is something to fear, Nongshim have one-upped them. The South Korean squad are yet to lose a single series this year and are on a 10-match win streak extending to Pacific Kickoff and other tournaments.
NSR have not lost a single match this year. (Image via Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
They entered VCT Masters Santiago with a low profile, but made light work of some of the strongest teams at the tournament, taking down Gentle Mates, G2, and NRG to secure their spot in the grand final.
However, the main challenge comes from the Best of 5 format. The Nongshim squad is relatively inexperienced when it comes to this match length, as they do not have that many Best of 5 matches under their belt. We’ve only seen them in one against RRQ in VCT Pacific, where they barely won the series 3-2.
On the other hand, Paper Rex have been in these situations multiple times before. We’d even argue they are stronger in Best of 5 matches compared to Best of 3s. This team tends to make careless and costly mistakes early into matches, only to bounce back later. A Best of 5 series gives them plenty of room to get those early jitters out of the way.
Paper Rex vs Nongshim RedForce Betting Odds Snapshot
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Paper Rex to Win | 1.71 |
| Nongshim RedForce to Win | 2.07 |
| Over 4.5 Maps | 2.50 |
Valorant betting odds via GG.BET.
Paper Rex vs Nongshim RedForce Betting Picks and Predictions
There’s no doubt that this Nongshim squad is in top shape. Their individuals are playing incredibly well, and they’ve also shown they can compete against the best tactically.
However, with the momentum Paper Rex have built up, combined with their international Best of 5 experience, we lean towards Paper Rex to take the series.
Paper Rex have been here multiple times before. (Image via Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
This could be a very close matchup, but we’re confident Paper Rex will pull through in the end.
Paper Rex vs Nongshim RedForce Predictions
- Paper Rex Match Winner @ 1.71
Odds via GG.Bet. More on this esports betting site in our GG.Bet review.
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.
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