Global Esports lost a map 13-2, and then won three in a row to take VCT Pacific
Two maps down in the Stage 2 grand final in Busan, Global Esports beat Nongshim RedForce 3-2 for the first VCT Pacific title in the Indian organisation’s history.
Sep 7, 2026
Global Esports were two maps down in the VCT Pacific Stage 2 grand final on Sunday, and one of those maps was a 13-2 loss on a map they had picked themselves. They then won Abyss, Lotus and Haven back to back to beat Nongshim RedForce 3-2 at the Sajik Indoor Gymnasium in Busan. The only Indian team in the league has a VCT Pacific title.
Two maps, then three
Nongshim took Sunset 13-11, which was their own pick and close enough to be reasonable. Split was not. Global Esports had chosen it and lost it 13-2, and at that point they were one map from being swept in a final.
Abyss went 13-10 their way. Lotus went 13-5, which is close to what Nongshim had done to them two maps earlier, only in reverse. Haven, the decider, was level at 7-7 before Global Esports pulled away to win it 13-10.
Go “UdoTan” Kyung-won took the grand final MVP award for it. The other four in the winning side were PatMen, xavi8k, Kr1stal and autumn.
Who they beat, and in what order
Global Esports came through the upper bracket by beating KIWOOM DRX 2-1 and then sweeping VARREL 2-0. Nongshim ended that run in the upper final on Friday, 2-1, which sent Global Esports into the lower bracket and Nongshim to the grand final with a bye and a day off.
Global Esports then beat T1 3-1 on Saturday to earn the rematch. So the week read: beat DRX, beat VARREL, lose to Nongshim, beat T1, beat Nongshim.
The side they beat twice over is not a soft draw either. Nongshim won Masters Santiago in March, sweeping Paper Rex 3-0 in the final in Chile, which was the first international title won by a team that came up through Ascension.
What the organisation has actually won
Global Esports joined VCT Pacific in 2023, the only Indian side in the partnered league and one of its ten permanent teams, and for three seasons the story was near misses. This year they made the Pacific playoffs for the first time in Stage 1, went to Masters London, qualified for Champions, and on Sunday they won something.
The title is worth $100,000 and the Pacific region’s first seed at Champions.
Shanghai from 24 September
Valorant Champions 2026 runs from 24 September to 18 October in Shanghai, with 16 teams and a prize pool of $2,250,000. Each international league sends four sides, two through the Stage 2 playoffs and two on championship points, so Global Esports go in as Pacific’s top qualifier rather than as a team that scraped through on points.
Their opening group match is against Team Vitality on 24 September. Vitality come from an EMEA field that also sent Karmine Corp, Team Liquid and FUT Esports, so the draw has done them no favours. Then again, neither had going 2-0 down on Sunday.