VALORANT Masters Santiago: Key moments from the pre-event press conference

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Here’s a recap of the most important announcements and highlights from the VALORANT Masters Santiago press conference on February 27th.

Just one day before the VALORANT Masters Santiago begins, teams met with journalists on February 27th at a press conference to discuss their goals and what they expect from the tournament.

M8, BBL, and EDG

The press conference for the Masters Santiago tournament included players from Gentle Mates (M8), BBL Esports, and EDward Gaming (EDG). M8 and EDG, who are set to play the first match, both shared their enthusiasm for the upcoming competition.

BBL Esports recently looked back on how far they’ve come. Their team captain talked about going from local competitions to playing on the international stage, highlighting all the effort it took to get there. He also mentioned the team’s excitement about potentially playing against T1, praising their distinctive approach to the game.

EDG discussed their new head coach, Yoon “Autumn” Eu-teum, and the positive changes he’s brought to the team. Initially, it took some time for the players to gel, but Wang “nobody” Senxu explained that he’s become much more adaptable and willing to take risks. He feels fully integrated into the team’s strategy now.

TL, T1, and NS

The second press conference included players and staff from NS RedForce, T1, and Team Liquid. Dominykas “MiniBoo” Lukaševičius said playing internationally with a new team is a fantastic experience, and everyone is really enjoying their time in Santiago.

Ayaz “nAts” Akhmetshin discussed how the game is changing, predicting that some teams might use the agent Harbor at the upcoming tournament. He thinks recent improvements to Harbor could make him a strong choice.

So, after winning Masters Bangkok, we were talking to the press, and we all agreed – a lot of people didn’t think we’d do well going into the tournament. Honestly, that really fired us up and helped us push through to win. Things have definitely changed with the team since then, but one thing hasn’t: we still have that same drive and hunger to be the best.

NS RedForce, the first team from the Pacific to compete, has been a standout surprise at the event. Player Lee “Dambi” Hyuk-kyu shared that having fun is key to their success. He explained that staying positive, even when things get tough in a match, is important, and the team is prioritizing enjoying their time on stage.

PRX, G2, and FUR

The press conference started with a playful interaction between G2 Esports’ Andrej “babybay” Francisty and PRX’s Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee, who chatted about their favorite music. The conversation then turned to the game, with players discussing whether the agent Harbor might become a popular pick in upcoming matches.

FURIA Esports talked about their updated team lineup, expressing optimism about their new tactics and welcoming Arthur “arztin” Araujo’s return as team captain. Newcomer babybay, playing in his first international competition, said he isn’t feeling any pressure and happily accepted being called the team’s “uncle.”

G2’s Jacob “valyn” Batio, appearing in his sixth international tournament in a row, said the team always comes prepared, regardless of past results. Looking ahead to 2026 with a new player joining the lineup, he believes anything is possible this year, especially with babybay bringing a lot of confidence and potential to the team.

AL, XLG, and NRG

During the last press conference of the day, All Gamers, Xi Lai Gaming, and NRG Esports talked about what they expect from the upcoming tournament. Both All Gamers and Xi Lai Gaming had just finished celebrating the Lunar New Year, but they both assured everyone they were well-prepared and ready to compete.

The team, particularly its players making their first international appearance, is very confident about how they’ll perform. They’re excited to compete against NS RedForce, a team they’ve practiced with, and are looking forward to the challenge of a live tournament.

I saw that NRG’s brawk was playfully saying he’d be the one to blame if Riot ever decided to weaken Odin! It’s funny how players joke about that. And I also heard that XLG’s happywei just became a dad! He said it’s made him feel even more responsible, but don’t worry, he assures everyone his game and confidence won’t change a bit. That’s awesome to hear!

Here’s a quick recap of the highlights from the Masters Santiago press conference. The tournament starts February 28th with a match between Gentle Mates and EDG, and will continue with XLG playing against NRG.

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2026-02-28 01:11