The 2026 VCT Pacific Kickoff enters a decisive phase this week as the tournament shifts fully into lower-bracket play, raising the stakes for teams still chasing qualification to the season’s first international event. Under the competition’s triple-elimination format, squads now operating in the lower bracket face immediate elimination with a single loss.

Riot Games confirmed that Week 3 of the Kickoff will run from Thursday through Sunday at the SOOP Colosseum in Seoul. Matches this week will determine which teams remain in contention and which see their campaigns end early.

2026 VCT Pacific Kickoff – Week 3 Preview

One of the marquee matchups arrives Friday in the mid-bracket semifinals, where T1 faces Paper Rex in a pivotal series. Despite both teams’ reputations as Pacific region contenders, early losses have pushed them into a precarious position. The winner will advance toward a more favorable path, while the loser drops into the lower bracket and closer to elimination.

Paper Rex holds a commanding 8–1 all-time record against T1 since the launch of VCT Pacific in 2023, earning the label of T1’s longtime nemesis. However, recent results suggest the gap may be narrowing. Paper Rex is coming off a surprising loss to Rex Regum Qeon, while T1 has built momentum with consecutive wins over Gen.G and DRX. Whether that recent form is enough to overcome the historical imbalance remains one of the week’s central questions.

The series is expected to hinge on contrasting styles. Paper Rex is known for aggressive, unpredictable entries, while T1 has leaned on structured defensive setups and disciplined retakes. How effectively T1 can contain early pressure may dictate whether the matchup follows history or charts a new course.

Earlier in the week, the lower bracket opens with a pair of do-or-die matches that will decide the first teams eliminated from the Kickoff. The most closely watched pits Gen.G against Barel in a best-of-one. Both teams have exhausted two of their three allowed losses, leaving no margin for error.

Barel, promoted after an undefeated Ascension run last year, has impressed with raw firepower but remains under scrutiny for late-round decision-making. Gen.G, meanwhile, enters looking to stabilize after inconsistent performances, particularly in economy management and mid-round adaptation.

With elimination looming across the bracket, Week 3 represents a turning point in the VCT Pacific Kickoff, separating early exits from teams still alive in the race toward Masters Santiago.