Source: Riot Games

Nongshim RedForce (NS), whose playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, faces a do-or-die situation against Gen.G (GEN), who are riding high after defeating Paper Rex (PRX).

Riot Games, the developer and publisher of the 5v5 character-based tactical shooter 'VALORANT,' announced that the third week of the '2026 VCT Pacific Stage 1' will take place from Friday, the 17th, to Sunday, the 19th, at the SOOP Sangam Colosseum in S-Plex Center, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

'Backs to the Wall' Nongshim vs. 'Rising' Gen.G

The matchup drawing the most attention this third week is between Nongshim RedForce and Gen.G. Nongshim RedForce was praised for writing a 'shonen manga' story after going undefeated in the 2026 VCT Kickoff and winning their first international title at Masters Santiago, but they have yet to secure a single win since the start of VCT Pacific Stage 1. Gen.G, having regrouped after an early exit in this year's Kickoff, signaled a resurgence by defeating Masters Santiago runner-up PRX in the second week.

If Nongshim RedForce loses to Gen.G on Sunday the 19th, they will fall to 0-3, making it difficult to reach the playoffs on their own. Even if they win their remaining two matches, they would need to rely on other teams' results, as well as map and round differentials. To honor their status as Masters Santiago champions and pave their own way to the playoffs, Nongshim RedForce must defeat Gen.G. Notably, Nongshim RedForce previously defeated Gen.G 2-0 during VCT Pacific Stage 2 on August 8, 2025.

The match is equally critical for Gen.G. A win over Nongshim RedForce would bring them to 2-1, meaning they would only need one more victory in their remaining matches against DRX and Team Secret to secure a playoff spot. To beat Nongshim RedForce, the performance of duelist 't3xture' Kim Na-ra will be more important than ever. If Kim can lead the team's offense across the board and showcase the sharp shooting he displayed against PRX, it will pave an easier path for Gen.G toward the playoffs.

DRX vs. T1: "Who Will Reach the Playoffs First"

The third week of VCT Pacific Stage 1 also features clashes between teams that have both recorded two wins in the Alpha and Omega groups. The results of these '2-0' matchups will produce the first teams in each group to reach three wins, effectively securing their tickets to the playoffs.

The Alpha group's 2-0 matchup features DRX and Global Esports (GE), who will face off on Saturday the 18th. While DRX has been a powerhouse consistently at the top of the standings since the launch of VCT Pacific, GE has been the dark horse of Stage 1, pulling off upsets in every match. DRX has faced GE four times in VCT Pacific, winning all four matches with a 2-0 set score. Expectations are high to see if DRX, which has been racking up wins with seamless synergy after adding rookie 'yong' Kim Ho-yong, can stifle GE's momentum and be the first to reach the playoffs.

T1, placed in the Omega group, will face Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ). By the end of the second week, the Omega group has clearly polarized into three teams with two wins (T1, Full Sense, and RRQ) and three teams with two losses. The match on Sunday the 19th between the undefeated T1 and RRQ could be a turning point for the group. The winner will not only secure a playoff spot with a 3-0 record but will also be able to play their subsequent match against Full Sense with the peace of mind that their playoff qualification is already guaranteed. While T1 leads the all-time VCT Pacific head-to-head record 4-2, the series has been evenly balanced at 2-2 since 2025, when RRQ's strength surged. T1 did, however, win 3-0 in this year's Kickoff.

The top four teams from each group will advance to the Stage 1 playoffs. With a total of five matches per team in the group stage, securing at least three wins is necessary to be in a safe position for the playoffs. As the playoffs offer up to 6 Championship Points, every team is expected to go all-out to secure their spot.