Source: Riot Games

Gen.G (GEN) has extended its winning streak with the help of new talent, becoming the first team in the Pacific league to reach three wins and significantly boosting its chances of a direct playoff berth.

Riot Games, the developer and publisher of the 5v5 character-based tactical shooter 'VALORANT,' announced that Gen.G maintained its undefeated 3-0 record to hold the top spot in the Alpha Group during the second week of the '2026 VCT Pacific Stage 2,' held from Thursday, the 23rd, to Sunday, the 26th, at the SOOP Colosseum in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

○ Gen.G on a Winning Streak, While Kiwoom DRX Struggles with Losses: A Tale of Two Fates'

Gen.G defeated Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ) on the 26th to secure its third consecutive win, maintaining its solo lead in the Alpha Group and proving that its two opening-week victories were no fluke.

Facing an RRQ roster that swapped in Brian 'Kushy' Setiawan for Maxim 'Jemkin' Batorov, Gen.G struggled to find its footing in the first set and conceded the win. Gen.G's counterattack began in the second set. After finishing the first half with a 8-4 lead, Gen.G allowed RRQ to tie the score at 10-10, but maintained focus to clinch the set. The third set proved to be the turning point, with Gen.G dominating the second half. Tied at 5-5, Gen.G accelerated, winning eight consecutive rounds to secure a 13-5 victory and become the first team to reach the three-win mark.

The primary architects of Gen.G's victory were Kim 'Raxcal' Min-seok and Ha 'Ash' Hyun-chul. Kim, who utilized Phoenix and Sage throughout the match, showcased immense firepower with 49 kills. Ha, playing Neon, delivered a stellar performance in the second set—where the team trailed 0-1—by securing clutch plays at critical moments to finish with 32 kills and an Average Combat Score (ACS) of 351. With a 3-0 record, Gen.G remains atop the Alpha Group, maximizing its potential for a direct playoff spot.

Conversely, DRX once again bowed out after failing to overcome its nemesis, Paper Rex (PRX). Following a loss to Team Secret (TS), DRX is now on a losing streak and has failed to break its winless record against PRX this year. In the first set on 'Sunset,' DRX was overwhelmed by PRX's dominant performance, managing only one round in a 1-13 defeat. Despite hoping for a turnaround on 'Breeze' in the second set, DRX could not overcome PRX's fierce firepower and lost 6-13.

○ T1 Suffers Upset Loss to VALIANT, Bounces Back Against Team Secret

T1 of the Omega Group recorded a 1-1 split in Week 2 against VALIANT (VL) and TS. Despite being favored to win both matches 8-0 in talent predictions, T1 fell 0-2 to VL in the week's biggest upset. They salvaged their pride with a clean 2-0 victory over TS on the 26th.

VL, which bolstered its roster with veteran Jung 'Foxy9' Jae-sung ahead of Stage 2, actively utilized its expanded player pool against T1. They managed their lineup flexibly, fielding Ko 'C1ndeR' Jae-hyuk in the first set and subbing in Kim 'Klaus' Min-hyuk for the second.

T1 led the first half of the first set against VL 7-5, but was pushed back by VL's fierce pursuit in the second half, conceding match point first. With their backs against the wall, T₩1 two consecutive rounds to force overtime, but VL maintained steady focus to score consecutive points and take the set 14-12. Riding the momentum, VL pressured T1 throughout the first half of the second set and held off T1's late rally to close the match 13-10.

Putting the bitter loss behind them, T1 completely turned the atmosphere around in their subsequent match against TS. After finishing the first half of the first set with an overwhelming 10-2 score, T1 maintained a flawless performance to win 13-8. In the second set, the flow was somewhat tight at 7-5 in the first half, but T1 unleashed explosive firepower in the second half, winning six consecutive rounds to secure a 13-5 victory.

○ Nongshim RedForce Signals a Resurgence

Nongshim RedForce, which suffered two losses in the opening week, defeated Global Esports (GE) 2-1 to claim their first win of Stage 2.

The start was shaky. In the first set on 'ASCENT'—a map chosen by GE—Nongshim RedForce was overwhelmed by the opponent's strategy and early momentum. In the second set on their own map pick, 'Breeze,' Nongshim RedForce pressured the opponent throughout the first half and won 13-7 to level the series. Carrying that momentum into the final third set, Nongshim RedForce never relinquished control and won 13-7 to secure their first victory of Stage 2.

The balanced performance of veteran Koo 'Rb' Sang-min and ace Lee 'Dambi' Hyuk-gyu shone through. In the pivotal second set, Koo, playing Harbor, racked up 22 kills to shift the momentum, while Lee exploded for 23 kills on Vyse in the third set to seal the victory.

The 2026 VCT Pacific Stage 2 is broadcast live via online platforms including YouTube, Chzzk, and SOOP. Further information regarding the tournament schedule and results can be found on the official website, official Flickr, Instagram, and TikTok.