From the opening matches of the 2026 VALORANT Champions Tour Pacific Kickoff, the script was flipped. Teams long viewed as contenders for early elimination delivered statement wins, crowding the bracket with uncertainty and setting an unpredictable tone for the season’s first international qualifier.

Riot Games confirmed that Week 1 of the Kickoff, held from Jan. 23–25 at the SOOP Coliseum in Seoul, produced multiple upsets as lower-seeded rosters eliminated or displaced established favorites. The results immediately reshaped expectations in the Pacific region, where competitive parity has steadily increased since the league’s formation.

Nongshim RedForce and Full Sense emerged as the week’s most notable risers. Nongshim RedForce opened with a 2-0 sweep of Team Secret before rallying past tournament favorite T1 in a three-map series. After conceding the opener, Nongshim tightened defensive coordination and surged to a lopsided win on map two, carrying that momentum into the decider to clinch an Upper Bracket semifinal berth.

Full Sense followed a similar path. After dominating ZETA DIVISION, the Southeast Asian squad overturned a map deficit against DRX to advance. The victory highlighted the team’s aggressive identity and capped a weekend that underscored the impact of its offseason restructuring.

2026 VCT Pacific Kickoff – Week 1 Overview

Elsewhere, Japan’s DetonatioN FocusMe delivered the most surprising result of the Kickoff by sweeping Gen.G 2-0, marking its first victory over the organization in VCT Pacific play. The win ended a four-match losing streak in the matchup and sent shockwaves through the bracket. DetonatioN FocusMe’s run was later halted by Rex Regum Qeon, dropping the team into the Middle Bracket.

Despite the turbulence, veteran squads remained in contention. Paper Rex survived a scare against Global Esports, while Gen.G, T1 and DRX all regrouped in the Middle Bracket alongside other experienced rosters.

With Upper Bracket semifinals set and elimination matches looming, Week 2 is expected to intensify as teams fight to stay alive in the race for Masters Santiago. The opening weekend made one thing clear: hierarchy in the Pacific is no longer guaranteed.