Newcomers vs Veterans: VALORANT Masters Santiago Swiss Stage Preview and Predictions

Esports Insider predicts Gentle Mates, G2, Paper Rex, and T1 will survive the chaotic Masters Santiago Swiss Stage to reach the 2026 VCT playoffs.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 26, 2026, 7:37 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Esports Insider

The Evolution of a Chaotic Meta

The first global VCT event of 2026 arrives amid a significant strategic shift triggered by Patch 11.08. Traditional sentinel-heavy and slow macro playstyles have been largely replaced by a fast-paced "gunplay-focused" meta. This shift has particularly benefited the VCT Pacific region, where teams like Paper Rex and T1 have long championed double-duelist and high-chaos compositions. As other regions attempt to overhaul their playbooks to match this speed, the Swiss Stage is expected to be more unpredictable than ever, with "firepower-first" rookie teams capable of upsetting established legacies.

G2 Esports and the Quest for Redemption

Despite being a dominant force in VCT Americas throughout 2025, G2 Esports enters the Swiss Stage as the region's second seed after a surprising upset by FURIA during Kickoff. The team recently swapped long-standing member JonahP for the high-energy "babybay," a move that signaled a departure from their methodical macro roots toward a riskier, more adaptable playstyle. Santiago represents another opportunity for G2 to finally secure an international trophy, provided they can survive a Swiss bracket that includes legendary rivals and hungry newcomers.

Key Predictions for the Swiss Stage

Esports Insider identifies four primary favorites to advance from the eight-team Swiss pool: