T1 sweep VARREL as Nongshim secure Champions 2026 spot

T1 have moved one step closer to VALORANT Champions 2026 after eliminating VARREL  2-0 from the VCT Pacific Stage 2 playoffs in Busan.

The Korean organization won Haven and Lotus by identical 13-9 scorelines, continuing an impressive lower-bracket run that has already included victories over KIWOOM DRX and Gen.G. T1 will now face Global Esports in the Lower Final on September 5, with the winner securing Pacific’s second direct Stage 2 qualification place for Champions Shanghai.

Earlier in the day, Nongshim RedForce defeated Global Esports 2-1 in the Upper Final and became the first team to qualify through the Stage 2 playoff route.

T1 continue their elimination streak

T1 entered the main playoffs after already being forced through a difficult Play-In campaign.

Since qualifying for the bracket, however, they have looked increasingly dangerous. KIWOOM DRX were swept 2-0 in Lower Round 1 before Gen.G suffered the same fate in the following elimination series.

VARREL became T1’s latest victim.

• T1 beat KIWOOM DRX 2-0
• Gen.G were eliminated 2-0
• VARREL also fell 2-0
• T1 have not dropped a map in their three playoff elimination wins

That consistency represents a significant turnaround after T1’s uneven path into the postseason.

Haven puts T1 in control

VARREL entered the series with momentum after eliminating Paper Rex 2-1 in the previous lower-bracket round.

Their run had already included several strong Stage 2 results, but T1 proved more composed in the decisive moments on Haven.

T1 closed the opening map 13-9, immediately placing VARREL one defeat away from elimination. The second map on Lotus followed an almost identical pattern.

T1 again reached 13 rounds while limiting VARREL to nine, completing the series without requiring Sunset.

Match	Result	Consequence
Nongshim vs Global	2-1	Nongshim qualify for Champions
T1 vs VARREL	2-0	T1 reach Lower Final
Global vs T1	Sept. 5	Winner qualifies for Champions
Grand Final	Sept. 6	Nongshim vs Lower Final winner

VARREL therefore finish the Stage 2 playoffs in fourth place after a run that included two victories over Paper Rex during this stage.

Nongshim secure Champions Shanghai

The Upper Final delivered even bigger consequences.

Nongshim RedForce faced Global Esports with a guaranteed Champions 2026 place available to the winner. Nongshim took Haven 13-7 before Global responded with a narrow 14-12 victory on Ascent.

Abyss decided the series.

Nongshim controlled the final map 13-6, completing the 2-1 victory and earning both a Grand Final appearance and direct qualification to Champions Shanghai.

• Nongshim won Haven 13-7
• Global answered 14-12 on Ascent
• Nongshim closed Abyss 13-6
• The team advances directly to the September 6 Grand Final

Their run has been one of the strongest stories of the Pacific postseason.

Nongshim already eliminated Paper Rex 2-0 before defeating Gen.G 2-1 in the Upper Semifinal. Global became their third consecutive playoff opponent to fall.

Global get one final Champions opportunity

Global Esports now drop into the Lower Final against T1.

The defeat against Nongshim does not end their tournament, but their margin for error has disappeared. They must beat T1 on September 5 to reach both the Grand Final and VALORANT Champions 2026.

Global have already produced an impressive Stage 2 run of their own.

They defeated KIWOOM DRX 2-1 in the opening playoff round before sweeping VARREL 2-0. Their Upper Final defeat is therefore the team’s first loss of the main playoff bracket.

The Lower Final now creates an interesting contrast.

T1 arrive after three consecutive 2-0 elimination victories, while Global have spent most of the bracket on the upper side and therefore played fewer do-or-die series.

Paper Rex already qualify through Pacific Points

Stage 2 is only one part of Pacific’s Champions qualification picture.

The top two teams at the event qualify directly, while two additional regional representatives reach Shanghai through Pacific Points.

Paper Rex have already accumulated enough points to secure their Champions place despite finishing Stage 2 in fifth-sixth position after their loss to VARREL.

That leaves the final regional picture dependent on the remaining bracket and points standings.

Assessment

T1’s playoff recovery has become one of the most compelling developments of VCT Pacific Stage 2.

They entered the postseason through the Play-Ins and had little room for error once they reached the lower bracket. Instead of collapsing under that pressure, T1 have now swept three consecutive opponents, including Gen.G and VARREL.

The challenge against Global Esports will be different.

Global have shown stronger overall consistency during Stage 2 and came within one series of qualifying directly through the upper bracket. T1, meanwhile, carry significantly more recent experience in elimination matches.

For Nongshim, the pressure is temporarily gone. Their place at Champions Shanghai is secured and they can now prepare directly for the Grand Final.

For T1 and Global, everything comes down to September 5. One best-of-five will decide who joins Nongshim through the direct Stage 2 route and who leaves Busan without a Grand Final appearance.