Masters Santiago Pick’Ems are officially open, giving VALORANT fans the chance to test their prediction skills and earn exclusive in-game rewards . The first international event of the 2026 VCT season runs from February 28 to March 15 in Santiago, Chile, featuring 12 teams battling for the trophy and valuable Championship Points .
This year’s Pick’Ems system includes both Swiss Stage and Playoffs predictions, plus the return of Shotcall, a live Twitch extension that lets you predict rounds and clutch moments in real time . With the Perfect title and golden ¡Rico, Po! buddy up for grabs, here’s everything you need to maximize your chances.
Pick’Ems Rewards and How to Earn Them
The Pick’Ems system rewards accuracy across two stages. Swiss Stage predictions lock on February 28 at 19:00 CET, just before the first matches begin, while Playoffs picks open on March 5 after the bracket is set .
Pick’Ems Reward Tiers
| Requirement | Reward |
|---|---|
| Make at least one pick | “Cachando todo” Title |
| Top 50% of participants | “¡Rico, Po!” Gun Buddy |
| Top 20% of participants | Pick’Ems Master: “¡Rico, Po!” (Golden) Buddy |
| Perfect bracket (all matches correct) | “Perfect” Title |
Simply participating grants the “Cachando todo” title, while finishing in the top half of predictors earns the standard “¡Rico, Po!” buddy . The golden version goes to the top 20%, and a perfect bracket—predicting every Swiss and Playoffs match correctly—awards the ultra-rare “Perfect” title .
Shotcall, the live Twitch extension, lets you earn additional rewards by predicting maps, rounds, and clutch moments during official broadcasts. Available on desktop via the Twitch extension, correct predictions earn points on a global leaderboard .
Swiss Stage Predictions: Best Picks by Matchup
The Swiss Stage features eight teams fighting for four playoff spots. Here are the optimal picks based on current form :
Gentle Mates vs EDward Gaming: Gentle Mates impressed in EMEA Kickoff, coming close to winning the entire tournament. EDG has shown weak results across key metrics and struggles against international competition. Pick Gentle Mates .
XLG Esports vs NRG: NRG are reigning world champions but their performance has dipped since Champions. XLG appears more structured and cohesive as a team, making them the favorite. Pick XLG .
G2 Esports vs Paper Rex: Paper Rex is notoriously inconsistent—capable of beating anyone or losing to anyone on any given day. G2 has transformed their playstyle this season with dramatic improvements in coordination. Pick G2 .
T1 vs Team Liquid: Team Liquid’s addition of MiniBoo hasn’t delivered expected results, with synergy issues throughout Kickoff. T1 finished second in Pacific, losing only to NS RedForce, and looks like a championship contender. Pick T1 .
For the undefeated (2-0) bonus pick, T1 is the safest choice given their favorable opening fixture and strong form .
Playoff Format and Championship Points
Four teams automatically qualify for playoffs as regional first seeds: Nongshim RedForce (Pacific), FURIA (Americas), BBL Esports (EMEA), and All Gamers (China) . They’ll be joined by the four Swiss Stage survivors in a double-elimination bracket running March 6-15 .
Most playoff matches are best-of-three, with the Lower Bracket Final and Grand Final being best-of-five . Every win earns Championship Points toward qualification for Champions Shanghai :
- 1st Place: 6 points
- 2nd Place: 4 points
- 3rd Place: 3 points
- 4th Place: 2 points
- 5th-6th: 1 point each
The $1,000,000 prize pool also pays out to all 12 teams, with the champion taking $350,000 .
On-Site Skirmish Tournament for Fans
For fans attending in person, Riot is hosting an on-site Skirmish tournament at Espacio Riesco. Skirmish is a pure 1v1 aim duel mode on a small map where players spawn with Heavy Armor, pick any weapon, and fight without abilities—first to 10 rounds wins .
Four single-elimination qualifiers run on March 4, 6, 9, and 13, each featuring 16 players. Winners earn two tickets to Masters Santiago on March 14 and a slot in the Final Tournament, a 32-player double-elimination bracket played on the main stage .
This marks the first time fans can compete on the same stage as professional players during a major international event .
