Find out the key moments from the VALORANT Masters Santiago pre‑event press conference held on February 27.
With the VALORANT Masters Santiago set to kick off in just one day, journalists gathered on Feb. 27 for the official pre-event press conference, where teams shared their thoughts, expectations, and ambitions heading into the tournament.
M8, BBL, and EDG
The Masters Santiago opening press conference featured representatives from Gentle Mates (M8), BBL Esports, and EDward Gaming (EDG). With M8 and EDG scheduled to clash in the opening match of the Masters Santiago, both teams expressed their excitement ahead of the series.
Meanwhile, BBL Esports took a moment to reflect on its journey. The team’s in-game leader spoke about their rise from Premier competition to competing internationally, emphasizing the hard work behind their progression. He also shared the team’s desire to face T1 during the tournament due to their unique playstyle.
EDG also spoke about the arrival of their new head coach, Yoon "Autumn" Eu-teum, and the impact he has had since joining the team. While building synergy proved challenging at first, Wang "nobody" Senxu revealed that he has since become far more flexible and aggressive, adding that he has now fully adapted to the team’s system.
TL, T1, and NS
The second press conference gathered representatives from NS RedForce, T1, and Team Liquid. For Dominykas "MiniBoo" Lukaševičius, this international experience with a different organization will be equally amazing, and the team has enjoying their time in Santiago a lot.
As for Ayaz "nAts" Akhmetshin, he shared his thoughts on the evolving meta, suggesting that some teams may bring Harbor to the tournament following the agent’s recent buffs and rework. He believes the changes could make him a more viable and impactful pick.
During the press conference, the players from T1 said they were underestimated at Masters Bangkok, which ended up motivating them on their way to the title. They added that while a lot has changed within the team since then, the energy and hunger to win remain the same.
The first seed from the Pacific region, NS RedForce, has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the event. Lee "Dambi" Hyuk-kyu explained that having fun plays a crucial role in his performance. He noted that maintaining a positive mindset can make a big difference, especially when a match isn’t going their way, so the team is focused on enjoying the moment on stage.
PRX, G2, and FUR
The next press conference kicked off with a lighthearted moment between G2 Esports Andrej "babybay" Francisty and PRX Khalish "d4v41" Rusyaidee, as the two shared a fun exchange about their taste in music. Harbor also came up during the discussion, with players debating the possibility of the agent making a return to the tournament meta.
FURIA Esports also discussed their revamped roster, highlighting the team’s confidence in their new strategies and in having Arthur "arztin" Araujo back in the in-game leader role. As for babybay, who is attending his first international tournament as a player, he said he feels no pressure and embraced the “uncle” title with pride.
Marking his sixth consecutive international appearance, G2 Jacob "valyn" Batio shared that the team always approaches these events fully prepared, even if previous runs didn’t yield a trophy. As the team enters 2026 with a new roster addition, he emphasized that anything can change this year, particularly with babybay's confidence boosting the team’s potential.
AL, XLG, and NRG
At the day’s final press conference, All Gamers (AG), Xi Lai Gaming (XLG), and NRG Esports shared their expectations for the tournament. While AG and XLG had recently taken a short break for Lunar New Year celebrations, both teams emphasized that they are fully prepared and ready for the challenges ahead.
Especially for All Gamers, who will be making their international debut, the team expressed strong confidence in their performance. They also mentioned their eagerness to face NS RedForce on stage, having already scrimmed against them and wanting to test themselves in a live tournament.
As for NRG Brock "brawk" Somerhalder, he jokingly remarked that if Riot Games decides to nerf Odin, he would undoubtedly be to blame. XLG Teng "happywei" Min-wei recently became a father for the first time, an experience that has given him a greater sense of responsibility. Despite this new chapter in his life, he emphasized that his gameplay and confidence on stage remain completely unaffected.
These were the key moments of the Masters Santiago pre-event press conference. The tournament will kick off on Feb. 28 with Gentle Mates playing against EDG, followed by XLG versus NRG.
