Although VCT Masters Santiago 2026 has ended, the numbers reveal an interesting story, with the drop in viewership standing out.
After years of steady growth, VALORANT’s viewership momentum stalled at VCT Masters Santiago. While the drop in viewership does not mean the event was poor, some factors may explain this decline, as Esports Charts data shows us. Let’s dive into them.
Paper Rex and NRG solidify their status as fan favorites
The VCT Masters Santiago 2026 showed that Paper Rex’s popularity draws significant viewership, with the team present in four of the five most-watched matches. NRG has also been on the rise, especially after securing the VALORANT Champions 2025 title. The top regional seeds also sparked viewer interest, with matches featuring BBL, FURIA, and NS RedForce gaining popularity during the event.
However, compared to Masters Toronto, viewership saw a notable decline. Despite Paper Rex featuring in both finals, peak viewership dropped by 20.9%. Esports Charts reports that the peak viewership for Masters Toronto reached 1,116,583. The same drop happened with the total hours viewed.
Nevertheless, there was a massive viewership increase in both the Portuguese and the French streams. This can be explained, on the French side, with the first-time qualification of Gentle Mates to an international event. Especially due to the hype and great performances regionally, everyone was looking out for their matches.
At the same time, the rise in Portuguese viewership can also be attributed to the presence of former pro player Gustavo “Sacy” Ross and popular Brazilian streamers Heitor “TcK” Tomazela and Daniel “furq” Furquim for the new agent showmatch. They put on an entertaining show, dancing to “Gnarly” by KATSEYE on stage (with the members of the group watching), playing VALORANT with DJ equipment, and even polishing Sacy’s bald head in front of the crowd.
What caused the viewership decline at the Masters Santiago?
While it is hard to pinpoint exactly the motives behind the viewership drop, there are some factors that may have contributed to it. Viktor Proniakian, Product Manager at Esports Charts, suggested that having teams from the same region in the Grand Final may have contributed to the drop in interest. “The Grand Final featured two teams from the same region, which limited cross-regional interest and reduced the global appeal of the matchup,” he explained.
At the same time, the timezone has also played a role. “With matches taking place in Chile, they aired late at night or early morning for APAC audiences, the region most invested in the teams that reached the final,” Proniakian added.
Additionally, the match length itself lacked the suspense and the plot twists we usually see in these high-pressure moments. A case in point is the NRG vs. Fnatic match at Champions 2025, which attracted huge audiences as Fnatic made a remarkable comeback from near-impossible odds. However, at the Masters Santiago, the match ended with a quick 3-0. “The final itself lacked suspense. In contrast, previous events like the Masters Toronto benefited from more competitive, cross-regional matchups that naturally drive higher peak viewership,” he concluded.
It’s important to note that a drop in viewership doesn’t mean the tournament was poor. During press conferences and interviews, the players described the crowd as one of the best and most energetic they’d ever experienced, creating an incredible atmosphere in the arena.