FURIA and Gentle Mates Become First Teams Eliminated from VALORANT Masters Santiago

VALORANT Masters Santiago has claimed its first Playoffs casualties, with FURIA and Gentle Mates both sent packing in the early elimination rounds. FURIA, who entered the tournament as the top seed out of VCT Americas, were knocked out by BBL Esports, the Turkish EMEA outfit continuing to punch well above expectations on the global stage. Gentle Mates, representing EMEA alongside BBL, fell to Chinese side All Gamers in what was another statement result for the Pacific region's rising competition. The back-to-back eliminations signal an early power shift in Santiago. Two of the more established international names are gone, while two teams with significantly less global pedigree advance. For FURIA, this exit stings hardest — entering as Americas' first seed, the expectation was deep playoff contention, not an early door.

BBL Esports have been one of the more compelling stories at Masters Santiago. The EMEA side have shown tactical discipline and composure under pressure, and eliminating a seeded Americas team is exactly the kind of scalp that shifts tournament narratives. Their run continues and they remain live contenders for what would be a historic first VCT global trophy for a Turkish organization. All Gamers' victory over Gentle Mates is equally significant. Chinese VALORANT has historically struggled to convert regional promise into international results, but All Gamers are making a credible case here. Defeating an EMEA Playoffs qualifier in a straight elimination match is concrete proof that the Chinese scene deserves more respect heading into the rest of the VCT 2026 calendar. Both BBL and All Gamers now sit in the mix for the first major global title of the year, and neither should be underestimated.

With FURIA out, the Americas representation at Masters Santiago takes a significant credibility hit. The region will be counting on its remaining teams to carry the flag, but losing the top seed this early raises questions about regional form and preparation heading into the back half of the VCT season. FURIA's coaching staff will have hard reviews to conduct before the next international window opens. For the tournament itself, the eliminations inject genuine unpredictability into the remaining bracket. Fans tracking the VALORANT events scene should expect further upsets as BBL Esports and All Gamers build momentum. Check the latest Masters Santiago results and standings on our matches page to follow every elimination match as the bracket tightens toward the grand final. Full updated VCT tournament details are also available via the Liquipedia VALORANT Masters Santiago page.