Photo by Liu Yicun/Riot Games

The Pacific region has won three of the last five international events. Heading into Champions Shanghai, the top-heavy region is playing catch-up behind Paper Rex. The fan-favorite side has already earned enough points to qualify for Shanghai, meaning the rest of the region needs them to finish top two to open up an opportunity to qualify on points.

Here’s a look at Ult Orb’s Champs Points Roundup: Pacific edition.

Our six categories, as a reminder:

• Already In – Team has already mathematically qualified for Champions.
• Should Make It – Team is leading in points or close to the top; very simple criteria to make it to Champions.
• Solid Chance – Just outside the upper echelon in points; could qualify with the right turn of events.
• Odds Are Low – Low point count; team needs a miracle to qualify through points.
• Top 2 or Bust – Challengers teams and teams that are mathematically out or have an unrealistic outlook to qualify
• Already Out – Teams that have already been eliminated from the Play-In.

Already In

Paper Rex (25 pts, Qualified)

Paper Rex has been the most consistent team globally in 2026, reaching the Grand Final of both Masters events and earning enough points to be the first team to qualify to Champions. The organization hopes to replicate its success at Masters Toronto from last year and lift a second international trophy.

Should Make It

Nongshim RedForce (14 pts)

Second to PRX, the Masters Santiago winners have racked up a healthy sum in points in the Pacific region with 14 points. For the Ascension team to make their first Champions appearance, they simply need PRX to reach the top two; if PRX loses beforehand, NS can guarantee qualification by reaching the top four in Pacific.

T1 (12 pts)

T1, looking to replicate its victory in Bangkok last year, is trailing behind NS by two points. The Korean squad can lock in a Shanghai qualification as long as it secures a top-four placement while one of PRX and NS reaches the top two.

Solid Chance

Global Esports (9 pts)

Global Esports’ post-London coaching change has landed it in the top two of Group Alpha, allowing for a ticket straight to the playoffs. To qualify for the organization’s second-ever and second-straight international appearance, GE needs to secure a top-four finish and have two of PRX, NS, and T1 finish in the top two.

FULL SENSE (8 pts)

Since reaching the Grand Finals of Stage 1, FULL SENSE has only won a single series over the past two months. The Thai team, finishing group play with a 1-4 record, has a long road ahead if it wants to qualify to Shanghai. To do so on points, FS would need a top-three finish on top of two of the three points leaders qualifying through the Grand Finals, as well as Global Esports finishing outside of the top four.

Rex Regum Qeon (7 pts)

After qualifying to Masters Toronto and Champions Paris in 2025, RRQ was not seen at either Masters event in 2026. With seven points, the Indonesian organization does not have much, but it has enough to potentially edge out the four teams below it in the standings. To book a flight to Shanghai, RRQ needs two of Paper Rex, Nongshim RedForce, and T1 to reach the Grand Finals, while also scoring a top-four finish. Additionally, RRQ needs GE and FS not to reach the top four themselves, as this would knock them out of the points race.

Odds Are Low

Gen.G Esports (6 pts)

Gen.G has found itself at a perfect 5-0 record and the first seed out of Group Alpha, earning a bye into the playoffs. The Tigers, reborn with two roster changes, are in a very comfortable position to return to the global stage. Gen.G can qualify to Champions by winning one match to reach the top three, as well as having two of the three points frontrunners qualify via a top-two finish and both GE and FS missing out on the finals weekend in Busan.

Related: The gamble that fixed Gen.G: Efina, HSK on the rebuild that nobody expected

Kiwoom DRX, DetonatioN FocusMe (5 pts)

Kiwoom DRX and DetonatioN FocusMe, both with five points, are starting bracket play in the Play-ins. KRX started Stage 2 running triple-duelist compositions, but finished with a 1-4 record. The Korean side will start its run to Champions against fellow Koreans ONSIDE GAMING. DFM, tied with the likes of T1 and PRX with a 3-2 record in the same group, will begin in the second round of Play-ins against the winner of RRQ and Sharper Esports. For either of these teams to guarantee a visit to Shanghai, they require top-two finishes from two of PRX, NS, and T1, a top-four finish themselves, and FS, GE, RRQ, and their rival in points all staying below ten points.

VARREL (4 pts)

While VARREL is sitting at a meager four points, all four of these points were earned during Stage 2, where the team topped Group Omega with a 4-1 record. The Ascension-winning roster has been almost unstoppable following the signing of Foxy9. The team is well on track to qualify for Champions Shanghai through bracket play, being just two wins away from the Grand Finals. To qualify via points, however, VARREL needs a top three finish, with PRX, NS, and T1 in the top two, and none of GE, FS, RRQ, or GEN in fourth place.

Top 2 or Bust

ZETA DIVISION (3 pts), Team Secret (2 pts)

ZETA DIVISION and Team Secret, with three and two points respectively, have been mathematically eliminated from points qualification following the last week of group play. Both of these teams will now need to reach the Grand Finals in Busan to book their tickets to Champions.

QT DIG∞, ONSIDE GAMING, Sharper Esports, Xipto Esports (Challengers Teams)

The Pacific region’s Ascension teams, coming from Japan, Korea, and Thailand, will have to make a run to the Grand Finals if they hope to qualify to Shanghai. As with the other VCT regions, the tier two teams need to win seven or eight matches with no more than one loss in order to represent the region in Shanghai.