VCT Masters: Dambi's overtime triple kill seals the deal, NS reverse sweep G2 to advance to the upper bracket finals

In the upper bracket semifinal of the Valorant Santiago Masters, NS reverse swept G2, advancing to the upper bracket final.

Map 1: Abyss

Defending side NS: Phantom, Hunter, Shadow, Starfall, Nightfall

Attacking side G2: Phantom, Neon, Starfall, Neptune, Hunter

In the first half, G2 quickly won the pistol round. During the bonus and rifle rounds, NS held off G2's assault at the B site, gradually pushed out to control the map and wiped out G2.

After a tactical pause, G2 secured four consecutive wins. NS's defensive strategy involved trying to hold the site directly while also allocating players to defend mid, which left the site unable to withstand G2's offensive pressure.

In round 9, NS proactively pushed out, leaving the A site empty, and advanced through map control from the B side, picking off G2 players one by one.

In the first half, G2 gained the lead through a counterplay, but NS narrowed the gap after a tactical pause.

Entering the second half, G2 won four rounds in a row. In round 17, G2 chose to hold the B site firmly against NS's attack but failed to win the fight, while Ivy infiltrated mid and eliminated G2.

In round 19, Trent won the retake at the B site in a clutch situation, giving G2 the match point. In the match point round (round 20), G2 conceded the site to NS to play a retake; Trent used his ultimate to lead the charge, and G2 successfully secured the round, winning Map 1 with a score of 13-7.

Map 2: Salt Mine Town

Defending side G2: Phantom, Judge, Viper, Starfall, Skye

Attacking side NS: Neon, Black Dream, Shadow, Viper, Nightfall

In the first half, NS started with a 5-round lead. Although G2 won a bonus round, they lost too many weapons, hurting their economy. Additionally, G2's defense was overly passive; even after a tactical pause, they still couldn't score.

After a second tactical pause, G2 flanked NS's attack from the A site side in round 9 and eliminated them.

NS's offense in the first half flowed smoothly, not giving G2 many opportunities. NS secured 10 rounds in the first half, while G2 only managed 2.

Entering the second half, after losing the pistol round, G2 transformed into a "Stinger squad" and clawed back one round.

In round 16, NS eliminated babybay at the A site for the first kill. G2 got stuck at A and couldn't rotate to B, allowing NS to comfortably take the round.

G2 chased three rounds in succession. In round 20, after a tactical pause adjustment, NS executed a comeback play by contesting the B main area, securing victory on Map 2.

Map 3: Neon Town

Defending side NS: Neon, Black Dream, Shadow, Viper, Nightfall

Attacking side G2: Neon, Viper, Starfall, Black Dream, Phantom

In the first half, G2 started with a 4-round lead. In round 6, NS destroyed the Spike at the A site and proactively counter-cleared to win the round.

In round 9, G2's save round involved a rush to B, but they failed to check corners and cb got a triple kill from behind a box.

NS secured seven consecutive wins, establishing a four-round lead in the first half.

Entering the second half, after winning the pistol round, NS suffered a comeback by G2's "Stinger squad," and G2 won four rounds straight.

In round 18, NS executed a fast attack controlling mid and A second floor, instantly eliminating three G2 players, then grouped up and pushed into the A site to win.

In round 19, NS attempted to speed through mid into B, but G2 heavily defended B second floor. NS's mid push was stopped in the initial wave, followed by leaf securing a quad kill to firmly hold the B site.

The match reached a 12-12 tie, entering overtime. On defense, rb and Xross held mid and the B site respectively. After switching sides, Dambi held off G2's retake at the A site, securing a triple kill to lead his team to victory, advancing NS to the upper bracket final.