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Nongshim RedForce, From Premier to Masters Championship: A Growth Story Beyond the ImpossibleThis is the inspiring journey of Nongshim RedForce, a VALORANT esports team, from starting in the Premier League, through Challengers Korea and the Pacific League, to finally winning Masters Santiago. Their story of continuous growth and becoming world champions despite numerous setbacks and crises is truly like a shonen manga.
1. 🎮 The Premier System and the Birth of OGS
· In 2023, a new system called 'Premier' was introduced to VALORANT. It provided an opportunity for amateur teams to challenge tournaments and advance to regional Challengers leagues.
· Team OGS, which stands for 'Our Growth Story,' began to make a name for itself in this arena of opportunity. Composed of young players, then 17 years old, such as Ganbi, Francisco, Ivy, and Ojaemins, OGS entered Challengers Korea, the second-tier league, through Premier.
· Team OGS, which stands for 'Our Growth Story,' began to make a name for itself in this arena of opportunity. Composed of young players, then 17 years old, such as Ganbi, Francisco, Ivy, and Ojaemins, OGS entered Challengers Korea, the second-tier league, through Premier.
00:36 - 01:42
1. 🎮 The Premier System and the Birth of OGS
· In 2023, a new system called 'Premier' was introduced to VALORANT. It provided an opportunity for amateur teams to challenge tournaments and advance to regional Challengers leagues.
· Team OGS, which stands for 'Our Growth Story,' began to make a name for itself in this arena of opportunity. Composed of young players, then 17 years old, such as Ganbi, Francisco, Ivy, and Ojaemins, OGS entered Challengers Korea, the second-tier league, through Premier.
· Team OGS, which stands for 'Our Growth Story,' began to make a name for itself in this arena of opportunity. Composed of young players, then 17 years old, such as Ganbi, Francisco, Ivy, and Ojaemins, OGS entered Challengers Korea, the second-tier league, through Premier.
01:43 - 03:29
2. 📉 Setbacks in Challengers Korea and the Beginning of Sinfreisa Gaming
· Challengers Korea made OGS realize the high wall of professional play. In the last match of the 2023 split, they had to swallow their tears after losing to Nongshim RedForce.
· The boys, realizing that amateur passion alone couldn't overcome the systematic structure and professional standards, needed a true home that would believe in their potential and guide them.
· Through a meeting with FPS coach Silkanon, OGS was reborn under the name 'Sinfreisa Gaming.' Meaning 'Don't rush, but don't stop,' this team was completed with the OGS members joined by veterans Persia and Maga.
· The boys, realizing that amateur passion alone couldn't overcome the systematic structure and professional standards, needed a true home that would believe in their potential and guide them.
· Through a meeting with FPS coach Silkanon, OGS was reborn under the name 'Sinfreisa Gaming.' Meaning 'Don't rush, but don't stop,' this team was completed with the OGS members joined by veterans Persia and Maga.
03:30 - 05:29
3. 🏆 Challengers Korea Victory and Entry into Pacific
· Sinfreisa Gaming defeated Nongshim, who had stopped them before, and claimed the top spot in the 2024 Challengers Korea Split 2. The reward for them was an Ascension ticket, competing for a spot in the tier 1 Pacific League.
· After an overwhelming 16-game winning streak in Ascension, allowing not a single defeat, the boys finally entered the tier 1 Pacific League.
· Having played as OGS in the tier 3 league and Sinfreisa in the tier 2 league, they began a new chapter in the tier 1 league under the name 'Nongshim RedForce,' the team that once brought them frustration.
· After an overwhelming 16-game winning streak in Ascension, allowing not a single defeat, the boys finally entered the tier 1 Pacific League.
· Having played as OGS in the tier 3 league and Sinfreisa in the tier 2 league, they began a new chapter in the tier 1 league under the name 'Nongshim RedForce,' the team that once brought them frustration.
05:30 - 07:10
4. 🌪️ Pacific Hardships and the Threat of Ascension Relegation
· The dream Pacific stage was harsher than imagined. The gap in the tier 1 league was immense, and the condition for staying in Pacific, qualifying for Champions, was an incredibly difficult one.
· Failing to qualify for Champions, Nongshim faced the crisis of having to go down to Ascension again to defend their seed. With their first team house experience and poor performance, the players suffered a lot of stress, and internal team conflicts also intensified.
· Ahead of the 2025 Pacific Ascension, where the team's survival was at stake, Nongshim underwent a reorganization. Veteran Nalbi joined along with 07-liner Xross, and they stepped onto the second Ascension stage, where their fate hung in the balance.
· Failing to qualify for Champions, Nongshim faced the crisis of having to go down to Ascension again to defend their seed. With their first team house experience and poor performance, the players suffered a lot of stress, and internal team conflicts also intensified.
· Ahead of the 2025 Pacific Ascension, where the team's survival was at stake, Nongshim underwent a reorganization. Veteran Nalbi joined along with 07-liner Xross, and they stepped onto the second Ascension stage, where their fate hung in the balance.
07:54 - 09:14
5. 🔥 Fateful Ascension Victory and Pacific Retention
· Fate, sometimes cruel, pitted them against Boom Esports once again in the finals for the single Pacific slot. After a fierce battle, Nongshim RedForce defeated Boom Esports and emerged victorious.
· Nongshim RedForce secured their spot in Pacific, allowing them to continue the next chapter of their shonen manga. There were changes, but the four boys and one veteran ultimately created a story of growing together.
· Nongshim RedForce secured their spot in Pacific, allowing them to continue the next chapter of their shonen manga. There were changes, but the four boys and one veteran ultimately created a story of growing together.
09:15 - 12:41
6. 🌟 Pacific Kickoff Victory and Masters Santiago Domination
· Having overcome the biggest hurdle, Nongshim RedForce returned to Pacific and began to write a miracle. They won the Pacific Kickoff, which no one expected, and proudly headed to Masters Santiago.
· Although it was the young players' first international tournament, they were not content with just gaining experience. Francisco excelled as the best Yoru, Ivy was a reliable Sentinel, and Xross played a crucial role as the team's final puzzle piece and a new protagonist.
· Nongshim RedForce won Masters Santiago, becoming world champions. From the brink of relegation to becoming world champions, their growth story was neither short nor smooth, but by continuously pushing forward, they became the protagonists of the most exciting shonen manga.
· Although it was the young players' first international tournament, they were not content with just gaining experience. Francisco excelled as the best Yoru, Ivy was a reliable Sentinel, and Xross played a crucial role as the team's final puzzle piece and a new protagonist.
· Nongshim RedForce won Masters Santiago, becoming world champions. From the brink of relegation to becoming world champions, their growth story was neither short nor smooth, but by continuously pushing forward, they became the protagonists of the most exciting shonen manga.