Nongshim RedForce
Nongshim RedForce
Korea
Rank #4
Xross
Jeonghwan (정환)
Kally
Kim Dong-wook (김동욱)
Banger
An Hyung-gi (안형기)
Cloy
Kim Min-gyu (김민규)
SID
Kim Min-seung (김민승)
has acquired Pacific Ascension champions
Sin Prisa Gaming
Sin Prisa Gaming
Korea
Rank #2
Persia
Yang Zi-on (양지온)
margaret
Kim Ji-woo (김지우)
Dambi
Lee Hyuk-kyu (이혁규)
Francis
Kim Mu-bin (김무빈)
Ivy
Park Sung-hyeon (박성현)
, meaning the original core of five players and head coach will now compete in VCT under a new banner.
"The SPG roster, including players and head coach, will remain fully intact but will compete under the NS banner next year," Riot's announcement said. "We are confident that Nongshim will be a valuable addition to the VCT Pacific league given their extensive experience in esports. We are also happy for the players and coach who will have access to additional training facilities and support as part of this acquisition."
Sin Prisa Gaming grew quickly in the 2024 season, from one of the more unknown teams in the Korean VCL circuits to one of its most dominant. Known originally as
Team OGS
Team OGS
Inactive
Athan
Na Ha-jun (나하준)
Dambi
Lee Hyuk-kyu (이혁규)
Aru
Yang Jae-jun (양재준)
Ivy
Park Sung-hyeon (박성현)
Francis
Kim Mu-bin (김무빈)
Distinct
Haemul
, current players
Dambi
,
Ivy
, and
Francis
were on the squad before it disbanded after its elimination from The Korean WCG Challengers League Split 2. Current
DRX
DRX
Korea
Rank #5
Flashback
Cho Min-hyuk (조민혁)
MaKo
Kim Myeong-gwan (김명관)
Athan
Na Ha-jun (나하준)
freeing
No Ha-jun (노하준)
HYUNMIN
Song Hyun-min (송현민)
player
Athan
was also on Team OGS. For a short portion of the 2023 season, the roster was also picked up by
Gwangju Shadow
Gwangju Shadow
Inactive
Ivy
Park Sung-hyeon (박성현)
Distinct
Francis
Kim Mu-bin (김무빈)
Dambi
Lee Hyuk-kyu (이혁규)
. For the 2024 season, the three players stayed together as Sin Prisa Gaming, and were joined by
Persia
and
margaret
. After a rocky Split 1 that saw them fail to qualify for playoffs, they dominated Split 2, which they'd only reached by qualifying through a playoff.
In Stage 2, they went on a run of eleven straight victories, only dropping six maps in the process before defeating NongShim RedForce in the grand final to reach Pacific Ascension. Their dominance, branded by an aggressive approach on both sides of the map, continued throughout Ascension as they won five straight matches, only dropping two maps in the grand final en route to securing a spot in VCT for the 2025 season.
With the backing of NongShim, a South Korean food company best known for instant noodles and snacks, the former Sin Prisa Gaming team will have more resources and infrastructure than they did prior. NongShim also fields a League of Legends team that competes in LCK, one of the most prestigious LoL leagues in the world.
Nongshim RedForce first entered professional Valorant in 2022, never quite reaching the heights that its League of Legends team did. They achieved their best result to date in the 2024 season, reaching the grand final of the Korean Challengers League, where they fell to Sin Prisa Gaming.
In the announcement by Riot Games, it was revealed that the NongShim roster, which is currently competing in the playoffs of VCL Korea Split 3, will no longer be affiliated with NongShim following the end of the competition. Riot said: "Their slot in Challengers Korea will remain with the players should they choose to continue to compete under a different banner."
As South Korea's fourth team in the Pacific region, Nongshim's roster for its inaugural VCT season will be:
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