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G2 Esports took down Nongshim RedForce 13-7 on Sunset, punching their ticket to a decider match on Split.
What happened on Sunset
G2 controlled the tempo from the early rounds, building a lead that Nongshim RedForce never seriously threatened to overturn. The 13-7 scoreline tells the story of a team that found its groove and didn’t let go.
Multiple encounters between the two teams have gone to map deciders in tournament settings, which makes the relatively clean Sunset result notable.
Nongshim RedForce, backed by the South Korean food and beverage conglomerate of the same name, has been a consistent presence in Asian Valorant.
The crypto angle: why this matters beyond the server
G2 Esports partnered with Betpanda, a blockchain-based betting platform, tying its brand to the crypto prediction market ecosystem.
G2’s blockchain history goes deeper than a single sponsorship deal. The organization previously ventured into NFT projects, though that chapter had its complications. G2 initiated legal proceedings against Bondly in 2022, a dispute tied to their NFT collaboration.
Nongshim RedForce has stayed firmly in the traditional lane. No crypto partnerships, no NFT plays, no blockchain betting integrations. The Korean org’s backing comes from a legacy consumer goods company.
What this means for investors watching the esports-crypto intersection
The upcoming Esports World Cup 2026, scheduled for July 3, 2026, represents another milestone event where prediction market activity is expected to surge. Organizations with existing crypto partnerships will be better positioned to monetize that activity than those starting from scratch.
South Korean esports organizations like Nongshim RedForce may be avoiding crypto partnerships partly because Korea’s regulatory environment for digital asset gambling is particularly restrictive.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
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