Southeast Asian Extravaganza Awaits at VCT Pacific Stage 2 Finals

After nearly a month of intense competition in South Korea, the playoff stage of VCT Pacific 2025: Stage 2 has concluded and setting the scene for the two final matches: the Lower Bracket Final and the Grand Final, which will be held next week in Tokyo, Japan.

The tournament has been a thrilling ride for the Asia fans so far, from the group stages right through to the playoffs. But without a doubt, the rise of the Southeast Asian region has become a major talking point, compelling other fans from the other side of the world to adjust their sleep schedules just to catch the action.

While Paper Rex has consistently proven its worth as a powerhouse to Pacific viewers over the last several seasons, RRQ and Talon Esports started this year in such unconvincing fashion: both teams underwent significant roster changes and faced early hurdles, making their paths to the top anything but smooth. However, their mental fortitude and new strategies have ultimately silenced their doubters and rewarded their fans.

Given this scenario, the upcoming “big three” matches on August 30th and 31st are expected to draw a massive viewership across all available platforms. Beyond the prize money for the champion and runner-up, several high-stakes storylines make these final matches must-watch events.

The birth of the Korean Slayer

When RRQ first entered the VCT Pacific franchise in 2023, its squad—featuring several Filipino players and veteran Saibani “fl1pzjder” Rahmad—failed to make a strong impression. Viewer skepticism was justified as the team delivered weak performances, failing to qualify for the playoffs in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

The organization undertook a gradual rebuild, eventually retaining only David “Xffero” Monangin from the original lineup. They held onto Maxim “Jemkin” Batorov, their sole European import since 2023, and recruited talented young local players like Cahya “Monyet” Nugraha and Bryan “Kushy” Setiawan. The roster was finally completed last March with the addition of Vietnamese player Ngô “crazyguy” Công Anh.

Learning from past failures and their opponents’ strategies, this rebuild has now paid off. It began with a historic victory in Stage 1. Although their following international performance wasn’t optimal, they once again learned from their mistakes and leveled up for Stage 2.

The result defied all expectations: after a shaky start forced them to qualify through the upper bracket, RRQ proceeded to defeat South Korea’s powerhouse teams—Gen.G, DRX, and T1—in succession. This remarkable effectiveness has earned them the fan-bestowed nickname “The Korean Slayer.”

The Thailand Pride

Meanwhile, in Group Omega, Talon Esports demonstrated formidable strength, securing an upper bracket slot in Stage 2 with only a single loss. Much like RRQ, their performance this stage is a surprise compared to their showings in previous seasons.

Often dubbed a “dark horse” for strong starts in the group phases, Talon would frequently follow up with disappointing performances at the end of the deciding day or making an early playoff exit. They even struggled against teams considered mechanically inferior.

This frustration was understandable for fans, as the team was statistically strong on paper, bolstered by two international star players, Peter “Governor” No and Joseph “ban” Oh. Surprisingly, their gameplay improved dramatically after releasing both players just before Stage 1.

Now entirely relying on local talent, they have fully embraced the ‘Thailand Pride’ mentality and even more hungry for victory than the last time. After a good finish in Stage 1, they refined their strategies and have continued to shock opponents with a solid performance in recent weeks.

Without any superstar names on the roster, the leadership of their seasoned in-game leader, Thanamethk “Crws” Mahatthananuyut, has shone brightly. He has successfully raised the spirits of his squad to compete for the top of Group Omega, leading them to victories over Nongshim RedForce and DRX to reach the Upper Bracket Final against PRX.

The heavy defeat from their PRX round in Korea, though, was expected. But their chance to qualify for Champions is still alive, as they will face RRQ for the last slot to the pinnacle event: VCT Champions Paris.

The hunt for the Champions spot endings..

As mentioned, the upcoming lower bracket final is critically important for Champions qualification, making it essential viewing.

The rulebook says that teams can still qualify for the international circuit through accumulated championship points, even if they don’t finish in the top two. While fourth place technically meets the criteria, the razor-thin point gap (specifically between DRX and Talon) means the standings could shift on the final day.

Therefore, there will be multiple endings. DRX, currently in 4th place with 12 points—just one point ahead of 6th-place Talon—must now rely on RRQ to defeat Talon in the upcoming Lower Bracket Final to secure their ticket to Champions.

But if it’s bad ending to RRQ, then T1 will have their bragging rights as the sole Korea survivor, who finished second in the overall Pacific 2025 standings. Despite their loss in the lower bracket semifinal, they have bagged 16 points that guarantee their spot just a line away below PRX, even if Talon advances to the Grand Final.

And regardless of the outcome, RRQ has already secured their maiden trip to Champions.

An exciting showdown, don’t you think?