Paper Rex Claims Pacific Crown, Eyes Treble

The VCT Pacific Championship trophy, which had eluded Paper Rex since the beginning of the year, finally landed in their hbag after a convincing victory over the defending champions, RRQ, in the Stage 2 Grand Finals held yesterday afternoon (31/8) in Tokyo, Japan.

Despite being Asia’s sensation after winning Masters Toronto earlier, Paper Rex had faced criticism for inconsistency and missed several crucial opportunities to claim the 2025 Pacific title. Their first attempt at the Pacific Kickoff was surprisingly ended by DetonatioN FocusMe, and in Stage 1, they lost in the Lower Bracket Finals against RRQ.

Given RRQ’s dominant form entering the Stage 2 playoffs, this victory holds special significance for PRX and their fans. Their opponents had even earned the nickname “The Giant Slayer” from Pacific viewers after taking down top South Korean teams and defeating the in-form Talon Esports to reach the finals.

Based on the previous statistics, analysts initially predicted a closely contested match, especially since RRQ was determined to make history with a back-to-back victory. However, in the end, PRX’s strategic prowess and mechanical skill made the difference.

No Room for funny surprises

PRX started strong on their map pick, Bind, in Game 1. Through aggressive attacks and efficiency in both pistol and anti-eco rounds, they quickly built a 9–3 lead in the first half and extended it to 11–3 early in the second half.

RRQ attempted a comeback by winning five rounds in the latter half, but their strategies were not strong enough to fend off PRX’s dual-duelist composition featuring Ilya “something” Petrov (Yoru) and Wang “Jinggg” Jie (Raze). After a tight battle, PRX closed out the first map with a 13–8 victory.

RRQ tried to equalize on their signature map, Ascent, in Game 2. Unfortunately, PRX demonstrated superior map awareness and dominated the first half with an 11–1 scoreline. Although RRQ attempted to ramp up their aggression, PRX once again relied on the exceptional plays of the something–Jinggg duo to suppress RRQ’s late-game efforts, securing a 13–7 win.

Entering Game 3, RRQ displayed their trademark resilience on Lotus as PRX was closing in on the match point. After a shaky first half, RRQ mounted a surprise counterattack under the leadership of Cahya “Monyet” Nugraha, ultimately shutting down PRX’s duelist combo and taking the map 13–6.

Unfortunately, that momentum was short-lived, as PRX opted for a more balanced approach on the decider map, Haven. The combination of something’s Yoru and Jason “f0rsaken” Susanto’s Brimstone proved troublesome for RRQ, ending the first half with an 8–4 lead.

The second half saw a back-and-forth battle across seven rounds, with RRQ narrowing the gap to 11–7 and giving their fans a glimmer of hope. Nevertheless, PRX effectively called a timeout and closed out the final match with a 13–7 victory.

With this result, PRX takes home the grand prize of $100,000, while RRQ, as runners-up, receives $65,000. Beyond these achievements, both teams had already secured their spots as Southeast Asia’s representatives at Champions Paris due to strong performances in the weeks leading up to the finals.

Meanwhile, South Korea will be represented by T1 and DRX, who finished in the top four of the 2025 Pacific standings. The latter secured their spot after RRQ defeated Talon in the lower bracket finals a day before the grand finals (30/8).

Hunting for the treble

This second major victory in 2025 at Stage 2 serves as a significant morale boost for PRX as they aim to lift the trophy at the upcoming Champions Paris. Given the dramatic outcome of the Champions event two years ago, they seem highly motivated to end the season as their redemption chapter.

Regarding this, head coach Alexandre “alecks” Sallé stated that he and his squad have avoided excessive celebrations after Stage 2 to maintain focus and peak performance. He also mentioned that the team is in exceptional mental form and eagerly anticipates top opponents in Paris.

The recently announced group draw results saw a relatively balanced schedule for PRX in Group A, where they will face GiantX, XLG Esports, and Sentinels. Meanwhile, RRQ is expected to face a tougher challenge in Group B against BiliBili Gaming, Made in Brazil, and Fnatic.