In a stunning display of resilience and tactical brilliance, Southeast Asia's Paper Rex defeated South Korea’s DRX Gaming to emerge victorious in the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Pacific League, overturning a two-map deficit to claim the coveted title. The team's remarkable comeback was fueled by a strategic agent pick, showcasing their strategic prowess and determination. With this triumph, Paper Rex solidified their dominance in the Pacific region and secured their spot in the prestigious Tokyo Masters.

VCT 2023 Pacific League: Paper Rex vs DRX Recap

In Map Veto, Paper Rex had a two-map ban advantage as it qualified from the Upper Bracket. Starting off, Paper Rex leveraged the two-map ban advantage to ban Haven and Split. Following this, Team Liquid picked Ascent and Fnatic picked Fracture. The teams went on to pick Pearl and Lotus, respectively, and the last remaining map Bind was set as the decider map.

Map no. 1 - Fracture:

Paper Rex entered the round with high expectations, but DRX showcased their dominance early on, securing crucial rounds and building a solid foundation. Despite its best efforts, Paper Rex faced a demoralizing 6-13 defeat on their chosen map.

Map no. 2 - Ascent:

With its backs against the wall, Paper Rex needed a shift in momentum. Ilya "something" Petrov, the Russian prodigy of the team, made a surprising agent pick, choosing Reyna for the Ascent map. Petrov's expertise and confidence in utilizing Reyna's unique abilities paid off, as he showcased exceptional skill, securing 30 kills and maintaining the best opening differential in the game. The map went into triple overtime, intensifying the battle between the two teams. DRX finally won the map with a 16-14 scoreline.

Map no. 3 - Lotus:

With a setback by its loss on Ascent, Paper Rex made a comeback and gained momentum on Lotus. The team displayed dominance and teamwork, securing a commanding 13-3 victory. The team's coordination and strategic plays propelled them forward in their quest for a comeback.

Map no. 4 - Pearl:

With the series now at DRX 2-1 PPX, Paper Rex continued its resurgence on Pearl. something, switching back to Jett, showcased his versatility and skills once again, contributing to Paper Rex's convincing 13-6 win. The team's determination and unwavering focus were evident as it equalized the score.

Map no. 5 - Bind:

As the tension reached its peak with a 2-2 scoreline, Paper Rex displayed unwavering resilience in the final round. The team's determination and synchronized gameplay resulted in six consecutive round victories, culminating in a comfortable 13-6 scoreline on the decider map. 

Paper Rex's remarkable comeback in the VCT Pacific Championship will be etched in VALORANT history. The team’s strategic adaptability, individual brilliance, and unwavering determination propelled it to victory, overturning a two-map deficit against DRX. With this triumph, Paper Rex not only secured the coveted championship title but also earned their spot in the prestigious Tokyo Masters.