Paper Rex (PRX), the champions of the VCT Pacific region, took home a 3-1 victory over fnatic from EMEA in VALORANT Masters, Toronto. PRX’s victory is their first international title after never having placed first at global events.
The team reached the Grand Final after an impressive journey through the Playoffs, making plays that sealed the deal and allowed them to finally stop finishing as Runner-ups.
PRX Gains Early Momentum Despite Fnatic’s Pistol Start
Paper Rex, coming in from the upper bracket, had the veto advantage entering the final. Their decision was to remove Haven and Ascent and proceed to Sunset instead, which is their favorite. Despite Fnatic winning the pistol round on defence, they once again struggled on this map similar to previous events.
On the attack, Paper Rex capitalized on Fnatic’s slower mid-round rotations to claim eight straight rounds. Fnatic won the second pistol and gradually regained control of the map. However, PRX’s use of a Sage wall secured a win when Fnatic were eyeing overtime, sealing 13-11.
f0rsaken had a significant impact across the map, playing a key role with not just kills, but impactful plays that twisted rounds in PRX’s favour.
Fnatic Finds Rock-Solid Comfort in Icebox
On Icebox, Fnatic found a rhythm. The kid, Kajetan ‘kaajak’ Haremski, stood out with 11 opening duels that helped his squad recover after their first four rounds on attack were lost. Paper Rex read Fnatic’s game strategy well – right down to the use of Sage walls. However, the latter did not end this streak.
kaajak’s skillful Operator use made a difference in the latter half. Fnatic made quick adjustments with explosive site executions to catch PRX off-guard, taking the match to overtime. Throughout a tight set of rounds punctuated by great individual plays and some mistakes, kaajak once again came through with the goods in the clutch, winning 17-15 to level the series for Fnatic.
Pearl Slips From Fnatic’s Grip
On Pearl, Fnatic surprised everyone with their confidence to pick the map. During the first half, PRX’s set-up was bothered by Emir ‘Alfajer’ Beder’s Neon and Fnatic led the game with a 7-5 scoreline by the switch.
After winning both pistol rounds, Fnatic looked set to take Pearl easily. But, PRX played excellently as a team with proper map control. With Alfajer less impactful in the second half, Jing ‘Jinggg’ Jie stepped up to ensure his team has creative use of the Judge and request it to counter the defence of Fnatic. Paper Rex won Pearl 13-10, taking one step closer to the championship.
PRX Takes the Crown in Final Map on Lotus
Lotus started off with a tussle. PRX acquired the pistol, but Fnatic hit back and won the thrifty round. Following that, Paper Rex’s pressure defence took charge, particularly through strong control in C-mount. Fnatic, a slower-paced team, had success copying the PRX tempo but went into the half down 5-7.
Fnatic secured their pistol round win in order to stay alive in the match, but PRX did not relent. PRX got the match point through aggressive coordination and execution. In the last effort, Fnatic started clutching aim duels to force overtime again.
But this time, Paper Rex would not be denied. After the plant situation became critical, they managed to win the 2v4 to win the map 14-12 and the Masters Toronto title.
Outperforming all others in the final series was f0rsaken. He has attained a kill-death ratio of 81/75 and an ACS of 223. Further, due to this performance, he won the Tournament MVP and a bracelet. This player has become instrumental for PRX during their first victory.
The Road to VALORANT Champions Goes On!
Teams now shift their focus to the last phase of the 2025 season with Masters Toronto behind them. Next month’s VCT stage 2 offers the last opportunity to qualify for the VALORANT Champions event. The stage is now set for further drama as the teams fight for a berth among the elites.