Paper Rex reigned supreme in the VCT Pacific Stage 1 grand finals, battling through a nail-biting 3-2 series victory over South Korean giants Gen.G Esports.
The W-gaming squad secured their revenge against Gen.G, the team that had defeated them in the previous VCT Pacific Kickoff tournament.
Wang “Jinggg” Jie returning to the team in place of Cahya “Monyet” Nugraha provided the spark that PRX needed to reclaim their position as the kings of the Pacific.
The clash showcased incredible talent from both sides, with the fate of the championship hanging in the balance until the very last map.
By winning the VCT Pacific Split 1 crown, PRX secured the top seed in their region and advanced directly to the Masters Shanghai playoffs.
Additionally, they gained the privilege of selecting their opponents at the beginning of the playoffs—a new feature introduced by Riot Games for the Valorant international LAN tournament.
The top three VCT Pacific Stage 1 teams—PRX, Gen.G, and T1—will represent their region in Masters Shanghai, which will take place from May 23 to June 9, 2024.
Paper Rex get their revenge against Gen.G at VCT Pacific Stage 1 with a 3-2 grand final victory
Gen.G Esports take a 1-0 lead on Lotus
The opening map, Lotus, saw a close fight early on. Both teams were evenly matched, with the score tied 6-6 at halftime.
Gen.G shifted momentum in their favor once they switched to the attacker side. Kim “t3xture” Na-ra led the charge, putting on a dominant performance on Raze, where he finished with a 28/17/7 KDA.
T3xture’s aggressive plays opened up key opportunities for his team, allowing Gen.G to excel in post-plant situations and secure a convincing 13-9 victory on Lotus.
Paper Rex even the series 1-1 on Sunset
PRX delivered a solid performance on the second map, Sunset, effectively countering Gen.G’s early momentum.
Denying Gen.G the crucial pistol round win, PRX established defensive dominance and secured six straight rounds to establish a significant lead.
The team showcased their trademark aggressive playstyle, overwhelming Gen.G in key areas of the map.
Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto on Breach and Jinggg on Raze was pivotal on Sunset. F0rsakeN’s Fault Line stuns effectively halted Gen.G’s pushes, creating opportunities for Jinggg’s Raze to secure decisive eliminations.
Assertive gameplay and coordinated assaults from PRX proved too much for Gen.G. The team closed Sunset with a convincing 13-9 victory, tying the series 1-1.
Paper Rex edged out Gen.G on Icebox
PRX carried their momentum to Icebox, storming out to a 6-2 lead. However, Kim “t3xture” Na-ra refused to let Gen.G falter.
He pulled off a clutch 1v3 in the 9th round, sparking a comeback that cut PRX’s lead to 7-5 at halftime. The second half remained a close fight.
Despite t3xture’s continued heroics, PRX displayed resilience, clutching out crucial rounds to secure a narrow 13-11 victory on Icebox. This win gave them a vital 2-1 series lead.
Bind flips as Gen.G shut down PRX’s aggression on Bind
Jinggg shined on Bind, showcasing why he is still one of the best Raze mains in the world by outdueling t3xture in the duelist matchup.
However, the tide turned as PRX’s aggressive pushes faltered. Gen.G adapted brilliantly, shutting down their tactics and punishing their mistakes.
Gen.G dominated the later rounds by capitalizing on this shift, winning five straight to steal Bind 13-9 to force a thrilling map five.
Paper Rex clinches the VCT Pacific Stage 1 championship in Split
Gen.G threatened to close out the series on Split, racing to a commanding 6-2 lead on defense.
However, PRX refused to surrender. They clawed back, minimizing the deficit to 7-5 at halftime.
The second half was a masterclass in defense by PRX. Ilya “something” Petrov unleashed his inner Jett, dominating with a stellar 22/10/4 KDA.
PRX’s offensive surge and well-coordinated defensive setups following the switch completely changed the game’s dynamics.
They effectively shut down Gen.G and secured a decisive 13-8 victory on Split, claiming the coveted VCT Pacific Split 1 championship title.
READ MORE: Is there rank decay in Valorant?
