Because the mud settled on the Sangam Colosseum after an eventful second day of VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Pacific Stage 2 Playoffs, it was the Masters Toronto winners, Paper Rex, who grew to become the primary Pacific crew to ensure themselves a spot at Champions Paris 2025.
Each the Higher Bracket Semifinal matches occurred on the day (Aug. 14), and the winners punched their tickets to the Finals Weekend on the LaLa Area Tokyo Bay, securing minimal top-four finishes.
Jinggg spearheads Paper Rex’s win over T1
Paper Rex beat T1 on Sundown with a 13-8 rating, successful the ultimate six rounds in a row on the Attacker aspect.
With momentum on their aspect, and on their map choose of Bind, Paper Rex pulled forward to an 8-4 lead on the Defender aspect. Regardless of some shut rounds and T1 choosing up a few wins, Paper Rex managed to safe a 13-6 victory on Bind and, due to this fact, a 2-0 sweep within the collection.
Paper Rex is heading to Champions Paris. Picture: Riot Video games
Paper Rex’s legendary IGL, Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto, needed to accept 2nd place on the scoreboard for his or her match towards T1, as Wang “Jinggg” Jing Jie put up a mind-boggling efficiency. With a score of 1.61, 44 kills, a 320 ACS, and 9 first kills, Jinggg was an unstoppable power on the server.
TALON scores first VCT win towards DRX
Earlier than the Higher Bracket Semifinals match within the VCT Pacific Stage 2 Playoffs, DRX had a clear 6-0 document towards TALON. On Bind, the map choose of TALON, DRX got here again from a four-round deficit within the first half to keep away from time beyond regulation, and beat TALON 13-11.
Whereas it appeared like DRX would lengthen their win streak to 8-0 over TALON and safe a 2-0 victory, the Thai squad had different concepts.
IGL Thanamethk “Crws” Mahatthananuyut rallied his crew to take a commanding 9-3 lead within the first half of Haven, DRX’s map choose. Regardless of DRX’s makes an attempt at a comeback, TALON secured a 13-9 win to tie up the match 1-1.
TALON is all smiles after reverse-sweeping DRX. Picture: Riot Video games
On the third and deciding map, Lotus, TALON took a decisive 8-4 lead because the Attackers, and completed off proceedings with a 13-7 win, smothering DRX with their stable protection. With the win on Lotus, TALON accomplished the reverse-sweep, breaking their dropping streak towards the South Korean aspect.
Right here’s the quick however candy highlights video that includes each the TALON vs. DRX and Paper Rex vs. T1 matches beneath.
Judging by their performances within the Playoffs to date, the Paper Rex vs. TALON Higher Bracket Ultimate match guarantees to be a banger. It’s set to happen on August 17, with one crew transferring on to the Grand Ultimate and the opposite to the Decrease Bracket Ultimate.
Because of an absence of VCT Pacific factors, TALON’s solely probability of reaching Champions Paris 2025 is by clawing their approach to the Grand Ultimate. The stakes couldn’t be greater.
