Paper Rex Dominate VCT Pacific Stage 1 with Flawless Playoff Run

Perfection Achieved

Paper Rex have done it again. The Singaporean organisation has claimed their third consecutive VCT Pacific title with a commanding 3-0 victory over DRX in the Grand Finals, capping off a flawless 9-0 map record throughout the entire playoff bracket. It is the kind of dominance that transcends regional competition — a statement performance that announces Paper Rex as genuine contenders for the upcoming Masters Shanghai.

In a region featuring DRX, Gen.G, T1, and Global Esports, going undefeated through playoffs is extraordinary. No other team in VCT Pacific history has managed a perfect playoff run, and PRX made it look routine.

The Road Through Playoffs

Paper Rex entered the playoffs as the top seed after finishing the regular season with a 7-2 record, their only losses coming against Gen.G in Week 3 and T1 in Week 6 — both in tight 1-2 series that PRX later admitted served as important wake-up calls.

Quarterfinal: Paper Rex 3-0 Talon Esports

The quarterfinal against Talon was efficient if unspectacular. PRX controlled the tempo across all three maps, never allowing Talon to establish the defensive setups that had troubled other opponents. f0rsakeN averaged a 1.35 rating across the series, while Jinggg's Raze on Bind was the difference-maker, his satchel entries creating a 4v5 within the opening fifteen seconds of multiple rounds.

Semifinal: Paper Rex 3-0 Gen.G

The semifinal against Gen.G was the true test — and the series where PRX announced that this playoff run would be something special. Gen.G had beaten PRX during the regular season and entered the match with a clear tactical plan to slow the game down. It did not work. PRX adapted their attack-side tempo, mixing fast executes with patient mid-round plays that caught Gen.G rotating between sites. d4v41's Omen on Split was a masterclass in controller play, his smokes and paranoia usage cutting off Gen.G's information-gathering and leaving them guessing on every round.

Benkai, the veteran IGL, called it "our most complete series of the year" in the post-match press conference. "Gen.G beat us in the regular season because we were predictable. We spent two weeks making sure that wouldn't happen again."

Grand Finals: Paper Rex 3-0 DRX

By the time the Grand Finals arrived, PRX were playing with the kind of confidence that makes elite teams nearly impossible to beat.

Map 1: Lotus (13-7) — Paper Rex came out swinging on their map pick, with f0rsakeN putting on a masterclass on Jett. His 27-kill performance set the tone for the entire series, and DRX never found an answer to his aggressive Op plays on B Main. The Indonesian duelist won four consecutive opening duels in the second half, each one deflating DRX's attack-side momentum before their executes could develop. By the time DRX adjusted their approach, it was too late.

Map 2: Sunset (13-9) — DRX showed more fight on Sunset, building an 8-4 half on their attack side behind strong performances from BuZz and MaKo. For a stretch of six rounds it looked like DRX had found the blueprint. But Paper Rex's signature chaotic retakes on the CT side proved too much. Anchored by mindfreak's Killjoy setups, PRX rattled off nine consecutive rounds to close out the map, punctuated by a spectacular 1v3 clutch from Jinggg in Round 19.

Map 3: Ascent (13-5) — By the time Ascent rolled around, DRX looked mentally broken. Paper Rex's coordination was surgical, with Jinggg's Raze satchel plays creating space that the rest of the team exploited ruthlessly. The agent compositions told the story: PRX ran a dive-heavy lineup with Jett, Raze, and Fade that overwhelmed DRX's defensive holds before utility could be cycled. DRX managed just two attack rounds, their inability to trade kills efficiently leaving them in constant economic distress.

MVP: f0rsakeN

The Indonesian duelist was the clear standout of the entire tournament, averaging a 1.43 rating across the playoffs with a first-kill rate of 28.4 percent — the highest of any player in the bracket. His ability to find opening picks and create chaos is unmatched in the Pacific region, and his performances on both Jett and Neon give PRX a flexibility in the duelist role that opponents cannot plan around.

What separates f0rsakeN from other mechanically gifted duelists is his composure in high-leverage situations. Across the playoffs, he converted 71 percent of clutch rounds. "I don't think about the score," he said after the Grand Finals. "I just think about the next angle."

The PRX Machine

While f0rsakeN grabbed the headlines, Paper Rex's strength lies in the sum of their parts. Jinggg remains one of the most explosive entry fraggers in the world, his Raze play combining raw mechanics with creative utility usage. d4v41's controller play has elevated significantly this season, his smokes and flashes consistently enabling his teammates' aggression while denying opponents crucial information. mindfreak, the quiet anchor, posted the highest Average Combat Score among sentinel players in the Pacific, his Killjoy and Cypher setups providing the defensive foundation that allows the rest of the team to play with such freedom.

And then there is Benkai, the captain and IGL, whose calling has matured remarkably. His willingness to sacrifice his own stats for the team — regularly taking the most dangerous positions on retake rounds — embodies the selfless mentality that defines this roster.

What's Next: Masters Shanghai

Paper Rex have secured their spot at VCT Masters Shanghai in May, where they will face the best teams from EMEA and the Americas. With this form, they will be among the favourites to claim an international title — the one prize that has eluded this roster despite years of regional dominance.

Their previous international outings have produced memorable moments — the 2022 Copenhagen semifinal run and the 2023 Champions appearance — but a title has always slipped away against top EMEA squads. Whether this iteration of PRX, with refined tactics layered over their signature aggression, can finally break through is the question that will define their 2025 campaign.

Their journey continues in Shanghai, and Southeast Asia will be watching.