Mark Daniel Demayo

Article (news)

Paper Rex uncrowned kings no more after taking VALORANT Masters Toronto crown

Mark Demayo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175064070204320250623-PRX.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Paper Rex lift the trophy onstage after winning the championship at VALORANT Masters Toronto Grand Finals on June 22, 2025 at the Enercare Centre in Toronto, Canada. Stefan Wisnoski, Riot Games  </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Track by track to their long awaited crown!  </p><p>Paper Rex completed the journey to their first global VCT trophy as the VALORANT Masters Toronto champions against 2023 back-to-back kings FNATIC, 3-1, in the grand finals.</p><p>Third time is the charm as the win broke their second-place streak in previous grand finals appearances in 2022 Masters Copenhagen and 2023 VALORANT Champions Los Angeles.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:560px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1936907542933696867&amp;lang=en&amp;maxWidth=560px&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-06-23T02%3A03%3A23.570176%3A978eee7d-da9d-4e13-b990-20d1f3b67e4d%26action%3Dedit%26popup&amp;sessionId=1a00353763a62ac20267d9b7aa6d064cc0beb07f&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:560px;height:316px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="1936907542933696867"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>The win also marks the return to form for the W Gaming squad after a rough 2024 season and a rough start in their Kickoff and Stage 1 run. They nearly missed another Masters tournament if not for the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/5/10/valorant-paper-rex-secures-masters-toronto-slot-over-drx-1222">Cinderella run in VCT Pacific </a>with the<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/6/15/valorant-patmen-making-an-impact-in-his-first-vct-global-stage-run-1153"> addition of Pinoy rookie Patrick &quot;PatMen&quot; Mendoza</a> before Stage 1.</p><p>Throughout the tournament, with the exception of the loss to fellow VCT Pacific squad Gen.G, PRX were on a tear and have gone<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/5/10/valorant-paper-rex-secures-masters-toronto-slot-over-drx-1222"> undefeated in the playoff stage</a> leading up to the trophy win.</p><p>In Sunset, FNATIC had the early lead taking the first four rounds. After a timeout in the third round, PRX retaliated and overtook the lead with 8 straight rounds to close the half at 8-4.</p><p>The second half saw FNATIC regain the lead by one after taking the pistol, anti-eco, and a four round win streak.</p><p>PRX then countered with three of their own rounds and denied the EMEA squad&#x27;s overtime attempt with Khalish &quot;d4v41&quot; Rusyaidee&#x27;s Sage Barrier Orb boost for Wang &quot;Jinggg&quot; Jie&#x27;s Raze, catching their opponents off guard and take the map at 13-11.</p><p>In Icebox, PRX this time took the initial lead with four straight rounds. FNATIC then clawed back and tied with PRX to end the half at 6-6.</p><p>FNATIC broke out of the gate in the second half with their own four round streak and a couple of rounds to bring themselves into match point. PRX then won five straight rounds to force overtime.</p><p>The end of regulation saw the two teams trading rounds until FNATIC crossed the finish line in fourth overtime with a score of 15-17.</p><p>In Pearl, FNATC held the driver&#x27;s seat with PRX close behind, but the lead remained with them to end the half at 5-7.</p><p>The pistol and anti-eco extended FNATIC&#x27;s lead in the second half, but PRX began the comeback with three straight rounds. FNATIC won one more round before PRX closed out the series with five rounds to end Pearl at 13-10.</p><p>Lotus saw PRX take the lead on the first half, but FNATIC was not far behind with a 7-5 scoreline.</p><p>FNATIC took the pistol and anti-eco rounds but PRX returned the favor with 4 four straight rounds of their own. FNATIC then won a string of 5 rounds to reach map point, but PRX once again forced overtime.</p><p>PRX closed out their series and secured their first VCT trophy behind Jason &quot;f0rsakeN&quot; Susanto and Illia &quot;something&quot; Petrov winning a two versus four clutch in their final round.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:560px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1936906953932095990&amp;lang=en&amp;maxWidth=560px&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-06-23T02%3A03%3A23.570176%3A978eee7d-da9d-4e13-b990-20d1f3b67e4d%26action%3Dedit%26popup&amp;sessionId=1a00353763a62ac20267d9b7aa6d064cc0beb07f&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:560px;height:316px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="1936906953932095990"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>The &quot;Flex God&quot; f0rsakeN on Omen, Sova, and Astra was awarded the tournament MVP bracelet with a total of 81 kills, 75 deaths, and 32 assists. PatMen contributed 67 kills, 72 deaths, and 24 assists on Viper and Fade to take home their first trophy.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil" style="width:2000px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175064127425520250623-Forsaken.jpg" style="width:2000px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">f0rsakeN of Paper Rex is named the MVP after winning the championship at VALORANT Masters Toronto Grand Finals on June 22, 2025 at the Enercare Centre in Toronto Canada. Stefan Wisnoski, Riot Games </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>PRX joins the ranks of Gen.G and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/3/3/valorant-t1-crowned-masters-bangkok-champs-in-full-series-triple-overtime-1223">T1 </a>as championship-winning teams coming from VCT Pacific.</p><p>PatMen also marks a milestone for Philippine VALORANT as he is the first home-grown Filipino player to lift a VCT trophy and made the deepest run in a global VCT event for a Filipino player since the All-Pinoy lineup of Team Secret placing 5th-8th in the 2021 <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/09/21/acend-ends-team-secrets-stellar-champions-berlin-run">VALORANT Champions Berlin.</a> </p><p>PRX will see action once again during Stage 2 of the VCT 2025: Pacific and the Esports World Cup this July. </p>

<p> Paper Rex completed the journey to their first global VCT trophy as the VALORANT Masters Toronto champions against 2023 back-to-back kings FNATIC, 3-1, in the grand finals.</p>

Paper Rex completed the journey to their first global VCT trophy as the VALORANT Masters Toronto champions against 2023 back-to-back kings FNATIC, 3-1, in the grand finals.