Mark Daniel Demayo

Paper Rex takes out Team Heretics in VALORANT Champions Paris in first lower bracket hurdle

Article (news)

Mark Demayo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175921407119920250930 PRX.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Paper Rex react onstage at VALORANT Champions Paris Playoffs Stage Day 5 at Les Arènes de Grand Paris Sud on September 29, 2025 in Paris, France. Colin Young-Wolff, Riot GamesPaper Rex lives to fight another day in their VALORANT Champions Paris campaign after knocking out Team Heretics out of the tournament.</div>The W Gaming squad denied the comeback attempt from the 2024 Champions Seoul runners-up at 2-1, shaking off the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/9/29/paper-rex-drops-to-lower-bracket-valorant-champions-paris-semis-1412">heartbreaking loss dealt by FNATIC</a> in the upper bracket semifinals the previous day. This is also the second time PRX has defeated Heretics this year, having previously done so in a dominant fashion during the opening salvo of the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/6/8/paper-rex-steamrolls-team-heretics-in-valorant-masters-toronto-opener-1447">VALORANT Masters Toronto</a>.In Ascent, Heretics initially took off by taking five straight rounds and allowing PRX only four rounds to end the half at 8-4. The VCT Pacific Stage 2 champs woke up in the second half by taking two rounds as Heretics took one and eventually closed out the map at 13-10.Bind went in the way of PRX in the first half, showing their control in their map pick to end the half at 7-5. But Heretics showed their hand in the map as well in the second half, limiting PRX to only two rounds to bring the series to a decider at 9-13.Lotus was off to a rough start for PRX at 1-4. After a timeout call, the PRX train took off and sped to wrap up the series at 13-4.They redeem the map after their disastrous loss in the same decider against FNATIC the previous day by letting the EMEA squad win ten straight rounds, leading to the victory despite a 9-3 lead in the early half. The duo of veteran Khalish &quot;d4v41&quot; Rusyaidee and Pinoy rookie Patrick &quot;PatMen&quot; Mendoza stepped up in the decider map, racking up 17 and 15 kills, 10 and 8 deaths, and 2 and 11 assists, respectively.With the win, PRX secured a spot in the top four teams that will compete in the Accor Arena finals alongside FNATIC, VCT Americas squad NRG, and fellow VCT Pacific team, DRX.However, there will only be one Pacific squad standing during the finals weekend as PRX will face off with DRX, who are on a Cinderella run due to their chance-based entry to Champions and their gauntlet run so far against heavy favorites such as Team Liquid, G2, and darkhorse MIBR.The VCT Pacific El Clasico between PRX and DRX is scheduled on October 3, estimated at 10pm Manila time.

Paper Rex lives to fight another day in their VALORANT Champions Paris campaign after knocking out Team Heretics out of the tournament.

Paper Rex lives to fight another day in their VALORANT Champions Paris campaign after knocking out Team Heretics out of the tournament.