Mark Daniel Demayo

Paper Rex eliminates Kiwoom DRX in 2026 VCT Pacific: Stage 1 playoffs lower bracket

Article (news)

Mark Demayo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778488918628690640757_1012982191669953_4063042847000054559_n (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Paper Rex&#x27;s Ilya &quot;something&quot; Petrov and Adrian &quot;invy&quot; Reyes after defeating Kiwoom DRX in the 2026 VCT Pacific: Stage 1 playoffs in Seoul, South Korea. VCT Pacific/Handout</div>MANILA -- Paper Rex got past the first hurdle in the 2026 VCT Pacific: Stage 1 lower bracket by eliminating Kiwoom DRX, 2-1. The boys of W Gaming survive the latest -<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2026/5/3/paper-rex-sweeps-kiwoom-drx-to-get-first-seed-in-2026-vct-pacific-stage-1-playoffs-2141">RX derby</a> and are one match away from reaching their latest international VCT event, VALORANT Masters: London.PRX previously lost the chance to qualify earlier after losing the Pinoy representatives rematch against <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2026/5/8/global-esports-upsets-paper-rex-to-qualify-for-valorant-masters-london-2014">Global Esports</a>, featuring ex-PRX fragger Patrick &quot;PatMen&quot; Mendoza and rookie in-game leader Xavier &quot;xavi8k&quot; Juan.In Ascent, PRX won the pistol, anti-eco, and bonus rounds, but KRX responded with a five-round win streak to overtake. PRX managed to even out the score by the end of the first half at 6-6.PRX continued their momentum through the second half with four rounds before KRX logged a point. After three rounds and a point to KRX in between, PRX steals KRX&#x27;s map pick at 13-8.Breeze was an initial back and forth between the two squads before KRX went off with six rounds to close the half at 3-9. PRX could not catch up as they only scraped two rounds in the second half before KRX took the series to the decider with a 5-13 score.But as the series went to Split, PRX put on a masterclass as they only allowed KRX to take a single round throughout the first half. PRX carried on the momentum to the second half and knocked out KRX at 13-1.Khalish &quot;d4v41&quot; Rusyaidee led PRX on the board with 46 kills, 26 deaths, and 7 assists while on Vyse and Viper.With the win, PRX punches the last ticket to the Finals Weekend, joining Global Esports, FULL SENSE, and T1, in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam for the second VCT Pacific event to be held <a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/esports/2025/9/1/paper-rex-rises-with-vct-pacific-stage-2-title-in-all-sea-finals-in-japan-0204">outside South Korea</a>.PRX will face off with T1 to decide who will take the last slot of Pacific for Masters: London on May 15.

The boys of W Gaming survive the latest -RX derby and are one match away from reaching their latest international VCT event, VALORANT Masters: London.

The boys of W Gaming survive the latest -RX derby and are one match away from reaching their latest international VCT event, VALORANT Masters: London.