Paper Rex Struts Onto the Valorant Masters Stage: From De‑BTS to Champions
When the Valorant Masters finals rolled into Copenhagen on July 24, it was Paper‑Rex (PRX) that showed Southeast Asia isn’t just a dead‑beat relic—it’s a hunting dinosaur, hungry and thriving.
Top‑Tier Clash: PRX vs. FunPlus Phoenix
PRX snared a sizzling second place, the very first time a Southeast‑Asian squad snagged that spot. The Masters circuit, stitched into Riot Games’ Valorant Champions Tour, pits global teams for a shot at the ultimate Champions tournament.
Commentator Jess Bolden blew the whistle on the AFC region’s first-ever tournament‑final appearance, calling it “unreal.” PRX, known for a “controlled chaos” approach, delivered a high‑octane spectacle. In stark contrast, FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) kept their cool, patiently baiting PRX into over‑extends and then sweeping them away.
Map‑by‑Map Breakdown
- Bind: FPX rolled over PRX 13‑3, showcasing their methodical play.
- Icebox: PRX bounced back with a 13‑7 win; Singaporean ace Wang “Jinggg” Jingjie scored a full‑round solo.
- Fracture: A back‑and‑forth duel ended 13‑7 for FPX.
- Haven: PRX leveled the match at 1‑1.
- Breeze: The final showdown. FPX’s Dmitry “Suygetsu” Ilyushin struck 4 kills in the 10th point, sealing a 13‑9 win.
What’s a near‑miss? PRX came close—the 10th point on Breeze still had them fighting. But they stay chug‑chug‑chugingly optimistic.
Captain’s Kudos
Team captain Benedict “Benkai” Tan (25) shrugged off the narrow loss, bragging that they’d exceeded their own expectations. He’s still hustling that Southeast‑Asian dream: “We came from a region usually seen as minor, but we’ve shown it’s not so.”
PRX had previously landed a fourth place finish at the April Masters Reykjavik before now. Next up? The world’s biggest Champions event in Istanbul this September.
