VCT Champions 2025 in Paris has arrived, and it kicks off with the Masters of Toronto Paper Rex (PRX) hoping to start their journey to the playoffs, but before they start, they will have to go up against Xi La Gaming (XLG).
PRX and XLG have only faced each other once, and it was at the Hero Esports Asian Champions League in May. On January 15, 2025, it was PRX who got the win in a 2-0 Victory.
The Chinese team hoped to even out the score against the Pacific champions.
In map one, the two teams would face each other on Bind, XLG’s map pick.
This season, XLG had a 3-1 record with a 75 per cent win rate, while PRX had a 5-1 record with an 83 per cent win rate.
The first half would be an exciting back-and-forth affair as both teams would exchange rounds, and by the end of the first half, they would be tied at 6-6 with PRX’s in-game lead (IGL) f0rsakeN being the leader between the two teams with 14 kills, 4 deaths and 7 assists.
Heading into the second half, XLG would try to mount a comeback, unfortunately, with little effort, as the Paper Rex Express would run through the XLG and gain the first win in the match.
After losing Bind, XLG would try to rally together and take on PRX on their map pick on Sunset.
PRX had an 8-2 record on Sunet with an 80 per cent win rate, while XLG had a 3-4 record with a 43 per cent win rate this season.
Paper Rex came into this match with a strong record, and it showed as they dominated the first half with an 8-4 lead with PRX’s Something with 8 kills, 3 deaths and 3 assists.
Going into the second half, Paper Rex would be on the defence and dominate the half, closing out the match with a 13-5 win.
Map MVP would go to f0rsakeN again with 23 kills, 12 deaths, 4 assists, and he would take match MVP with a total of 40 kills, 23 deaths, 21 assists.
With a win under their belt, Paper Rex starts their journey to the playoffs.
If they get another win, they will advance to the playoffs.
As for Xi La Gaming, they will need to fight tooth and nail if they want to reach the playoffs by winning two games in a row.
Paper Rex will face the winners of Sentinels vs GiantX, and whoever loses will be in the first elimination match against XLG.