It is make or break now in VCT Champions Paris 2025 as Paper Rex (PRX) faces GIANTX for a playoff spot.
These two teams have never faced each other before, so there was nothing to expect from either of these teams.
Going into this match, GIANTX would get the first map pick of the match.
GIANTX chose Ascent as the first map.
They had a winning record on Ascent, 5-4, with a win rate of 56 per cent.
On the other hand, PRX had a losing record of 7-4 with a win rate of 36 per cent.
GIANTX would start on the defence, and PRX would go on the attack.
PRX would start the match with a 6-4 lead, with the first three rounds going to PRX, then GIANTX going on a swift 4-round streak, before PRX would take the next three in easy succession.
The final two rounds of the half would be a trade between the two teams as they won both rounds by elimination, ending the half with a 7-5 lead from Paper Rex.
PRX’s Something would be leading in the half with 14 kills and 7 deaths.
Going into the second half, both teams would switch sides, and GIANTX would dominate in the second half.
GIANTX would go on an 8-4 round win streak after the switch, with PRX only winning just four rounds sporadically.
GIANTX would take map one 13-11, with Ara taking map MVP for his team with 26 kills, 14 deaths and 3 assists.
PRX almost caught up but couldn’t mount a comeback in time, but they would feel a little better as they went into the second map.
For the second map, PRX would choose Lotus.
PRX chose this map because this season they’ve had a successful season playing in Lotus with a record of 18-5 and a win rate of 78 per cent.
Additionally, Paper Rex would win VCT Masters Toronto on Lotus.
GIANTX wouldn’t break even on Lotus this season as they had a win rate of 45 per cent and a record of 5-6.
Paper Rex goes into Lotus with confidence, knowing that they have a game plan that is favourable on Lotus.
PRX would start on the attacking side, and GIANTX would be on the defensive side.
Paper Rex would start the first half dominating with an 8-4 half, showing how confident they were on Lotus.
D4v41 would be leading PRX in the half with 14 kills, 4 deaths and 3 assists.
In the second half, both teams would switch, and GIANTX started to build momentum for a comeback, but PRX would bring it to match point.
Now at 12-10, GIANTX would battle for control on A site.
Most of the fight would happen outside of A site’s door, while GIANTX’s Flickless was able to plant a spike.
PRX would have the advantage as it was a four-versus-three matchup, and PRX’s PatMen and Jinggg would clean house and defuse spike for the win, bringing it to 13-10.
Something would take map MVP with 23 kills, 14 deaths and 6 assists.
With the series tied at one each, both teams would head to the decider map on Sunset.
GIANTX would have a winning record of 6-2 with a win rate of 35 per cent, but Paper Rex would have the better record with 9-2 and a win rate of 82 per cent.
PRX would be on the attack and GIANTX would be on the defence.
The first half would be a close match with PRX taking a 6-2 lead, pushing the pressure on GIANTX’s defence.
To close out the first half, GIANTX would have a 3-1 streak to bring the match to 7-5.
Jinggg this time would be the one to lead PRX with 14 kills, 8 deaths and an assist.
They would switch sides in the second half, and Paper Rex’s defence on Sunset would prove to be too hard for GIANTX to penetrate as they went on a 6-1 round win streak, securing the win and taking the match 13-6.
PRX’s Something would take match MVP with a total stat line of 63 kills, 41 deaths and 18 assists.
The Masters of Toronto Paper Rex would move on to the Playoffs, the first team to qualify.
GIANTX would fall to the losers' stage, where they await the winner of Xi Lai Gaming versus Sentinels.