Paper Rex Overcomes “Kryptonite” Team DRX to Secure Top Seed in VCT Pacific Grand Finals
Singapore’s Paper Rex (PRX) has achieved a significant victory against their long-time rivals, DRX. After five previous attempts, PRX managed to defeat DRX in a 2-0 victory, earning them the upper seed in the upcoming VCT Pacific grand finals. This win comes as a breakthrough for PRX, who have always struggled against the Korean powerhouse team.
The Exciting Conclusion of VCT Pacific Season
The VCT Pacific season is nearing its end, with only three days remaining until the top three teams travel to Tokyo for the Masters tournament in June. As the season reaches its climax, surprises and thrilling moments continue to unfold.
PRX Shines in Dominating Fashion
In a surprising turn of events, PRX displayed a dominant performance against DRX, winning 2-0 and securing their spot as the upper seed in the VCT Pacific grand finals. This victory marks a significant milestone for PRX, as they have been unable to secure a single win against DRX in the past three years.
A Historic Rivalry
The rivalry between PRX and DRX dates back to 2020 when they first competed against each other in the Royal SEA Cup. Since then, they have faced off in Masters Berlin 2021 and Masters Reykjavík 2022. Following the franchising of the VCT leagues, they became frequent opponents in VCT Pacific.
Despite their intense rivalry, players from both teams maintain a friendly relationship. However, PRX has always struggled against DRX, making this recent victory all the more significant.
A Dominant Performance
In the upper bracket match of the VCT Pacific League, PRX showcased their strength. The match started as usual, with both teams evenly matched. However, PRX took control during their attack side and completely overwhelmed DRX, securing a 13-5 victory in the Fracture map.
In the following map, Bind, PRX utilized an innovative strategy by assigning their duelist player, something, to the agent Reyna. Despite Reyna’s rarity in the VCT, something’s individual skills and aggressive playstyle proved to be a perfect fit. PRX outmaneuvered DRX in every corner of the map, even silencing MaKo, regarded as one of the best controller players in the world.
A Glimpse of DRX’s Weakness
For the first time in 2023, DRX’s vulnerabilities were exposed on a larger scale. Although they had dropped a few maps during the VCT Pacific regular season, PRX’s ability to read and counter their strategies was unprecedented. DRX players also made uncharacteristic mistakes, raising concerns they will address before the Masters tournament.
The Path to Masters Tokyo
Both PRX and DRX have secured their spots in the Masters Tokyo tournament. However, PRX’s dominant performance may have given teams from the Americas and EMEA regions a blueprint to defeat DRX. DRX will now face the winner of the lower bracket match between T1 and Gen.G for a chance to advance to the grand finals.
With their victory over their long-standing rivals, PRX enters the grand finals with confidence as the top seed.