Paper Rex wins the VCT APAC Stage-1 Challengers and is joined by runner up Xerxia Esports in qualifying for the Reykjavik Masters.
Both teams will now go to Iceland to compete in the VCT Stage-1 Masters Reykjavik to represent the APAC region. The competition will begin on April 10, 2022, and will conclude on April 24, 2022.
VCT 2022 APAC Challengers: Recap
Paper Rex won the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) APAC Stage-1 Challengers after overcoming Thailand's Xerxia Esports in a nail-biting Grand Finals match today. The Singaporean team won the best-of-five series 3-2.
Paper Rex and Xerxia Esports were two of the most consistent teams in the APAC Stage-1 Challengers and advanced to the Grand Finals. As a result, the Grand Finals were intense and bloody, and spectators watched one of the most breathtaking matches of the region.
Paper Rex won the first game on Fracture, defeating XERXIA 13-4. In the first half, Khalish "d4v41" Rusyaidee and Jason "f0rsakeN" Susanto effortlessly picked off the Thai squad as they broke down XERXIA during post-plant circumstances. XERXIA attempted to replicate what Paper Rex did in the first half, but was unable to do so.
VCT 2022 APAC Challengers: The Grand Finals
In the Grand Finals, the two teams squared off in a best-of-five series. None of them were willing to concede an inch without a struggle. For both teams, the series has been a challenge. Paper Rex gained the series lead after winning the first map, Fracture, with a 13-4 score, but Xerxia Esports quickly tied the score by winning the second game, Split, with a 13-8 score.
XERXIA won Game 2 by a score of 13-8, eager to go back on Paper Rex. XERXIA's early defence was strong, forcing Paper Rex to take timeouts in Rounds 7 and 20. The game finished with a spectacular clutch from Nutchaphon "sScary" Matarat, who grabbed four kills, the last two with barely 30 HP, taking out Aaron "mindfreak" Leonhart on B Heaven with excellent crosshair placement and f0rsakeN on A site with immaculate peeking.
Paper Rex regained the lead by winning the third game on Icebox with a 13-6 scoreboard, but Xerxia Esports answered by winning the fourth round on Breeze (13-11) by a narrow margin. It all boiled down to Haven's last map. Paper Rex did not make any mistakes and won the series with a 13-8 score.
Paper Rex made a record by winning every game in the event with this victory. It will go undefeated in the VCT APAC Stage-1 Playoffs before representing the region on the world stage.
The last game of the APAC Stage-1 Challengers provided fans with an end-to-end battle. Paper Rex claimed the title and the lion's share of the stunning $150,000 prizepool with this victory. Meanwhile, Xerxia Esports finished second in the event.
It would be intriguing to see whether they can repeat their results at the Reykjavik Masters.
