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The VCT Pacific Leagues 2023 concluded after players competed in a grueling match of skills and wits. The three teams to qualify for the VCT Masters Tokyo 2023 have already been decided. These three teams are DRX, Paper Rex & T1. The form of these teams has been consistent throughout this season, and after tough battles, they received their qualifications. The playoffs have been ongoing for around 10 days now. However, the VCT Pacific Leagues have finally concluded the grand finals.
The Grand Final match was against the last VCT Champions’ 3rd runner-up, DRX, against the 9th runner-up Paper Rex. After an intense, over-the-top match of wits, skills, and extremely precisive gameplay, Paper Rex turned the tide against DRX and claimed the crown of victory. The match was a best out of 5 maps, and Paper Rex’s performance on the initial maps wasn’t up to the mark. However, lived up to the expectations and won this modern-day reenactment of the Battle of Thermopylae.
On the initial two maps, DRX had the lead against PRX. Paper Rex fans had given up all hope of the team winning. However, the players proved the worth of all their training and skills and overtook DRX. The game was a spectacle in its own terms, with both teams crawling their way through thick and thin to claim the title of victors.
Related: VCT Masters 2023: Evil Geniuses defies all odds and books their ticket for Tokyo
Paper Rex’s hard-fought victory against DRX
The Grand Finals of the VCT Pacific Leagues 2023 was held and concluded on 28th May. The participating teams were DRX vs Paper Rex. Moreover, in comparison to the previous matches in this playoff bracket, which there best out of 3, this match was a best out of 5 instead. This format gave time to both teams to adapt to their opponent’s strategies and capitalize on their weaknesses. The map picks of this match were as follows:
- Fracture: Picked by Paper Rex
- Ascent: Picked by DRX
- Lotus: Picked by Paper Rex
- Pearl: Picked by DRX
- Bind: Tiebreaker Map
The match continued until the tiebreaker map, Bind, and Paper Rex, came out on top to win the game with a score of 3-2. It was a very nerve-wracking and interesting match as DRX won the initial two maps. This set PRX back by two points and put them under the guillotine as DRX just needed to register one more win to take home the final trophy. But instead of succumbing to the pressure, Paper Rex used it as fuel to win the remaining three maps and claim the trophy for themselves.
First Map: Fracture (Paper Rex Pick)
Paper Rex picked this map but the map fell in the advantage of DRX instead. PRX started off on the defending side, while DRX got the attack instead. PRX took the pistol round; however, that was it for them. Throughout the 12 rounds of the first half, PRX managed only to win three. The rest 9 rounds went to DRX instead. Fans chanted the popular Valorant meta, the “9-3” curse, but that did little to no aid for PRX. DRX ended the match with a score of 13-6.
From the DRX side, Zest, who played the initiator agent, Fade, dropped the most frags. While on the PRX side, d4v41, playing the sentinel agent, Killjoy, tried his best to support his teams with the most frags, but it didn’t win them the match. After this miserable loss, both teams went on to the second map.
Second Map: Ascent (DRX Pick)
The match on this map was very intensive. Both the teams didn’t give each other any leeway and continued to win rounds over rounds alternatively. PRX performance on this map was actually splendid. PRX started off as attackers, while DRX got defenders. The first half and even the second half, both ended in a tie, 6-6 & 12-12 respectively. However, DRX won the map in the overtime rounds and ended the game with a score of 16-14.
This time Buzz dropped the most frags from the DRX side, and Something from the PRX side tried his best. These players both were playing duelist and tried to top each other over and over again, with Buzz taking the win. PRX fans were really tense after this map win and didn’t know whether PRX would win the game or not.
Third Map: Lotus (Paper Rex Pick)
Well, this map, there’s nothing much to say about it. This was way too one-sided. PRX decimated DRX with a winning score of 13-3. The three-round wins by DRX were only claimed in the first half, while PRX perfectly cleared the second half. PRX’s duelist player Jingg dropped the most frags, while DRX’s player RB got the most frag but still wasn’t enough to tilt the match in their favor. The teams moved on to the fourth map, Pearl.
Fourth Map: Pearl (DRX Pick)
Considering this map was a DRX pick, fans were sure the team would win the map and then the whole game. But the reality was entirely different. PRX once again overwhelmed DRX on their own map pick. But this was map actually when a bit close, but still PRX won by a margin of 13-8. The map was quite intense. Something once again dropped the most frags while DRX’s Mako tried to hold out but failed. After PRX won this map, fans took a sign of relief, as hope was once again created.
Fifth & Deciding Map: Bind (Tiebreaker Map)
PRX won, no questions asked. They crushed DRX by a lengthy margin. PRX’s performance on this map was spectacular. The winning score was 13-6, with DRX winning only three rounds in the first half.
Also, fans and other pro players & teams’ reactions were quite pleasant over this:
Congratz. Let make noise togather in Tokyo.
— DRX Buddha (@BuddhaJPN) May 28, 2023
Congratulations!!!
— Een (@eenmercado) May 28, 2023
Incredible run 🫶
— Team Secret (@teamsecret) May 28, 2023
Unreal comeback 😳
— Gamesense.gg (@Gamesense_gg) May 28, 2023
This match showed why PRX was the runner-up of VCT Main Event 2022. After this map, PRX Something was crowned as the match MVP of the Grand Finale of VCT Pacific Leagues, and the team won the prize of $250,000. The sheer dedication from PRX is commendable, as they were able to register such a glorious comeback. This game would’ve been in DRX’s bag, but they fumbled and gave way to PRX’s first Valorant Champions Tour trophy. The entire game was very spectacular and intense and also made the Grand Finale of the VCT Pacific Leagues 2023 one to remember.
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