Paper Rex sets up an upper bracket semifinal match-up against LOUD at VCT Champions 2023.
VCT Pacific League champions, Paper Rex showed just why they are one of the favourites after dismantling FUT Esports to send them to the lower bracket. That win extends PRX's undefeated streak to three and sets up an upper bracket semifinal showdown against LOUD, who took down Fnatic earlier today.
Ascent was the map of choice in the first match, which was chosen by FUT. However, it was PRX who started the map off by taking the pistol round. FUT would immediately respond by winning the thrifty and the subsequent round after that. PRX replied by taking two rounds of their own before FUT got a hold of the game and went on a six-round winning streak.
PRX would take the last round before the half, which placed them at a 4-8 disadvantage. But a halftime team talk was all the Pacific League champs needed to take the pistol round while on the defensive and then proceeded to take the next three rounds in a row to tie things up, which was won courtesy of a Reyna ace from Ilya "something" Petrov.
FUT only scored two rounds in the second half after PRX managed to mount a comeback to take the first map. Game two was on Pearl, a map that PRX was 2-0 with at VCT Champions 2023. And the first half was a perfect example on why Pearl is one of their best maps as PRX went to put on a show with 10 straight round wins in a row.
The Turkish finally got themselves on the board in the 11th round before PRX pulled one back before the break to make it 11-1. PRX once again took the pistol round from FUT, which placed them on match point to take the second match in a near-flawless fashion. But FUT had other plans, being able to win the next three rounds to give the NA crowd something to cheer for. But alas, FUT did not have much in the tank to hold off PRX for that much longer, eventually crumbling in the 17th and final round.
FUT now drops down to the lower bracket where they will face up against Fnatic, who lost to LOUD in a shock 2-0 defeat earlier today. As for Paper Rex, they will head to the upper bracket semifinal where they will face LOUD for the first time ever.
