Paper Rex stomped the defending Champions as they secured the top 4 spot.
Paper Rex secured the top 4 spot after a nail-biting matchup against the defending champions, LOUD. This is the fifth time Paper Rex secured top 4 at a global event.
Paper Rex came in the event as a heavy fan-favorite with their unique and eclectic playstyle. They are known for pulling off and succeeding with never-before-seen agent combinations.
Paper Rex kicked off the game with a double controller and double duelist lineup in Lotus. They dictated the pace after they won the pistol round and the enemy’s bonus round. LOUD retaliated in the third round but not before Paper Rex chipped into their economy. It was an expensive round for LOUD but they succeeded to secure their first round win.
Paper Rex picked up an early Operator for Ilya "something" Petrov and they were able to make the most value out of it. However, LOUD punished Paper Rex for their questionable decisions and they converted it to more round wins.
The first half eventually ended with a 7-5 score in favor of LOUD. The team stretched their advantage when the side switched and pushed the game to 9-5. Thanks to an insane clutch from something, Paper Rex were able to secure a crucial round.
Paper Rex seemed to find their footing as they pushed to overtime. LOUD chalked up the first win but Paper Rex were prepared for the onslaught. They took three back-to-back round wins to close out the game in their name.
The second game was a walk in the park for LOUD despite Split being Paper Rex’s map pick. LOUD were very disciplined in their attacks and waited for Paper Rex to make mistakes.
The patience paid off as they converted the round wins to a huge deficit. Indeed, LOUD’s response to the overtime loss left Paper Rex catatonic.
LOUD continued to show their sheer dominance as they ended the first half with a 10-2 score. Paper Rex lost the pistol round during the switch. This boosted LOUD’s confidence to end the game with a massive score advantage.
This is the first time Paper Rex dropped a map during their entire tournament run at VALORANT Champions 2023.
Paper Rex bounced back during the decider match in Pearl. After losing the pistol round, all players bought stinger and the risky play paid off. LOUD were overwhelmed with the aggressive attack and Paper Rex were able to snatch up the round win. Fans went wild as Paper Rex took the lead in the first half.
The firepower continued as Paper Rex drew out the initial rounds to maintain the upper hand. The team moved to double digits with their well-executed retakes.
LOUD retaliated with three round wins to lessen the deficit. However, Paper Rex denied them the chance to push to overtime. The team sealed the deal with a 13-10 score and secured the top 4.
Paper Rex will face Evil Geniuses in the upper bracket finals. The winner will take the first grand finals ticket and secure at least $400,000.
