Jinggg set for competitive return with Paper Rex

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The VCT Pacific League Stage 1 cannot start any sooner as Jinggg will make his competitive return with Paper Rex.

Off the backs of yet another stellar top-three performance on the international stage, Paper Rex have wasted no time in getting its starting line-up in order as Wang "Jinggg" Jing Jie is set to make his competitive return to the team. However, this also meant that Cahya "Monyet" Nugraha has been moved to the reserve player role, or the sixth man spot on the squad.

The news was first announced on Paper Rex's Twitter/X where it mentioned that Jinggg will be returning for the first split of the upcoming VCT Pacific League, which is set to begin from April 6th until May 12th. Coming from Singapore, Jinggg was supposed to attend compulsory military service after the conclusion of the 2023 season. However, there have been new developments since then that has allowed Jinggg to make a comeback.

We were always prepared for the time that Jing Jie would have to register for his military service. Plans to keep our VALORANT roster’s competitive edge began as early as the start of 2023. However, we consider ourselves extremely fortunate that recent developments allow Jing Jie to continue competing on our team. Naturally, we’re ecstatic and are working to ensure Jing Jie’s documents and paperwork are in order to get him back in the game as soon as possible.
— Harley “dsn” Örvall, Chief Gaming Officer (CGO), Paper Rex

It has since been revealed that due to a life-long medical condition that is managed with ongoing treatment, Jinggg is considered medically unfit for his military service. This came about during the medical examinations that occurred after the conclusion of last season when he returned to Singapore to enlist. Of course, his medical condition is first and foremost, a personal and private matter and will be treated as such.

With that said, PRX has also determined that his medical condition does not affect his ability to compete at the highest level of esports, or in his case, VALORANT. And with the recent developments, Jinggg has also recently signed a contract renewal that will see him stay with PRX until the end of the 2026 season.

Paper Rex's New Roster

Given Jinggg's return to the starting line-up, Monyet has since been moved to the reserve role. PRX have been known to shuffle its rosters around but with its latest iteration, it was most noticeable during the AfreecaTV VALORANT League during the off-season just a few months ago. This was also around the time when Monyet first joined the team and Jinggg had yet started on his military service.

With all six players available, PRX was able to field a completely different starting line-up for each map in all five series that they played during the tournament. This not only allowed for better experimentations of different comps and strategies, but also for flexibility in roles, something that PRX mentioned was part of its competitive DNA.

And with the VCT Pacific League Stage 1 right around the corner, this could be the perfect time for the team to find its groove again. While PRX did finish in the top-three of yet another international VCT tournament, many have noted how inconsistent the team was during Masters Madrid. Even the team's head coach, Alexandre “alecks” Sallé has spoken of the team's performances during the tournament, citing its roster change and adjusting to new roles and play styles as one of the main reasons.

But now with Jinggg back in the mix, PRX can now try to challenge Gen.G Esports for the top spot in VCT Pacific once more. The Korean team have been the in-form team from the region since the start of the season, having clinched its first-ever trophy in the VCT Pacific Kickoff as well as a first-runner up at Masters Madrid.