Image: Riot Games
While Paper Rex were favoured by many as last year's runners-up, G2 staked their claim as the bigger title contender this year.
While VALORANT Champions 2024 is still just in the opening round of its Group Stage, it has already produced one of the most dramatic upsets we've seen in the 2024 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT). VCT Americas league #2 seed G2 Esports pulled off an unexpected 2-0 sweep over VALORANT Champions 2023 runners-up Paper Rex in the first Opening Match of Group D on Sunday (August 4).
G2 and Paper Rex were seeded into Group D alongside China's EDward Gaming (EDG) and EMEA's FUT Esports. As the Americas' #2 seed, G2 were pitted against Paper Rex, who were only the #3 seed for the Pacific region.
Paper Rex was, on paper, the favoured team in this matchup. Not only were they last year's runners-up, but they were also one of only two teams to defeat this year's consensus best team, Gen.G Esports, during the Pacific league's Stage 1 Playoff grand finals. While Gen.G didn't manage to reach the top step of any regional and international tournaments they competed in this season, they did have momentum coming into this year's VALORANT Champions after a second place finish in the Americas Stage 2 Playoffs.
G2 soundly sweeps Paper Rex
G2 came out swinging to start the series by winning the first two rounds of game one in Icebox as the attacker side. However, Paper Rex responded by winning four of the next five rounds to lead 4-3 after round 7. But G2 proved this was their series to win after they five-straight rounds to close the first half.
Paper Rex looked to make a comeback by winning the first three rounds of the second half to get within 7-8, though G2 were quick to shut them down by winning four straight to reach match point at 12-7 after round 19. While Paper Rex managed to take round 20, G2 surgically closed out the map up 13-8.
Nathan “leaf” Orf led the way for G2 in Icebox as Killjoy with 21 kills and six assists against 14 deaths. Jacob “valyn” Batio on Harbor also pitched in with 17 kills and eight assists on a map-best 13 deaths.
G2 carried their momentum from Icebox into game two at Lotus, where they won six-straight rounds as the defender side before Paper Rex could answer. The first half then closed with three-straight G2 rounds followed by two-straight from Paper Rex, which gave the North American team a commanding 9-3 lead by halftime.
Paper Rex showed signs of life in the second half by winning five of the first seven rounds to trim G2's lead down to 11-8. Both teams then traded the next two rounds as G2 got within match point but with Paper Rex still within arms reach, but G2 could not be denied as they closed out the 2-0 series sweep in 22 rounds.
Trent “trent” Cairns was the tip of the spear for G2 in game two as Fade, notching 20 kills and 10 assists on 15 deaths. Jacob “icy” Lange also put up strong numbers as Raze with 18 kills and one assist against 14 deaths.
With their victory, G2 advanced to Group D's Winners Match, where they will face the winner of the other Opening Match between EDG and FUT for the first of two spots in the Playoffs available in the group. Paper Rex still have a chance to take that second Playoff spot, though it will be an uphill battle for them that will start in the Group D Elimination Match against the loser of the EDG-FUT match.
