Paper Rex Breaks the Curse, Wins First International Trophy at VALORANT Masters Toronto

Credit: Paper Rex (PRX)

Paper Rex (PRX) has finally done it. After years of coming close but falling just short, the Pacific squad has claimed its first international VALORANT trophy by defeating Fnatic 3-1 in the Masters Toronto Grand Final.

The win didn’t just mark a title—it broke the “second-place curse” that had haunted PRX for far too long. This time, they weren’t just contenders. They were champions.

The Finale Showdown

Sunset: PRX Pushes Back Early Comeback Hopes

The match kicked off on Sunset, where PRX had the upper hand right from the map veto stage. They banned out Haven and Ascent and took Fnatic to Sunset—one of PRX’s strongest picks and historically a shaky one for Fnatic. To be fair, Fnatic did surprise everyone with a solid start, grabbing the pistol round and putting up a decent defense.

But once PRX found their rhythm, they stormed through with eight rounds in a row on attack. Fnatic tried to rally in the second half with a slower, more calculated approach, but PRX wasn’t having it. With some slick Sage wall plays, they closed out the map 13-11, denying Fnatic any shot at overtime.

One of the key players during Sunset was f0rsaken, who consistently delivered impactful plays and led PRX’s scoreboard.

Icebox: Fnatic Fights Back in Overtime

Moving on to Icebox, it was Fnatic’s turn to fire back. After a quiet showing on Sunset, kaajak came alive with 11 opening kills, helping Fnatic stabilize after a rough 6-6 attack half. PRX had clearly done their homework and looked ready for Sage shenanigans, but they couldn't fully stop Fnatic’s post-plant setups.

As the game went into overtime, things got a little messy—some hero plays, some questionable decisions, and a whole lot of nerves. In the end, kaajak delivered again, and Fnatic edged out the win 17-15, tying the series.

Pearl: PRX Flips the Script

Pearl, usually a perma-ban for Fnatic, turned out to be surprisingly competitive. They even ended the first half with a 7-5 lead thanks to Alfajer making plays on Neon. But PRX adapted fast in the second half, shifting the momentum with clean macro plays and better reads.

And then came Jinggg, causing chaos with the Judge in ways only he can. He dismantled Fnatic’s setups one by one, helping PRX steal the map 13-10, much to the disappointment of EMEA fans.

Lotus: The Grand Finish

The final battleground, Lotus, was chaotic in all the best ways. PRX won the pistol, Fnatic pulled off a thrifty, and both sides kept trading blows. Surprisingly, it was Fnatic—usually the slower team—who found success with faster site hits, borrowing a page from PRX’s own playbook.

But PRX wasn’t about to let the win slip. They kept their cool, pushed to match point, and although Fnatic managed to force overtime, PRX closed it out in classic fashion. A 2v4 clutch post-plant hold sealed the map 14-12, and with it, the championship.

f0rsaken Takes MVP

Across the series, f0rsaken was a force. He ended with a combined 81/75 K/D and an ACS of 223, earning himself the Masters Toronto MVP title and the iconic bracelet.

Massive Viewership

According to Esports Charts, the Grand Final peaked at 1.104 million viewers, excluding Chinese platforms—yet another reminder that VALORANT continues to draw a global crowd.

What’s Next for VALORANT Esports?

With Masters Toronto wrapped, the focus now shifts to VCT Stage 2, kicking off next month. It’s the last big chance for teams to qualify for VALORANT Champions, the year’s most important event.