VCT 2026 Pacific League Results

Paper Rex Crowned VCT 2026 Pacific League Champions After Thrilling Grand Final

The Singaporean juggernaut capped off a dominant Pacific League season with a 3-1 victory over DRX in the Grand Final, punching their ticket to Masters Shanghai and sending Southeast Asia into a frenzy.

It was the roar heard from Orchard Road to Manila Bay. Paper Rex, the beloved homegrown roster that has become the beating heart of Southeast Asian Valorant, clinched the VCT 2026 Pacific League title on Saturday, May 17, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India. In front of a sold-out crowd of 8,000 fans and over 1.4 million peak concurrent viewers across Pacific broadcast channels, PRX dismantled South Korea's DRX in a four-map thriller, winning 3-1 (13-8 on Lotus, 10-13 on Ascent, 13-11 on Bind, and 13-7 on Haven).

Jason "f0rsakeN" Susanto delivered a career-defining performance, posting a tournament-high 1.42 match rating and a staggering 29 kills on the decisive Haven map. The Indonesian star was named Grand Final MVP, becoming the first Southeast Asian player to earn the honor since the Pacific League's inception in 2023.

"Two years ago, people said our playstyle couldn't win championships," f0rsakeN said in the post-match interview, wiping tears from his eyes. "We just proved them all wrong. This is for everyone in Southeast Asia who stays up late to watch us play."

A Season of Southeast Asian Dominance

The 2026 Pacific League season, which ran from February 22 to May 17, featured 12 partnered teams competing across a double round-robin regular season followed by a double-elimination playoff bracket. This year marked a seismic shift in the Pacific hierarchy.

For the first time since the franchise model was introduced, Southeast Asian teams occupied three of the top four regular-season standings. Paper Rex finished first with a commanding 9-2 map series record, while Indonesia's Boom Esports and the Philippines' Team Secret claimed third and fourth seeds, respectively. DRX, the perennial Korean powerhouse, held the second seed with an 8-3 record.

The regular season showcased the evolution of PRX's trademark aggressive, W-key style into something far more refined. Head coach Alexandre "alecks" Sallé implemented a more structured mid-round calling system that allowed the team to maintain their explosive entry-heavy attacks while shoring up the defensive vulnerabilities that had cost them in previous international outings. The result was a team that averaged 1.18 round win percentage on attack — highest across all four VCT international leagues this season.

The playoffs, held from May 9–17, saw PRX navigate the upper bracket with clean victories over Gen.G (2-0) and Team Secret (2-1) before meeting DRX in the upper bracket final, which they won 2-0. DRX fought through the lower bracket, eliminating Boom Esports and T1 to earn their Grand Final rematch.

Key Moments and Tactical Shifts

The Grand Final itself was a showcase of contrasting philosophies. DRX relied on disciplined utility usage and methodical site executes, while Paper Rex continued to play at a breakneck pace that repeatedly caught the Korean side off guard.

Map one on Lotus was controlled chaos in PRX's favor, with Khalish "d4v41" Rusyaidee anchoring the B site with a 21-kill performance on Killjoy. DRX responded with a clinical Ascent win, where Kim "MaKo" Myeong-gwan's Omen shut down PRX's aggressive lurks with perfectly timed smokes and blinds.

The turning point came on Bind. Trailing 8-10, Paper Rex called a timeout and shifted to a more default-heavy approach — a rarity for the team. Wang "Jinggg" Jing Jie, who had been relatively quiet all series, exploded for seven kills in the final five rounds, including a jaw-dropping 1v2 clutch in the showers to force overtime, where PRX ultimately won 13-11. The momentum carried into Haven, where f0rsakeN's Jett was simply unstoppable, opening frags in eight of the first nine rounds.

"PRX showed us something we haven't seen from them before — patience," said analyst and former pro caster Achilios during the English broadcast. "They've added layers to their game that make them a genuine contender for Masters and Champions this year."

Impact Across the Pacific

The victory has sent shockwaves through the Southeast Asian gaming community. Social media erupted within minutes of the final round, with "PRX" and "#SEAValorant" trending across X, TikTok, and Facebook in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia. Singapore's Minister for Culture, Community and Youth posted a congratulatory message on Instagram, calling PRX "ambassadors of a new era in Singaporean sport."

For the broader region, the result validates years of grassroots investment in Southeast Asian Valorant. The Pacific region has seen a 34% increase in competitive registrations since 2024, according to Riot Games' regional office in Singapore, and the 2026 Pacific League broadcast recorded a 28% year-over-year increase in average viewership for Southeast Asian audiences.

"This win isn't just for Paper Rex," said Boom Esports IGL Gary "blazek1ng" Dastin, whose team made their deepest playoff run this year. "It shows every kid grinding ranked in Jakarta, in Cebu, in Bangkok — that you can come from this region and be the best in the world."

What's Next: Masters Shanghai and the Road to Champions

As Pacific League champions, Paper Rex secure the region's top seed at Masters Shanghai, scheduled for June 14–29. They will be joined by DRX as the second Pacific seed. The international tournament will feature 16 teams from all four VCT leagues competing for crucial Championship Points that determine seeding at the season-ending Champions event.

For PRX, the mission is clear. Despite their regional dominance, the organization has yet to win an international Masters title, with their best finish being a runner-up result at Masters Copenhagen 2023. This roster — featuring the core of f0rsakeN, Jinggg, and d4v41 alongside newer additions Aaron "mindfreak" Leonhart and IGL Benedict "Benkai" Tan, who returned from a coaching role at the start of the season — believes this is their best chance yet.

"We've been close before," said alecks in the press conference. "But this team has never been this complete. We're not going to Shanghai to participate. We're going to win."

Masters Shanghai kicks off on June 14. Southeast Asia will be watching.