Welcome to all Valorant fans and viewers! The group stage of VALORANT Champions 2025 has concluded, and the intensity now shifts to the playoffs, where every match is a do-or-die battle. From October 6 onwards, the best teams from each group will clash in knockout rounds, with only one path to the coveted title of “Global Valorant Champions.” Today, we turn our attention to the highly anticipated playoff match between G2 Esports and Paper Rex — a true showdown between two top contenders. With both teams bringing their best form and strategies, the stakes have never been higher. Let’s take a closer look at likely map picks, team form, and key players to watch as we break down this thrilling encounter.
How bookmakers see it: Paper Rex favorite
Bookmakers slightly favor Paper Rex, but not by a wide margin. The odds for a PRX victory are set at 1.75, while G2’s win is valued at 2.01. As for the total maps, the odds are 1.92 for over 2.5 and 1.82 for under 2.5. Overall, the odds are fairly close, which makes the outcome of this match almost unpredictable according to the bookmakers, and anything can be expected from this clash.
G2 Esports form: What result can be expected from G2?
G2 Esports in the 2025 season have established themselves as one of the most consistent and powerful teams on the regional stage. They completely dominated the VCT Americas league, winning every stage of the season and defeating their main rivals, including Sentinels and NRG, in the grand finals. Their most notable triumph came at Stage 2, where G2 secured a confident 3-0 victory over NRG. However, on the international scene their results have been more mixed: the team reached the grand final of Masters Bangkok and finished second, placed in the top 4 at Masters Toronto, but suffered an early exit at the Esports World Cup 2025, finishing only 13th–16th. Still, their overall level of play and regular victories in the region make them one of the favorites heading into Champions.
Each of them plays a crucial role in the team’s success: JonahP consistently delivers strong mechanics and clutch reliability, trent excels at reading team tactics and maintaining balance in decisive rounds, valyn acts as the captain and strategic brain, setting the pace and overall direction, leaf provides explosive aggression and the ability to single-handedly turn rounds, while jawgemo adds dynamic unpredictability and momentum on the map. Together they form a well-rounded mix of experience, leadership, and individual firepower, making G2 one of the most dangerous teams of the season.
G2 Esports roster: JonahP, trent, valyn, leaf, jawgemo
The strengths of G2 lie primarily in their consistency and adaptability. They are not bound to a single strategy but can flexibly adjust to the map and their opponent’s playstyle. On an individual level, the aggression of jawgemo, the reliability of JonahP, the leadership of valyn, and the ability of leaf and trent to secure key trades allow them to remain confident even in high-pressure matches. Psychologically, G2 look very solid — their regional dominance has reinforced their status and created the aura of a team that steps onto the server already as the favorite.
In the group stage of VALORANT Champions 2025, G2 played three matches. In their first game, they faced Team Heretics and suffered a 2-0 defeat. Afterwards, they went up against DRG and T1, where both matches ended 2-0 in favor of the North American team.
Paper Rex form: What result can be expected from PRX?
For several years now, Paper Rex has remained the dominant force on the Asian Valorant scene, consistently ranking among the strongest teams in the world. The 2025 season began in the best possible way for them, as they quickly reaffirmed their status as one of the championship favorites.
The current Paper Rex roster features seasoned veterans: Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto, known for his versatile style and ability to shift the pace of a match with a single decision; Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee, the brain and backbone of the team; Wang “Jinggg” Jing Jie, their main source of aggression; Ilya “something” Petrov, the Russian duelist who added explosive firepower and individual brilliance; and Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza, whose composure in clutch situations has saved the team countless times. The squad is led by head coach Alexandre “Alecks” Sallé, who has built a system that allows each player to maximize their strengths.
Paper Rex roster: f0rsakeN, d4v41, Jinggg, something, PatMen
In the first half of the season, PRX reached a historic milestone — winning their first-ever international trophy. At VCT Masters Toronto 2025, they stormed through the competition almost flawlessly and defeated European powerhouse Fnatic 3-1 in the grand final. This victory was a turning point for the organization, firmly establishing Paper Rex as a global champion capable of claiming the biggest titles.
They also dominated their regional league, finishing first at VCT Pacific Stage 2 without giving rivals much of a chance. At the Esports World Cup 2025, they secured a 4th-place finish, which still highlighted their consistency in reaching the top four of international events.
The stats speak for themselves: on maps like Bind, Sunset, Lotus, and Haven, Paper Rex plays with maximum confidence, showing a high win rate and executing aggressive yet disciplined strategies. Their only notable weaknesses lie on newer maps — for example, Abyss, where they lost their sole official match, and Corrode, which the team has yet to test in competition.
Unlike G2, Paper Rex played only two matches in the group stage and won both. However, their opponents were slightly less formidable — first they defeated XLG 2-0, and then GIANTX 2-1.
Head-to-Head History
The head-to-head history between G2 Esports and Paper Rex in Valorant has been extremely close and competitive. So far, the teams have faced each other in four official matches, with both sides securing two wins each. On maps, Paper Rex hold a slight advantage with a 5:4 score. Back in 2022, Paper Rex claimed a confident 2-0 victory at VCT Masters Reykjavík, but G2 bounced back in 2024 with two important wins, including one in the VCT Masters Shanghai playoffs. Their most recent clash took place at VCT Masters Toronto 2025, where Paper Rex won 2-0, once again showing their strength. Overall, the rivalry remains very balanced, and the outcome of the upcoming match will largely depend on the teams’ current form and map choices.
Players to Watch
G2 Esports: valyn — in 2025, he has truly come into his own. Combining leadership, strategic vision, and high-level individual performance, he sets the pace, makes key decisions, and adapts mid-round when the pressure is at its peak.
Paper Rex: f0rsakeN – He has long been the face of the team: a versatile duelist who feels equally comfortable on Jett, Yoru, and Chamber. His aggressive playstyle and ability to shift the tempo of a match with a single decision make him the main catalyst of PRX’s game. f0rsakeN can open rounds with bold picks or clutch in the most intense moments. Almost every match he plays is filled with highlight-worthy plays, and his individual brilliance often becomes the decisive factor in Paper Rex’s victories.
Probable Map Picks
The likely map pool in the G2 vs. Paper Rex series looks as follows: G2 are almost certain to pick Ascent, where they have consistently shown strong performances and controlled the pace of play. In response, Paper Rex should choose Lotus, one of their most reliable maps with a high win rate. If the series goes to a third map, the decider will most likely be played on Split or Sunset, as both teams have delivered fairly balanced results there.
Anything else catch the eye?
What really catches the eye heading into this matchup is how evenly balanced it feels despite the bookmakers giving a slight edge to Paper Rex. On one side, PRX arrive with the confidence of their Masters Toronto championship and their trademark aggressive style led by f0rsakeN and Jinggg. On the other, G2 showcase regional dominance in the Americas and a roster filled with mechanical firepower and tactical depth. Both teams have clear map preferences, proven star players, and recent high-level results, making this clash a true test of consistency versus explosiveness. With odds so close and history between them split almost evenly, anything can catch the eye in this battle — whether it’s an individual highlight, a strategic twist, or a dramatic three-map showdown.
Match Prediction
The match between G2 Esports and Paper Rex promises to be extremely tense and exciting, with both teams fighting for every point. Despite this, Paper Rex look slightly more confident and are ready to leverage their aggressive style and international experience to control the flow of the game. Considering the balance of power and each team’s map picks, there is a high chance the series will go the distance, but in the end, PRX should be the ones to seize the initiative.
Main prediction — Paper Rex to win.
