Welcome to all Valorant fans and viewers! From September 12 to October 5, 2025, the biggest tournament of the year — VALORANT Champions 2025 — is taking place. Sixteen teams will battle for the title of “Global Valorant Champions” and a massive prize pool.
On the sixth day of the competition, we’ll focus on the upcoming Group A match between the Southeast Asian squad Paper Rex and the European team GIANTX. Both teams have already played one match in the group and secured a victory each: GIANTX defeated Sentinels 2-1, while Paper Rex took down XLG Esports 2-0.
This clash promises to be exciting, with Paper Rex entering as the clear favorite. However, since both teams already won their opening matches, anything can happen in this tournament. While the squads prepare for the showdown, let’s analyze the current form of the players and teams, and share some betting insights.
How bookmakers see it: Paper Rex — GIANTX
According to most bookmakers, Paper Rex is considered the clear favorite over their opponent GIANTX at VALORANT Champions 2025. The odds for the Southeast Asian squad stand at 1.21, while the European team is given 3.76. Both teams have already secured one map, and the matchup promises to be intense. Although Paper Rex looks more favorable on paper, GIANTX is unlikely to go down without a fight and will try to impose their game until the very end.
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.
Overall, Paper Rex is a team that perfectly blends discipline and swagger. They have experienced players with deep agent pools, youthful firepower, flexibility, and most importantly, immense confidence after their Masters Toronto triumph. With a 1-0 record at the start of the group stage, PRX are well-positioned. If they can adapt quickly to the new maps and avoid slow starts in their series, they have every chance to contend for the title once again at VALORANT Champions 2025.
GIANTX form: What result can be expected from GIANTX?
GIANTX entered the Valorant esports scene relatively recently, at the end of 2023, following the merger of two organizations — Excel Esports and Giants Gaming. Since then, the European squad has quickly gained momentum, and by 2025, they earned the right to compete at the biggest tournament of the season — VALORANT Champions 2025.
The current GIANTX roster brings together young and ambitious talents: Kirill “Cloud” Nehozhin, the reliable core of the team, combining sharp aim with disciplined play; Rokas “grubinho” Juskauskas, the fearless duelist who sets the tempo and often creates space with his aggression; Emir “westside” Bekrić, the dependable controller who anchors the map and holds off enemy pushes; Andreas “Flickless” Ayaz, the support player whose timing and utility usage allow his teammates to shine; and Ara “ara” Azmoun, the flexible all-rounder who adds versatility to the drafts and stability in mid-round situations. The team is guided by coach Daniil “pipsoN” Mesheryakov, known for his experience and ability to build systems where young players gain confidence and unlock their full potential. GIANTX roster: Cloud, grubinho, westside, Flickless, ara
The 2025 season began strongly for GIANTX in the European league. At VCT EMEA Stage 2, they fought their way into the top tier and secured their Champions slot. Within the region, GIANTX proved they could go toe-to-toe with established powerhouses like Fnatic and Team Liquid. Against the backdrop of the usual giants’ dominance, their breakout run became one of the biggest surprises of the season.
Statistically, GIANTX maintain a solid win rate, sometimes exceeding 70% in certain series. They excel on maps that reward aggression and quick site control. However, the team still shows signs of inexperience typical for younger lineups: they occasionally lack composure in clutch rounds, and their international experience remains limited.
Even so, GIANTX opened their group stage with a win and now sit at 1-0. They can rightfully be called one of the tournament’s “dark horses.” With their ambition, form, and confidence, they are capable of delivering a bold performance. If they can maintain composure and lean into their strengths — aggressive playstyle, flexible drafts, and strong early-round executions — the team has every chance to advance from the group and challenge the tournament favorites.
Head-to-Head History
Paper Rex and GIANTX have not yet faced each other on the official stage. Their first encounter will take place today in the group stage of VALORANT Champions 2025. Paper Rex enter the match as one of the tournament favorites, backed by international championship experience, while GIANTX will be going up against an opponent of this caliber for the first time. This sets up a unique storyline, as the two teams will clash for the very first time.
Players to Watch
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.
GIANTX: Cloud – He is the most experienced and consistent player on the roster, the foundation on which the team’s structure is built. Cloud confidently handles key roles, combining aggressive pushes with careful map control. His reliable aim and composure in clutch situations make him the primary factor behind GIANTX’s success. For this young squad, he serves the same role as a captain on the field — setting the tempo, maintaining morale, and preventing the team from crumbling under pressure.
Probable Map Picks
In my opinion, the decisive factor in the BO3 between GIANTX and Paper Rex will be the map picks. GIANTX show their best results on Sunset (75%), while their weakest maps are Bind and Pearl. Paper Rex, on the other hand, dominate on Lotus (85%), Sunset (82%), and Bind (100%), but struggle on Ascent (36%).
It is expected that GIANTX will ban Bind, while PRX will remove either Corrode or Pearl. As a result:
- GIANTX are likely to pick Sunset
- Paper Rex should take Lotus
- The decider will most likely be Split or Icebox
Anything else catch the eye?
An interesting detail is that the teams have never faced each other on the official stage. This adds extra intrigue: with no direct head-to-head statistics, much will depend on which side has better prepared specifically for this matchup.
Match Prediction
The match between Paper Rex and GIANTX promises to be exciting, if only because the two teams have never played each other before, making their clash at Champions their very first. Paper Rex are the clear favorites, but GIANTX could deliver a perfect performance and turn the series around. In my opinion, however, Paper Rex are more likely to take the win with a 2-0 scoreline.
Main prediction — Paper Rex to win.
G2 Gozen02.11.2510:30Bo5
Twisted Minds OrchidWatch match
