VALORANT Champions: Paper Rex, Fnatic set up massive semifinal

Paper Rex and Fnatic opened the VALORANT Champions Paris playoffs on Thursday with statement wins, booking a must-see upper bracket semifinal against each other after twin 2-1 victories over G2 Esports and DRX, respectively.

Paper Rex outlasted G2 in a thriller that felt worthy of a grand final.

Lotus set the tone with trading thrifty rounds and a 6-6 half before PRX closed 13-11 behind late-round nerves.

Corrode swung the other way as G2 dug in through overtime to level the series 15-13.

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  Fast Payouts

On Ascent, G2 raced to an 8-4 attack half, but PRX flipped the map with layered B-site pressure and piercing mid rounds.

Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee iced it 13-11, while Ilia “something” Petrov stole the spotlight across three nail-biters with a 1.29 rating and a +20 kill/death differential.

PRX’s signature fearlessness under pressure held, even as G2’s stars produced highlight rounds that could have broken lesser teams.

If PRX delivered the thriller, Fnatic delivered the gut punch.

Down 10–2 on Haven to DRX’s double-Duelist onslaught, Fnatic authored a ruthless, almost clinical comeback, conceding just one round after halftime to steal the first map 13-11.

DRX struck back with a 13-8 victory on Ascent behind relentless executions, but the decider on Lotus was all Fnatic.

Jake “Boaster” Howlett’s crew controlled pace and space from the pistol, rolled through the bonus, and never let DRX build momentum in a 13-5 triumph.

Emir “Alfajer” Beder was immense across the series with 64 kills, and Kajetan “kaajak” Haremski matched the tempo with 52, while Fnatic’s composure in retakes and post-plants repeatedly turned 50-50s into sure things.

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  The bookies' bookie

Two different paths, one blockbuster destination: Paper Rex vs. Fnatic in the upper semifinal.

A rematch of the VALORANT Masters Toronto grand final, but the stakes are higher, and both teams look sharper.

PRX leaning on their clutch resilience and Fnatic riding a terrifying ability to retool on the fly mid-series.

In the lower bracket, DRX drop into an elimination clash with G2 Esports.

VALORANT Champions Paris continues on Friday, September 26, with Team Heretics vs MIBR followed by NRG vs GIANTX.