DRX got the better of Paper Rex in four maps to pick up the HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League VALORANT.
CHINA – DRX have been crowned champions of the 2025 HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League VALORANT, taking down Pacific powerhouse Paper Rex with a 3-1 scoreline in the grand final.
With this win, the Korean squad walked away with a total of US$110,000 in prize money—US$70,000 from the grand final win, plus an additional US$40,000 earned throughout the tournament’s unique match-based bounty system. The series played out over four maps: Split (12-14), Ascent (13-4), Lotus (13-11), and Icebox (13-9).
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DRX’s journey to the top wasn’t exactly easy, though they made it look that way. The team had to go through China’s Bilibili Gaming twice, defeating them in both encounters without dropping a single map. Their semi-final matchup was against VCT CN Stage 1 champions XLG, but DRX came out on top in a three-map battle, proving they were in better shape against a first-seed team here in Shanghai.
The tournament stood out not only as one of the first Riot-approved third-party events during the season but also for its unique prize format. Teams earned US$10,000 for each match victory, with bonus “upset bounties” awarded for defeating higher-seeded opponents based on their Stage 1 placements. On top of the US$50,000 awarded to the eventual champions, the prize pool had the potential to climb as high as US$160,000 depending on match outcomes.
Six teams were invited in total, three each from the CN and Pacific regions, with seedings determined by their placements in Stage 1 of their respective leagues.
By the time DRX reached the grand final, they had already accumulated US$40,000—US$20,000 from beating Bilibili Gaming twice, and another US$20,000 for their upset over the top-seeded XLG. On the other side, Paper Rex entered the tournament as the top seed from the Pacific, having finished third in Stage 1. They earned US$10,000 from their initial win over XLG but had a shorter path to the finals.
The grand final began on Split, the map pick of Paper Rex. DRX started strong on defense, locking in an 8-4 lead at halftime. But once the sides switched, Paper Rex came alive. Every player on the roster stepped up, and they clawed their way back into the game. DRX managed to push it to overtime, but PRX held their nerve and closed it out 14-12 to draw first blood in the series.
That momentum didn’t last long. DRX responded in dominant fashion on Ascent. The team looked completely in control, spearheaded by Song “HYUNMIN” Hyun-min who was impactful on both attack and defense. The map ended quickly, 13-4, leveling the series at 1-1 and signaling that DRX were far from done.
Next up was Lotus—a much closer contest. Both sides traded rounds in a back-and-forth affair, but it was DRX who found the edge in the final moments to secure a 13-11 win. With a 2-1 lead in the series, the Korean side headed into Icebox with the finish line in sight.
On the fourth map, DRX kept their foot on the gas. Their structure, coordination, and individual plays outshined Paper Rex after such a long day, and after a solid showing on both sides of the map, they closed it out 13-9 to win the series and lift the trophy.
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Cover photo courtesy of HERO ESPORTS
