Gen.G overpower Paper Rex to win VCT Pacific KICKOFF
Toppling DRX from their throne as the Kings of Korea and dethroning defending Pacific champions Paper Rex, Gen.G have surpassed expectations by emerging victorious at VCT Pacific KICKOFF.
SOUTH KOREA – Gen.G have come out victorious from the VCT Pacific KICKOFF event after taking down Paper Rex in a best-of-five grand final with a 3-1 scoreline (Ascent 13-5, Split 4-13, Lotus 13-11, Bind 13-4). They will look to use their first-place showing as a way of building some much-needed confidence and stability heading into their first international appearance at VALORANT Masters Madrid along with Paper Rex as the two Pacific representatives.
The Byeon "Munchkin" Sang-beom-led side faced a difficult path to the grand final, having to navigate past five teams across 16 maps before facing off with Paper Rex for the second time in the last match.
It was also a great chance for youngster Kim "Karon" Won-tae to showcase his ability against the region’s powerhouses. In the final match against the Champions LA runners-up, the 21-year-old impressed with a team-high 1.24 VLR rating. Despite lacking any previous competitive experience, coach Kim "HSK" Hae-seong identified Karon through ranked plays and seamlessly integrated him into one of the top Pacific sides.
The team will also earn three Pacific circuit points, which will be accumulated for VALORANT Champions Seoul qualification.
VCT Pacific KICKOFF final standings are as follows:
- 1st | 🇰🇷 Gen.G
- 2nd | 🇸🇬 Paper Rex
- 3rd-4th | 🇰🇷 T1
- 3rd-4th | 🇰🇷 DRX
- 5th | 🇵🇭 Team Secret
- 6th | 🇯🇵 ZETA DIVISION
- 7th–9th | 🇮🇳 Global Esports
- 7th-9th | 🇹🇭 Talon Esports
- 7th-9th | 🇮🇩 Rex Regum Qeon
- 10th-11th | 🇸🇬 Bleed Esports
- 10th-11th | 🇯🇵 DetonatioN FocusMe
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Cover photo courtesy of VCT Pacific