Indonesian Valorant squad Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ) reigned in Stage 1 of Valorant Champions Tour – Pacific (VCT Pacific) cementing the country’s place as a VCT Pacific powerhouse.
This comes after they outlasted South Korean powerhouse DRX, 3-1. RRQ’s monumental win marked the first time an Indonesian organization bagged the title.
Through a David vs. Goliath rematch, RRQ defied expectations. When Gen.G took the first map, Haven (8-13), RRQ roared back, claiming Ascent (13-11), Lotus (13-9), and Icebox (13-11) to seal the series 3-1.
It was tight on both sides at Icebox as Gen.G tried to hold on to their championship hopes.
Trailing 10-11, RRQ won three unanswered rounds. Finally, RRQ bagged the title in round 13 after a successful site retake.
Throughout the tournament, and especially in the finals, Maksim “Jemkin” Batorov delivered a Most Valuable Player-worthy performance. Monyet also proved to be a formidable partner, particularly in the decisive moments of the final. According to vlr.gg, Jemkin racked up an average combat score of 268. Monyet came in close with a 214 ACS.
On the other side, Gen.G’s players tallied a more balanced performance, with Munchkin holding a 209 ACS, followed by Karon who had a 207 ACS.
Behind RRQ’s Pivotal Changes
Heading into Stage 1, RRQ made significant roster changes by acquiring Vietnamese tactician Ngô “crazyguy” Công Anh as their In-Game Leader. He reinforced Jemkin, Monyet, Bryan “Kushy” Carlos Setiawan and David “xffero” Sean Michael Monangin.
Placed in Group Omega, RRQ showcased early promise, finishing the group stage with a solid 3-1 record. Their only stumble was a 1-2 loss against Nongshim RedForce.
The playoffs, however, tested their mettle. After a strong 2-1 victory against DRX in the Upper Bracket Semifinals, Gen.G sent RRQ down the lower bracket.
Facing elimination, RRQ mounted a spectacular comeback. Their resilience was on full display in a nail-biting 3-2 Lower Bracket Final against Paper Rex. This set them up for a Grand Finals rematch against Gen.G.
PatMen staves off jitters to lead PRX to Masters: Toronto
Meanwhile, Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza’s impressive debut with Paper Rex was a significant boost for them to secure the last-ride ticket to VCT Masters slot in Toronto.
Joining the likes of Jason “f0rsaken” Susanto, Wang “Jinggg” Jie, Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee, and Ilya “something” Petrov, PatMen made his debut towards the end of the VCT Pacific group stages in a 1-2 loss against Boom Esports. PatMen had tough shoes to fill as he replaced Aaron “mindfreak” Leonhart, who decided to take a break mid-season.
After placing fourth in Group Alpha and bagging a slot in the lower bracket, PRX did the unthinkable, defeating Masters: Bangkok champions T1, top-seeded Boom Esports and DRX before losing steam to eventual champions RRQ
Mindfreak will reinforce PRX in HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League 2025 while PatMen focuses on his visa for Toronto.
Challengers Teams Make Impressive Debuts in VCT Pacific
Meanwhile, VCT Pacific also saw stellar professional debuts for BOOM Esports and Nongshim Redforce, as they acquired their franchised slots after a grueling climb in semi-pro circuit VCT Challengers Pacific.
BOOM Esports impressed the Pacific Valorant scene by topping Group Alpha with an impressive 5-0 record. However, their playoff journey was cut short in the upper bracket semifinals by Gen.G and then by Paper Rex in the lower bracket, finishing in the top 6.
After adopting the players of VCT Challengers Pacific champs Sin Prisa Gaming, Nongshim Redforce established themselves with a decent outing, finishing fourth in Group Omega with a 3-2 record. They won their first lower bracket match but were then eliminated by Talon Esports, also finishing in the top 8.
