Paper Rex and T1 have both survived elimination at VCT Pacific Stage 2 after winning their Lower Round 1 matches on August 28.
Paper Rex defeated ONSIDE GAMING 2-0, while T1 eliminated KIWOOM DRX by the same score. The results send both teams into Lower Round 2, where the level of opposition rises significantly: Paper Rex will face VARREL, while T1 take on Gen.G.
For ONSIDE and KIWOOM DRX, the Stage 2 playoff run is over.
Paper Rex recover after Nongshim defeat
Paper Rex entered the lower bracket following a disappointing 0-2 loss to Nongshim RedForce in the opening playoff round.
Against ONSIDE GAMING, however, PRX looked considerably more stable.
The series began on Abyss, where ONSIDE managed to keep the game close. Paper Rex eventually edged the map 13-11 and avoided giving their opponents an opportunity to take control of the series.
Ascent was much more decisive. PRX established an early advantage and never allowed ONSIDE to build enough momentum for another close finish, closing the map 13-5.
- Paper Rex beat ONSIDE GAMING 2-0
- Abyss ended 13-11
- Ascent ended 13-5
- PRX advance to face VARREL
The victory provides an important response after the Nongshim loss and keeps Paper Rex’s route through Stage 2 open.
T1 eliminate KIWOOM DRX
T1 produced a similarly controlled result in the second elimination match of the day.
KIWOOM DRX selected Lotus and remained competitive during the opening map, but T1 eventually secured a 13-10 win.
The second map on Abyss was more comfortable.
T1 pulled away and closed the series with a 13-7 victory, eliminating KIWOOM DRX without requiring a deciding map.
Both Paper Rex and T1 now remain alive, but every series from this point forward is still an elimination match.
| Match | Map 1 | Map 2 | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper Rex vs ONSIDE | Abyss 13-11 | Ascent 13-5 | PRX 2-0 |
| T1 vs KIWOOM DRX | Lotus 13-10 | Abyss 13-7 | T1 2-0 |
The result also continues T1’s recovery after a difficult path through the Play-Ins. They had previously needed to survive the lower side of that bracket before reaching the main playoff stage.
Gen.G now stand in T1’s way
T1’s next opponent is Gen.G, creating one of the most important elimination matches of the current Pacific bracket.
Gen.G entered the playoffs as Group Alpha’s dominant team after finishing the regular group stage 5-0. Their momentum was interrupted by Nongshim RedForce, who defeated them 2-1 in the Upper Semifinal.
That loss dropped Gen.G directly into T1’s path.
The matchup will therefore remove one major Pacific organization from Stage 2 contention.
- T1 face Gen.G in Lower Round 2
- Paper Rex meet VARREL
- Nongshim and Global Esports remain in the upper bracket
- The top two Stage 2 teams qualify for Champions 2026
For T1, beating KIWOOM DRX was the first requirement. Gen.G represents a much more difficult test.
Paper Rex prepare for VARREL
Paper Rex will face VARREL in the other Lower Round 2 series.
VARREL finished first in Group Omega with a 4-1 record but were swept 2-0 by Global Esports in the Upper Semifinal.
That result makes their meeting with Paper Rex especially difficult to predict.
PRX entered the playoffs with significantly more international experience, but their 0-2 defeat against Nongshim demonstrated that reputation offers little protection in the current Pacific bracket.
VARREL, meanwhile, now need to show that their strong group-stage form can translate into an elimination match.
Nongshim and Global control the upper bracket
While several established teams fight for survival, Nongshim RedForce and Global Esports have emerged as the biggest winners of the opening playoff rounds.
Nongshim have already defeated Paper Rex and Gen.G, while Global beat KIWOOM DRX before sweeping VARREL.
The two teams will meet in the Upper Final on September 4.
A victory there carries enormous significance. VCT Pacific Stage 2 awards two direct places at VALORANT Champions 2026, meaning the upper-bracket winner will put itself in the strongest possible position to secure one of those Shanghai slots.
The second place will be decided through the remaining lower-bracket route.
ONSIDE and KIWOOM DRX exit Stage 2
For ONSIDE GAMING, simply reaching the playoff bracket was already a significant achievement.
The team advanced through the Play-Ins before eventually running into Paper Rex. Although Abyss demonstrated that ONSIDE could challenge one of Pacific’s strongest organizations, the second map exposed the gap that still exists over a complete best-of-three.
KIWOOM DRX face a more disappointing conclusion.
They entered the Play-Ins with higher expectations but ultimately lost consecutive playoff series against Global Esports and T1.
Assessment
The August 28 results have simplified the VCT Pacific Stage 2 picture while making the remaining bracket considerably more dangerous.
Paper Rex and T1 did what was required against ONSIDE and KIWOOM DRX, but their real tests now begin. VARREL and Gen.G both entered the playoffs from much stronger group-stage positions and will be fighting to avoid ending their seasons early.
The biggest story remains the rise of Nongshim and Global Esports. Their upper-bracket runs have disrupted the expected hierarchy and pushed some of Pacific’s most recognizable teams into elimination matches.
For Paper Rex and T1, there is no room left for another poor series. One more defeat ends their Stage 2 run and could significantly complicate their route toward VALORANT Champions 2026.
