DRX vs. PRX – VCT Pacific – Stage 1 – Playoffs – Day 5

DRX vs. PRX – VCT Pacific – Stage 1 – Playoffs – Day 5

[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] VCT Pacific. The future of Valerant starts here. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] more. I’m more I’m more I’m everything you want more. I’m everything you want more. I’m everything you want more. I’m everything you want. You want everything you want. to the dance of I’m the Everything you want. I’m everything you want. I’m everything. [Music] Everything you want. I’m everything. I’m everything. I’m everything. Everything. I’m everything. I’m everything. I’m everything. I’m [Music] everything. Here we go. Now what you waiting for? Got the rings. Yeah, we on the floor. Drop the [Applause] [Music] ride. All the rumors are true. the book that looks through the roof, baby. I’m working it. Good. [Music] I already to go. [Music] [Music] Undeniable unsurpassed bringing in the [Music] Bring unsurpassed in the Bring. Now [Music] that’s now world [Music] class. Now that’s world class. We’ll make it better. I’ll leave [Music] you something else. [Music] as you’re falling I said that you [Music] [Music] So flying [Music] up this morning. [Music] You’re [Music] [Music] so [Music] Feel the Butterflies fluttering. Yeah, I’m ready to go on a ride. I can feel my heart pumping. Yeah, I want to go and touch the sky. Standing on the edge of the wall. I know I can do anything. Getting lost in the moment. I was born with these golden wings. Now I’m so far above the clouds. I’m flying. Yeah. I’m rising up and really letting go. I’m flying. Yeah. I feel the powering through my soul. I’m flying. Yeah. I’m rising up and really letting go. I’m flying. I feel the powering [Music] through. I’m coming down. I’m staying in the CLS. Yeah. In the CLS. Yeah. I’m going all around. Yeah. All around. Except the ground up to the sun. And that’s where I’m bound. Yeah. Now I’m so far above the clouds. I’m flying. Yeah. I’m rising up and really letting go. I’m flying. I feel the rushing through my soul. I’m flying. I’m rising up and really letting go. I’m feeling through my [Music] soul la. [Music] Forget about tomorrow. We got today. We got a million reasons to make us say, “Let’s do it all together. We can go sail in the seas, climb over mountains, and reach all their peaks. Walk through the valleys and under the trees. We can do anything if we believe. There’s nothing in the [Music] way. There’s [Music] nothing. Now we got that feeling. It feels so good. We’re doing all the things that we knew we could. We’re living for a reason. So we should live it up today. [Music] through the valley. There’s nothing in our way. There’s [Music] nothing. There’s nothing in the way. feeling [Music] [Music] nothing. There’s nothing in the way. There’s [Music] [Music] nothing Heat. Heat. N. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] Red Bull gives you wings. Red Bull gives you wings. [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] Red Bull gives you wings. Nothing spotted now. Goes for the pink and Famous with a great head shot. Yeah, remove the guns says let’s put you back on a thrifty. Overdrive going to be popped though. And Famous likes those odds pushing forward able to find one doll sign holding things down at the back as Famous comes away with a third. Forsaken now has to do the lion share of the work and that is an immense amount of immediate damage. Famous with a four kill. I suspect Moco was likely getting the read that it was going to be Premy rotating through that defender spawn as well as orb attainment but Premy wants to stop that finding one just Yep. Hip fire action looking to steady it. Eventually does bring just walking right into it. [Music] Hit the head shot which you’re not doing but you’re still getting the kill. Yeah midair off towards Buzz who does have the perfect crosshair placement to pick up two kills. Jing though maybe unexpected for Meteor. So that’s back online. Okay, into the spot boy [Music] towards the side for his utility potentially or play to the numbers which means Paper X are then kind of just funneled straight into B something trying to fly past a lot of it though does hold out towards the top of market but down towards the the exact lane something then finding a double kill stacks can they hold it down in boat house so far so good with the double kill Nothing. Swaps on. Pulls out the blaze. He finds the rack in towards the ret. Oh, and look at this now. Buzz feeling confident to go in for the overdrive play. Set perfectly set up by the team. Look at the flashes. He’s online for the ace. Does he look for it? Buzz low HP, but he still tracks on. [Music] Today you look so handsome. You also Thank you. I high five for him. [Music] Oh, believe me guys, today is a nice day. Okay, just think like we grip everything we can so we don’t regret after the game. [Music] Okay. Let’s go, [Music] brother. Bring me the arch. over [Music] there. Okay. Stop. Okay. Nicer. [Applause] [Music] I’m top one. Set up. Set up. Set up. [Music] run. Wow. Imagine if we had one more round in attack. Wow. I’m sorry. Can [Music] you don’t Back side. I’m ready now. Okay, go now. One stairs. One stair. He’s back side. He’s back side. Go go go go go. I’m BL. I’m not see I have some. son. Okay. Go, go, go, go, go. He got sun. He got stun. My king, man. You are my king, man. I’m not. You are queen, bro. Nice. Nice. Don’t Wow. [Music] Hello. So today is Pacific field day players o we pledge to uphold the glory of sports and the honor of our team to abide by the fundamental principles of sportsmanship and to compete with effort and skill in the spirit of fair [Music] [Music] play. Wait, cheer, please. [Applause] Do you guys have anything to, you know, give an advice? He play solo for 5 years, but I don’t I don’t think I don’t he needs advice. Uh, he plays solo every day. If he was to retire, good luck. Good luck. Nope. Nope. I’m going to win, bro. [Music] One enemy remaining. Hey, [Applause] from no [Music] 148, bro. Cheer, please. [Music] Let’s go. What [Music] the o GG 149 GG. Come on, bro. Wait, wait, wait. Full challenge. Wait, I almost passed the bar, bro. Oh, let’s go, hero. GG, bro. No chance. Oh, [Music] nice. It doesn’t count. Doesn’t [Music] come to one. Yeah. Okay, one more life. One more life, guys. [Music] Go. Oh, GG. GG, bro. Easy, easy, easy, bro. Holy disappointed. Ah, team. No, no, no. [Music] Who’s going to play? Yeah. I think I think one, two, three. Shoot. Let’s go. Let’s go. [Music] What is this? Go miss. [Music] Maxim. One more. One more. [Music] [Applause] Spike drop took the spike Come on, bro. Let’s go. Let’s go. [Applause] My team don’t trust me. I give up. We trust you, bro. They don’t shoot me. They cheer. Let’s go. Last point. Very easy. Taco. Come on. Let’s go. Taco. You got this. Taco. Tackle. You got this. I give up. You are. I give up. Fire. Brah. Wish me luck, bro. I cannot crack you, bro. Nice. Nice. You need to get caught once. Finally, you’re scared. Go back. Go back. Thank you. We’re too close. [Applause] Oh, [Laughter] let’s go. [Music] [Applause] What is this? Need to predict. Predictable is predictable, bro. Nice try. Nice try. Nice. Hey, watch out. Look at me. Hey, long time no see, bro. Hey, dude. Long time no see. One, two, three. go again. One, two, three, shoot. Again, again, one, two, three, shoot. Ah, okay. [Music] Hey, what are you doing, [Music] bro? Why would you message me from the official? [Music] O this challenge is so easy for me. What is this? David, you give him dance. I never touch your in my life. Same, bro. Go first. Huh? He go first. Is it like? Yeah. Oh no. Why me? Boxing. Calm down. Because you No, no, no, no. Okay, I take that. This one is easy. You just count how many seconds [Applause] [Music] you stop teaching him. Don’t v it. Don’t vomit. Yeah. Hey, come second. [Applause] I I lost my confident suddenly. He’s fumbling. Yeah. Like me. Oh, nice bit. Nice. Okay, I can hear already the result. I think I’m going to lose this guy. 4 seconds. Quiet. Quiet. Quiet. Where are you kids? Yeah. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] sit down, kids. Oh, very confident. Very confident. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Go until bro. Yes. Yes. Let’s go. Go on the edge. Okay. Go. Go. Go. Go. I’m going to fall down for my bro. My previous teammate. Yeah. Let’s go. Calm down. Calm down. No. No. No. I’m going to fall down for my bro. [Applause] You don’t have any trophy, right? Ara, you don’t have right hand. How do you feel about that? Very proud. Of course. Very proud. You lost. How do you feel? It’s okay. Normal. What is this? Always lose every day. You learn something new every day. [Music] Hold me closer. Take me to a place where we’re alone. Don’t tell me that the night is over. I don’t want to forget this moment. Who needs sleep when there’s falling in love? [Music] [Music] I’m going crazy crazy enough. I’m addicted to you. I’m so high on your love now, baby. I’m so high on your love now. It’ll never be enough. I’m addicted to you. How can I forget this feeling? It’s the [Music] only word you’re speaking. You’re the only air I’m breathing. When there’s falling in love to the beat of your drama when it feels like too much. I’m addicted to love. I’m addicted [Music] to [Music] crazy baby. It’ll never be enough. I’m addicted to [Music] lo crazy. [Music] Dict. Hello and welcome back to Valerant Champions Tour Pacific Stage One. Everything is on the line today here in Soul, South Korea. We have the upper finals and the lower semifinals. I’m your host, Victoria, and with me at the desk, we got Pilsky. And big time. And gentlemen, are you ready for the greatest upper finals of your life? It’s the finals weekend. I was born ready. You were born ready. You were born ready. I was born ready. So ready. Let’s go. Okay, Morgan, I had to ask you something. Have you ever seen Pilsky without his beard? No, I have not seen I don’t think many people have seen Pilski without If you are ever curious how this is Pilsky. I’ve never even seen this photo. I’ve never even seen this photo in my life. What do you do with the oranges? I love it. Look at this. Who’s this little guy? Yeah, I used to have uh black and purple hair at one point. And I wonder if we’re going to see a photo of that. I I mean, that would be wonderful. I really hope so. Oh, the beard is starting to grow in. Oh, it’s coming in there now. I won that land. This is the last time you ever shaved. It wasn’t It wasn’t It wasn’t a good lamb, but I won that lamb. So, I did basically beat complete amateurs, but I won that land. That’s my claim to fame. Um, and thank you. Happy birthday, Phil. Happy birthday. Thank you. Take a wild guess how old he turns today. We saw some good guesses on Twitter. 39 was one of the guesses the big four row. And if if you will uh if you could hold this up so you can see what’s on the cake. This is what we have on the cake here. Princess Pilipowski. Okay. What a guy. What do you have any like birthday wishes you wish to share? Um block your ears cuz uh it’s confidential. Um I would like for a better better analyst to me. That’s crazy. That’s a crazy us note. No. A birthday wish. I have to get fired now. We pass him the crowd. Of course. The birthday crowd. For the birthday boy. I don’t know how you going to put this on. It’s hard with a headset, but there we go. When When is the last time you you showed your beard? Shaved it. Like, yeah, you showed it to anyone in the world. Never. Like, not not since I’ve been an adult. No. Yeah. I don’t think I don’t think I’ve shaved it off at all. No. Okay. Well, I don’t have a chin. Like, you have a chin, Vick. You have a chin. I don’t have a chin. Not all of us were given a chin. Um, we saw your photos. Doesn’t happen. That it is Do you want to try your cake? Uh, what do I do? I just go for it. Go. It’s up to you. It’s your cake. Just take a bite. Why not? Oh. Is it good? You pick pink for you. We know you like pink. It is very good. Thank you. You’re welcome. That’s nice. All right. Well, we’re going to let Pilsky keep eating that. And we are going to showcase some of the crazy moments for last week for Pulsar flick of the week. Happy birthday, Pilsky. Here are some awesome flicks just for you. Brought to you by Pulsar. Who was uh who was flicking this week? Let’s have a little bit of a look. See, they play with me. How am I supposed to know who that is? Who is that? You could You could always have a guess, but I mean, it’s quite hard in this region cuz everybody can shoot. So, I bet all of those Euro clips are Gkin. Jkin is a certified Euro abuser. We will get into that a little bit later. But uh look Oh my god, that was something. Yeah. Do you remember that flick? I do. Upwards off flick. He’s back. He is back. He’s back. I would I would say he’s back. I think he’s firmly back. Yeah, there are there are a lot of cool moments. Ooh. Yes. On this fracture as well. This was uh this is the last map of the series. A really exciting way to end last week. And uh yeah, lots of good flicks. Now, we also have a lot of great fans here in Pacific. and we have our BCT Pacific uh moments that you guys can share with us. And this is the one that we’ve chosen for this week. This is really cute. So, this fan uh she’s a, you know, huge supporter of Boom and she said, “Please sign my forehead.” And that’s looks like a six finger sign your forehead there. Nice. I love it. I mean, I think it’s becoming a bit of a trend to be honest. Like, you got your face signed by tensive mind. I I think we should bring this back. I think more people need to start doing this. Whenever you see your favorite Pacific players, if it’s down in the lobby, if it’s at international events, get them to sign your face. That’s the meta. Signing paper won’t last forever. Just make sure it’s not a permanent marker because literally I have a spot on it’s my first tattoo. I have a spot on my face from my brother pinning me down and and attacking me with a permanent marker when I was Is that why you grew that the beard? It’s blocked all the other permanent marker. That’s it. My goodness. Okay. Well, uh still again, I want to say happy birthday again. I want to say happy birthday all day today to Pilsky. I want to talk about where we are in the playoffs. We’re down to the final four teams and this is the most competitive we’ve ever seen Pacific and I would argue perhaps out of all the regions. Now the SE sea and Southeast Asian teams have been looking fantastic as well. So this is a little bit different than the last two years. Yeah, I mean I you know we’ve seen a lot of Korean dominance throughout the years and we’re still seeing Genji and DRX up there. But of course, PRX finding that return to form and the newcomers in RQ surging their way up through the rankings to make it to this top four. A really even split to Korea to SEA. And who’s going to come out on top today? That’s anybody’s guess. Yeah, it’s a huge huge couple of fixtures here. DRX versus PRX to play off for a spot in Toronto. Already two teams in the upper bracket that are participating in Toronto, but will earn themselves an EWC qualification if they make their way into the final. Yeah. So, this is going to be pretty huge today. Uh, and also pretty huge, we are now on the final day of our game called Build Diff where the winner wins an Acer Predator laptop uh together with Intel and it’s a pretty sweet laptop. I don’t know who they here. Yeah, here are the results so far. I believe we we have the score. You don’t have to bring those up. I think we should have so bored of hearing Vic about this. I don’t know what to say. Okay. Pilsky and I have actually had really similar picks uh every single week, but I don’t know what happened, man. That was one fateful week. It was on the eve of Gen Geng versus Boom, I believe. Um and one of us picked Famous and one of us picks texture and uh the rest is history. That’s right. And uh and thanks thanks to you, I am going to win. Don’t thank me. Thank famous. Thank you, Famous. Uh all right. Now, we do still have one more day and it’s still possible. Well, I don’t I think it might still be mathematically possible. Anyway, you their second place is good, too. Here’s Mika’s team. I have tried so hard to to be nice. Okay, so Mika’s team is rather interesting. So, today finally Jing is on the dual list. Uh Crazy Guy, she loves picking IGL’s. That’s not the best play, I think, but she’s doing it anyway. Crazy guy, if you’re going to pick an in IGL, Crazy Guy is one of the better fragging IGL that we have in the league right now. He actually put some of the best numbers up on brereech, which is still probably not good numbers to get you many points in build diff, but it’s better than picking another breach player. So, fair cop’s insane, Foxy 9’s insane. I was also picking Munchkin. This is the problem actually with Mika’s team is you’ve you’ve picked two breach players potentially. So, they’re just doesn’t get you kills. I’m just saying. Oh, I’ve just been told by production that we’re swapping these. Yeah, that makes sense. Obviously Foxy 9’s obviously a sentinel. Uh yeah, but that’s a fantastic point. Breaches are usually hidden behind the walls because they’re throwing that fault line for their uh teammates, but uh yeah, something to consider. So my team, I’m doing something a little bit different today. Something very different. I’m putting something on the duelist that decided to play this gamble. I feel like he’s starting to feel himself again. He’s back. He’s back. He’s back. He’s so back. Kushy, uh I feel like he sort of fell off, but I I think today’s the real test. you know, if the pressure doesn’t get to him, he’ll perform well. Foxy 9, of course, because he’s, of course, it’s Foxy superstar. Of course, MCO M King. And today, I’ve decided to finally go for Patman because I feel like he’s also building up his confidence. So, I’m picking two different Paper X players today. Normally, it’s been Dvai and Jing. And today is going to be slightly different. Uh, because I feel like they’re they’re going to play well today. And these guys always play well, which is the question. I mean, your team is incredibly similar to my team. Oh. Oh, interesting. Incredibly incredibly similar. So, I’m actually not sure if if Pac-Man auto my flex to be fair. I changed last minute, but I’m not sure if production got the memo. So, I know that I don’t have something. Oh, I’ve just thrown that at your You just threw him into the cake. Something was something was hungry. He just wanted some cake. That’s all right. He needs to fuel up before the game. And then I I have Devi here instead of Pac-Man, but I don’t I don’t have a I have two Pac-Man. Just pretend that that’s Divi. Let’s just superimpose his face on there. Can we just write David on top of that? Just going to put my name here. We’ll pretend that’s Divide. But that’s my team. Very, very similar. Using that same core of Mako, Foxy 9, and Cushy because how can you not? I feel like those have to be the go-to picks. You put Victoria on your team. That’s a terrible idea. Come on. I’m a great flex player. Just give me a chance. All righty. Well, I have gone for Jkin as my duelist. I’m surprised no one has picked him. That’s kind of outrageous to me. I do have Forsaken on Enit instead of Crazy Guy. Foxy 9 and Marco are also on my team. You’ve chucked him upside down. Why not? Why not? He’s so flexed that he’s upside down. And then Jen really, but you picked Geng today. I I did, but Jenkin always gets his numbers. Like Jenkin is one of the highest rated players in the competition. We’re going to go into it in a little bit more detail later on. Karen is my flex. I think Karen has do a big game here. Um, he’s been a bit up and down, but he was their best performer in kickoff, and I’m expecting him to come up huge. And he’s literally flexing. You can only pick flex players. We have to swap these two cuz Marco’s flexing. No, I This is actually quite sick. You’re Yeah, these teams are sick. You guys also have some pretty solid teams here. And again, now that we are at this point in playoffs, it is really hard to predict, I think, uh, who’s going to end up getting the most kills. I mean, we’re we’re all giving Marco and Foxy 9 their props, though. These guys have earned their spots as all of our controllers and all of our centis cuz they’re in such fantastic form right now. Yeah. Uh and I think it’s going to be really exciting to see how they end up performing today. Now we got to talk about today’s matches. This is the oldest rivalry in Pacific and we’re getting both of them. Yeah, I mean we see these teams clash all the time. Rumor must be absolutely fed up of playing Geng at this point and I can’t blame them. And of course it’s not Pacific without PRX versus DRX. This matchup has to come along every couple of months otherwise, you know, what’s the point in even being here? This is what we’re really here for. Yeah, we got that Toronto qualification game a little bit later, but first we will decide who will qualify for EWC and get themselves a spot in the grand final here. That’s right. Now, we are going to see Genji and RQ first first and Genji had some roster rotation bumps along the way, but you know, trust in the coaching staff, Solo and HSK, to bring it all back in order. Yeah, I mean there’s a reason why we all put Foxy 9 in our team today. Since he has come back after that little break while Suggest was playing, he has looked absolutely unstoppable. This is a Gen team that’s redefining themselves, finding their footing that they had in 2023 and they’re trying to make that resurgence back to the top. Yeah, Texture is on a heater lately. He was honestly like just average, just decent as a duelist in the competition in both kickoff and the earlier sta stages of stage one. Uh but now he has really come into his own. He’s getting better and better. He’s rocketed up the OP kills. You see Ash with some fantastic mechanics. He’s got a great ceiling as an individual player. You can look at some of those maps that we got versus Talon. Foxy 9. We’ve spooked about him enough. I think Karen’s the one who’s been a little bit up and down. He was their best performer in kickoff. Um but I I think if he plays his way into form, Genji is going to look even scarier. And Munchkin is such a fragger on Viper and the KO, you know, and then on the brereech, you’re definitely seeing him with some really really good assists. Yeah, they’re looking pretty solid. And if Ash, if they make it through, Ash is uh their rookie. And this you’ll be making it to the grand finals. Now, RRQ, today is the upper finals. First time RQ has made it through many hurdles, making it into Toronto. And this is a long time coming for this team. Uh Ewok has been there the whole way through. And he’s just been doing these slow roster changes over the years. And still a sudden uh IGL change midseason, but doesn’t seem to be slowing them down. No, definitely not. I think it’s been a a positive change and and as I kind of said before, even though Mika has put Crazy Guy in her team as the the Enid, um he’s one of the better picks if you’re going to pick an IGL as a a fragging IGL. He’s been doing a pretty good job. He gets pretty good numbers on the Breach um as far as I’m concerned and he he’s even put up some great numbers on roles that he hasn’t really played too much picking up the Omen. So, I agree with you. I think Kushi’s seen a little bit of a fall off, but the you know, Jenkin is maybe the best duelist in Pacific. Definitely one of the the best yorus inside of BCT and Xera has actually had some better and better series lately. The series against DRX, he was fantastic. Yeah, I mean the one player I really want to see big things from today is Mona. Monaet has actually been one of the the lesser performers on this team which is not very typical of him. We know Mona has a ton of room there. He has such a high ceiling. So I think if he can finally get back into his form, click with the rest of these guys, really start putting up the numbers that we’re used to seeing, this team has a real shot. Raqq has beaten Genji before, but the thing is Genji liked to hit him where it hurts. So guys, can I list all the times that they straight, you know, we might be here for a while, but go on. Yeah, they got like a straight uppercut to the metaphorical kidneys here. Uh, knocked out of the contention many times. So, the first time was RQ missed out on the 2023 Pacific playoffs, eliminated by Genji. Then they got knocked out in 2023 LCQ again by Geng. And then they got eliminated in 2024 Pacific Kickoff, of course, by Gen G. And then they were sent home in their opening match of the 2024 Pacific Stage 2 playoffs. And yep, it’s by Gen G. Can you imagine? Four times. It’s got to be got to be so annoying at this match. Like all the time at them. I mean, I I remember Xero saying in like the one of the interviews at the start of stage one, he said, “Hey, I know we’re going to make it to playoffs cuz Geng is in the other group. They can’t stop us from here.” Well, they can’t be eliminated today. Uh well, except going through finals. Um they don’t make it through the low whoever loses today doesn’t make it through the lower bracket. But the top two teams also get to go to EWC. Yeah, for sure. So, this is a bit of a EWC qualification game. You can see the headto-head at the top of the graphic there for Genji. A couple of good stats to keep in mind. 80% conversion after securing the first kill. That’s the highest in the competition. And it’s it’s an insane statistic and I think it is a very big reason why you’re seeing Genji pick up more and more momentum because you’re seeing texture get more OP kills, more opening DS, win the first kill/ first death exchange early on in the rounds and Genji is money for converting those 5v4s. So you’re seeing them every time they’re winning these first duel exchanges in a lot of these series. They are just running away with the game from there. Yeah, they’re so disciplined in how they approach uh these especially these advantage situations. But one thing we really have to highlight is their Lotus. This is their go-to map and it has been for such a long time. They defined the meta on this map last year and we’ve seen little adaptions, you know, the whole way through and it’s just keeps clicking for them. I think they understand something about this map that a lot of teams are just missing. Yeah, I think you know a lot of teams will change comps all the time, but Genji, no matter what iteration with this core three on Lotus for the last 30 plus games of Lotus, they have played almost the same comp. They do not want to switch up their composition. They may have mixed in the vice cuz it’s in the meta of course at the moment, but outside of that, they want to keep the formula the same and they’re quite confident that they can defeat any style, anything that you can throw at Geng on this map. They do not care if you’ve got prep. They do not care if you’re a good team on Lotus. They will pick Lotus into a series and they will beat you on it. They’re six and one right now and and I just continue to see them have fantastic performances on this map. That is a very Gen thing, right? when Jenji is playing at their finest, uh, nothing can really stop them, even though they never change the comp. Now, Genkin, uh, you guys had mentioned this. He might be our favorite Euro and maybe not in just Pacific, but globally. Yeah, I mean, you could see it. He’s played 11 games of Yoru. His next highest agent, uh, I believe would be the Jet or the ISO tied with two. So, he has been playing Yoru map in, map out, abusing this agent. He’s topping all of the statistics. And if you take out Iso and Brim for from his Asian pool and look at the stats, they go up even more. Like honestly, his ISO and his Brim performances compared to his Jet and his Yoru have not even been close to the same level of numbers. This guy is putting up insane numbers right now for RQ. Yeah, it’s such a clear defined meta choice from this coaching staff as well. They’ve clearly they feel like ident they’ve identified that Yoru is broken. They’re saying Gem can get on the Yoru almost all the time and it’s such a good fit for him as a person and we’re seeing that play out in the stats. Absolutely. And you guys have pointed out Genji’s Lotus, but I think we are almost certainly going to see an ice box based on their past performances, respectively. Yeah, potentially. I mean, it is one of those things where we need to start to ask uh are these teams going to take risks in the veto and play maps that are not as repped, not as tested, maybe newer in towards the map pool. It’s been a very, very big strength for RQ. They have been early adopters of Ascent coming back in, Icebox coming back in. So, if anyone’s going to take a risk in the veto, it’s not going to be Geng. They’re probably just going to pick something they’re used to. RQ might be a little bit riskier with it perhaps. Yeah, I mean, I’m definitely interested. I think RQ should have that flexibility. We see the bands coming out now. RQ taking out Haven, which does mean, of course, Geng are going to be picking that Lotus. Yeah, Genji taking out Fracture. They’ve been banning that map in map out for the last four series in a row. And they also did get slapped on uh by RQ in kickoff. So, I don’t think they want to be going back to that same ground. Out comes the ice box pick though, Vic. Um, you did you’d expected this one uh in this series. Yeah, I mean they’re both good at it. Why wouldn’t they both play it and see who’s the better Ice Boxer? I mean, RQ’s picked that one up. I mean, Genji, we saw them play the Yoru Ko comp before and it was fantastic against Talon, but I don’t think they’re going to be playing against Harour this time. Yeah, I do think it definitely interacts a little bit differently if you don’t have all those walls that you want to flash through. But overall, this is a very standard veto. This is a veto that both teams will have thoroughly prepped for. So, I think uh there’s no real surprises here. This is very straight heads up Valerant. Lotus will be our first map and as we’ve highlighted, this has been a fantastic map for Geng, but also on the other side, you know, RQ have been enjoying it. We saw them CRX last week in that close overtime map three. They adopt a bit of a different style. They like that breach teao. So, I think I wouldn’t expect to see any compositional changes here. Both these teams like to play the same way. Yeah, earlier on in the year this was not a good map for RQ, but now that they’ve gone on to this Yoro Breach Teao comp that they’ve been playing game in game out, they’ve had a very good strike rate on it. They’re 3 and one overall. They’re beating some of the best teams in the competition on Lotus. Um the only loss that they had was versus Secret at the end of the group stage in a game where I really didn’t get the sense that RQ were very locked in. So, I think honestly this is quite a strong bat pick for RQ. And I think having it picked into them is going to give them a lot of confidence in this veto. Yeah, I think this is going to be a really close one. I think we’re going to go full distance and split whatever it is. It’s going to be a ton of fun here. I will be talking about predictions with you guys once we send it down to the stage, but this is going to be a huge deal. If RQ win this today, this is going to be the first time they’ve qualified to a Pacific finals. They’ve gone further than they’ve ever gone before, but they are going against Genji, the one team that likes to stop them in their tracks. We’re going to send it down to the stage and welcome the teams for today’s match. Here I am now. What you waiting for? Got the rings. Yeah, we on the floor. Make the best. Get ready for the ride. Let’s fly. [Music] 2025 VCT Pacific stage [Music] One rise pacific. [Music] [Music] [Music] Genji. [Music] It’s been a season of recalibration for Pacific’s very first Masters winning team. Genji losing superstar Meteor has left a void, but the foundation of last year’s super squad remains intact. There’s Texture, Munchkin, and Karan still holding the line. Yeah, after coming back from that masses win last year, they were immediately rocked. Kickoff did not go their way. They finished third, which is good, but not good enough for this team. They missed out on the last Masters event. They’re looking to get back there as soon as they can and get back into a Pacific final where this team belongs. Meanwhile, RRQ is on the rise. These are their opponents today. They finally broke through their first ever Masters event in Toronto. It’s been a long road under coach Ewok, marked by calculated roster changes and a very bold IGL switch mid-season. But despite their momentum, they’re facing a familiar foe. The very team that has denied them year after year. The question is, can RQ finally conquer their old nemesis, Royal Genji once again slam the door shut on their chance at their very first Pacific finals? Yeah, it’s time to get that monkey off their back. They have lost way too many times. They got knocked out by Genji way too many times in Pacific. They need to ride this momentum of going into an international event. They have had players, star players that have never been in better form. It is now or never for RQ to make their first Pacific final against Geng here. And with the coaches coming out, I kind of wish they walked out with their assistant coaches cuz I think we at Pacific love their assistant coaches as much as we love the head coaches on both squads. Yeah, arguably the most important, most crucial role on any team. Of course, the assistant coach. No bias. Oh man. Yeah, the veto again here coming up. And like we say, this is a very, very straightforward veto. I think both these teams could have predicted exactly these three maps. This is where their focus will have been all week. There’s no tricks. There’s no surprises. No one’s trying to cheese here. This is going to be straight up prep. I actually really like that. You know, they just have to show the best of what they’ve got. Yeah, for sure. I mean, uh, both of the the coaching staffs really performing similar roles. Like both Ewok and and Solo, the heart and soul of their teams. The assistant coaches are both very well known for their prep, for their anti strat, and that’s going to come in very clutch in this series. Oh my god. Big time. You are all cowards. You’re cowards who are afraid of change. Look at Okay, to be fair, look at this audience prediction. It is 50/50 split down the middle. To be honest, I have been going uh against the RQ curse. My RQ predictions have been cursed. With that said, I I do think Gingi is slightly favored here. I mean, you can see the predictions here and on the Korean broadcast side. It’s hard not to. We’ll get the agent select coming out here. Neither one of these teams changing up too much. Stylistic difference of the breach, Teao, Yoru, Jenkin is dominating Pacific on this agent. And Raku is very comfortable playing this comp. They’ve got a lot of success on this map thus far. Starting out on the defense here. Yeah, Genji’s style much more different. This is exactly what they’re used to. Keep an eye on Munchkin. He’s so good on this Viper. The way he finds lurks, the way he finds timings. And when we get over to that defensive side, Foxy 9 on this Vice has been lighting up the server. They trust him to be able to hold down these sights. But he’s going to have a tough job today against the heavy heavy util that RQ are presenting. I’m looking forward to seeing how RQ can kind of target this one. They do have an execution based comp that they can really try to target what you’re going to be seeing from Geng. Their trends are well established. They’ve played the same comp, the same way for such a long time now, and this is where we need to see RQ be able to bring some fantastic prep into this one. But there you go. This man’s been thrown back in the lineup. And this will, I guess, be his 100th map here in a crazy way. Foxy 9, I keep forgetting how experienced he is at this point in Pacific. He still feels he’s got this like rookie, young, youthful energy. I wish I could read that. Morgan, could you read that? Um, your Korean is phenomenal. I could. Yeah. Oh, you know, he’s not going to tell us though. We got more Korean for you. Uh, it’s about texture. I can read that part. Yeah, texture ace. Texture ace. Perfect Korean. Yeah. See, I just got told that was right by my producer. I’m a genius. Let’s go. Not right about many things, but that’s a good start. Well done, mate. All right. Well, again, happy birthday, Pilsky. And we have two casters today who are very familiar with this particular matchup. It’s Achilios and Paper Thin. That we are. Here we are again. Genji versus RQ, DRX versus Paper X. The two inevitabilities of Pacific clashing in one large day. And that second series will determine who is going to be going over to Masters Toronto. But for now, it’s about to settle who is going as that first seed into the grand finals here to close out stage one. This is an exciting grudge match, right? You’ve got two teams who are so wellversed with each other. It’s déja vu to see them here again. Except this time it’s in a position where the stakes are not exactly the highest as they could have been per se, but you’ve got that, you know, trip to the grand finals on the line here. You want to be that top seed. You want to have those extra bands. You want to be that team who’s going to win Pacific, you know, and especially for RRQ. Something to prove, you know, you’ve never been able to get this far. Now you have the chance to go even further for Genji. They’re looking for a return to dominance being the number one team of the region. getting into that grand final first and foremost for RRQ. It’s achieving that for the very first time while also conquering one of the biggest demons that they have faced. Will immediately start get off to the races here. Karan sliding in around the backside of Rumble and it seems like they are not prepared for this at all. Crazy guy able to find one but suddenly things spiral out of control as the one two tap comes in and Munchkin gets a followup. Yeah, who else? Karan there going to come up huge with a double kill. had had a few rough games here and there this stage, but if he can step up for Genji, they are going to be fearsome. The fragging power out of control. The double stack for RRQ going to be attempted. You’ve got the paranoia on a snake fight. That’s it for util one. Finds two. Bit more damage dealt there, but that’s going to be the pistol going the way of Genshi. Starting things off right here on this attacker side. Yeah, just a a clean break into the rubble area. And they’re able to find a couple good kills. A good flash as well from Foxy9 to back up Munchkin on the followup after Karan’s two-piece just to swing around the corner and they’re just not ready. They’re soling the line. They’re not anticipating that he’s got that far and a little bit of a oopsies there for RRQ. But the end of the day, Genji, good post plants. Pretty much had won the round off the rip. And from there going out, smooth sailing into now their anti-EO. A rifle for texture, a bulldog for Ash, Guardian for Karon, and a couple pistols. So willing to lose a couple players in this round. RGNG try to carry over some bigger weaponry into that bonus. And they’re just checking, looking to see where’s the stack. This is so common on these EOS, especially on Lotus, that you know, maybe there’s going to be a 4-1 somewhere. Munchin’s going to go exploring. Talking about one of those pistols might be losing it here. Yep, Jumpkin will be able to find that kill. Does go down to 10 HP. the ghost can be picked up and passed over to somebody else. But that’s good info. You know, now that likely the stack is going to be on A. And that being said, Geng seems to think that maybe RQ would have rotated off of that with just Munchkin being the player that they saw. Typically, you know, Munchkin’s going to be on his own quite often for Gen. So, that’s not too bad of a read, but it’s a good kill for Ash. Genkin trying to scale forward here off the back of the salvos. find somebody there with that stun, but Tankshire still able to go ahead and find the head shot as now sight’s going to be turned in towards V. The blast back forward. It’s going to be Foxy 9 actually collecting the eliminations here. Sparrow will find that other kill. But as you’re talking about, all of the weapons will be collected, carried forward as Genji get a relatively clean anti-eco. Yeah, not bad at all. Just checking again to see if there was presence on a Ash confirms. Gets a kill. Sure, you kill Munchkin, but again, those two pistols, those two ghosts, totally fine to lose. Yeah. Yep. Really nicely done. Texture goes bounding in. Voxy gets a couple kills with the ghost himself. And uh I I look forward I look forward to some kind of texture reaction today. I’m sure there will be plenty. It’s the best. I mean, we have two of the the most boisterous players on stage with him and Men on the opposite side. It’s going to be Jimkin, though getting involved, statuesque as always, but finds the head shot. And Texture gets taken down nice and early here in the round. It’s definitely quite the dichotomy between uh some of those players. Jebkin definitely very locked in most of the time. There’s Manette. Texture going to be vibing a bit more for you. Munchkin already tucked all the way up behind the door, listening for sound cues to try to make some reads uh for his squad and maybe see if he could catch anybody. Tries to get a little bit too far, but this drone gets cleared before it checks Munchkin’s position. So again, they’re setting up for the lurk now to rotate to the other side of the map. Try to let Munchkin try to see if he can find a free pick. Ash is going to clear some space with the fade utility. That’s going to bring out the response here from the Viper. I’m risking around and Munchkin. He’s swooping in closer and closer and doesn’t nearly have the transfer there on for a second, but Manette able to put him down and that’s now going to be a two a player rather advantage here for the side of RQ. He looked to deny a bonus conversion. Geng however forward into the site. Still a late lurk from Foxy 9, but no one swinging through B. Still has a potential for a backstab over at Waterfall, but you can see the ping coming down. It seems like they’re reading this quite well. It’s pretty standard, Genji. They want to get through and lurk under your back when you’re trying to get that retake to go. Sees the hold him at bay there for the moment. Manette pulls off for just a little moment there and then Foxy 9 swoops in. Is able to find the kill. Brings it now to parody. 3v3. Straving forward. Karan good for the transfer in now. Just crazy guy left. He’s just got no way to clear this out. Will just slowly drift away. Try to hold on to the weapon. But that’s going to be a big bonus conversion for the side of Gen. as fault line. Will it connect? It’s going to be a little bit too shallow. It’s going to be util as Karan collects himself in third in the round. Huge, huge bonus win here for Genji and it’s just classic sort of Genji play style. Munchkin loves these kind of rounds where he’s able to get deep into enemy territory. Just kind of wait it out, get that kill, get that trade. That’s fine. Foxy finds the perfect timing. And you know, it used to be Meteor who was on those lurks. Now you’ve got Foxy finding his kind of groove in that system. I mean, I think one of the things that going back to Jenji earlier in this part of the year when Foxy 9 comes in on the Sentinel roll was he was having trouble finding those timings on those lurks and that was probably a reason why they might have set him down and texture just gets one off the rift. Jump is gone. The revenge for the previous round there. Texture seeing that jump as well knows that Kushet is going to be nearby. There’s K just spraying him out. Able to go ahead go ahead find that one. Texture finding Monet at the same time. Further damage dealt. Genji all but assuring that thrifty is impossible as orbit pick up gets texture now that rocket here for the next round as well might be able to do some damage with this Bucky but outside of that you wouldn’t expect anything too crazy stinger hand for crazy guy though sometimes that can get you a one and done. Yeah, Munchkin, I’m not sure if you want to peek that one with the Outlaw opt to uh back away. Texture, however, seems to favor his odds and will just eventually go ahead get the adjustment. Three piece for him. Crazy guy dead. That’s going to be a flawless here. The follow up as Gen Z now up four to zero. It starts to get real concerning for RRQ on this defender side. The bank account going to be very flush for the side of Gen on top of having some ultimates to boot just Oh, right before the flash bloomed. He got the He got the spot. Kon just leading the charge. Texture covering him. Watching those tracers through the smoke. One enemy remaining. Very nicely done. Genji looks in cruise control. Classic Gen off to the races so far. As mentioned, Showstopper is available. Texture blast packing forward. Expar here by himself. Showstopper now going to be drawn in. Oh, spots him out right there in the smoke and texture is able to collect it. No chance of escape here for X. Farrell just coming at him way too quickly. Sheer wall set up is going to alert this flank coming in from behind as texture on the Wow. Swing just manages to plant his feet and find Crazy Guy’s head. And now given that you have given this up with the shear wall, you have to call for the three player safe. RQ just have to let Genji move up 5-0. You have to anticipate that there’s also going to be a timeout on the back end of this. Well, and this is why when you hear people talk about some of the best duelist in the world, this round right here is why texture is always in the conversation. He just wins you around on his own. Yes, he has the ultimate. Yes, he has the showstopper, but it’s that follow-up kill into Se Hall that really blows things open. I mean, of course, there’s the protocols behind with the the shear wall and all that, but it’s Texture winning you this round all by himself almost. I mean, just crazy good stuff from him. He looks really sharp today. I think in stage one in particular, texture has looked back to last year’s form, back to when he was just one of those guys who is going to win you tons of rounds. And he’s going to kick indoors for you. Seems like Jenji, this little adjustment as well. Very nicely done. 78 HP, no problem. Takes down the IGL of RQ on the backside. And yeah, timeout time for Ewok and company try to figure this out. I mean, this is their map picked. This is Genji’s map pick. This is strength to strength for both teams, right? You know, some of their best maps in terms of Lotus first, Icebox second. And uh Genji is just looking ready and raring to go back to another Masters and try to get another one, another title. Yeah, obviously both teams already have that ticket confirmed. They will be going to Toronto. But for RQ being able to be the first seed into a grand final for the first time, get that advantage in that series. It would be absolutely monstrous here for them. But sometimes that pressure, especially when you’re going up against a team like Genji who has a strong record versus you, that pressure can be very much working against you. We’ll see though what the adjustments look like here for RQ. Still are on this defending side. They don’t need to scrape together too many rounds to be able to make a go of this as long as the players come online cuz we know what kind of impact Gemkin can have, but right now it’s not really being seen. Yeah, and this is a tough ask for RRQ and their coaching staff. Gen’s done a really good job of showing a bunch of different looks, a bunch of different plays off of taking early rebel control or not seating it over. You know, do they readress into that space? How aggressively do they reagress into that space? Do they want to just get a kill and dip out like they did on the anti-eco? Do they want to control some of this territory to get Munchkin set up now? That poison cloud going to land. So, you know, Munchkin is over here, but you don’t know what’s going to be on the back side of it. That’s what makes it so tricky. He’s going to tuck himself into this corner again, but this time he immediately pops the door. He’s letting them know. So, it’s so hard to read. Looking for the timing. Tries to go out for it, but Munchkin just too snappy. Gets the readjustment. Genkin now dropped once again here. First casualty of the round. Mana Xparrow considering a double face and Munchkin still doing well to come away with a second kill there. Texture bouncing bounding forward has the haunt reveal. Swings in. I don’t think Crazy Guy had any idea of his position but Cushy similarly able to go ahead catch Foxy 9 off guard but then texture still there on the site. Swings in from behind. Exper now has to clutch this out. Battle recovered, but he is just straing forward and texture. A little bit of misalignment there to begin, but eventually gets himself the 3k. 2x that for the score. I need a weapon. Well, this is just a phenomenal round from Munchkin and Texture in particular. I mean, again, Munchkin doing something he hasn’t done yet, which is opening that door. And he’s just ready for a player to be tucked behind that box. Wins a couple duels. A good reveal from Ash. He pays he pays the price throwing that haunt gets killed but that sets up texture to create that extra flank angle to eliminate Cushy at the front of C main and then just again aggressively push I I don’t know what he said I didn’t hear I was talking I should I should have stopped yapping another classic perhaps all right well Jumpkin played for an early what do you think would be more effective at cheering somebody up a video of puppies or a video of just texture freaking out. Oh, for me, texture. Yeah, I feel like it’s I feel like it’s close. He is like a puppy. You’re right. It is kind of I mean, he’s so excited about the smallest things. The the video of him spilling coffee on his desk the other day was hilarious. I need to see that one. So funny. Mot spotted, but has he spotted Munchkin? Seems like yes. Slow down on the jiggle peeking. Cushy though, swooping forward. Maybe they don’t have the read after all. Munchkin. Oh, doesn’t anticipate the reposition. It’s a nice little slide back from Manette. Gets him out on a wider angle. So, is able to trade that out, but that’s your TJO gone. A lot of your delay tactics. A lot of your retake potential not in hand here for the round. Yeah, you’re just going to have to try to fight your way through now. A lot of pressure on Ash to set things up. Manette actually just repositioning into the site. set up here. Try to crunch off the back of this Rolling Thunder, but they can’t play off the back of it here. So, the stun’s going to be waited out, but there’s going to be 20 seconds remaining in the round here for Geng. Just a hair too early from Crazy Guy. Not spotting anything. Crazy guy still kind of reading this late lurk time though. Pivot into B. He’s trying to buy this, but his eyes away from main. Foxy 9 there to capitalize. The spike now going to be planted. It’s Barrow. Just going to be banking that snake bite in, but loses his life. Jimkin now is asked to do it all. a 1v4 with Fox Boxy watching the angle, hitting the head shot. 70 now the score line. RQ need to be considering that second timeout call here in the half. This is rough because GenG hasn’t really had to invest alts. They’ve just been cruising. Nice reposition there from Manette. And then the snake bite also missed. Ash didn’t take any damage from this snake bite. So that was a little bit off. Everything kind of offkilter for the side of RQ here on their defender side of Lotus. You’ve got the pit, you’ve got Jenkins al, you’ve got Kushi’s alt, but you’re on an eco. How much are you willing to invest? They literally right at the moment have 11 kills collectively on the side of RQ. Texture has that for himself. They are just getting outfragged and outthought at the moment for sure. I mean, they are losing a lot of the 1 v ones and then the follow-ups at times as well. Tuck two right behind the rock should Oh, it goes deep. Checks behind Rubble. Checking out wide. Sheriff in hand. No util to check this. Ash is suspecting it though. They know how much space they’ve given up on that C side of the map. Have eyes on it here for the moment. The shear wall as well to protect as they push forward in towards a main and rubble. Crazy guy line here at the ready. It’s going to be another slow going round and right now Munchkin is actually in behind JKin. Eyes turning back over. He’s going to catch a glimpse. JKin still unscouted. Texture bounding around does fall. Jimkin able to find the head but Karan is there for the trade out. Equalizes it. And now they’re just going to look to try to juggle these weapons away. Help. Help. Help. That was my texture impression. 30 seconds left. Yeah. And Fox has shown that he has a future in the Valor in Carnival as a juggler perhaps as he is continuing to hold this angle just keep these weapons out of hand. Crazy guy taken down. Swing out eventually finds the spray. Cushy gone. Munchkin saying, “Yeah, why take a chance? Send the pit.” Drops it on the site and guarantees the round here for Geng. Guarantees this flawless round over round play. It’s been crazy. They’ve been mostly really good. I mean, the only small mistake they’ve made is Gemkin got into C lobby without anybody noting it. They lost texture for it. Big deal. You still win the round. They’re still going to have a bunch of alts coming into this next one. So, well worth using that Viper pit there. Got a great opportunity to really clamp down on things. Might as well go for it. Karan has the shorty in the back pocket. Switches over. Ash with the Outlaw. like to see the Outlaws being used really effectively for Geng operator now for JMKin. Big round here for RQ. Can turn it on its head. He misses the first shot. Going out a little bit wide there. Texture able to get himself forward. He is one charge away from having that showstopper. An orb right here in front of him. See if he goes for the tap and he will now at the ready. Both flash packs obviously committed suppress now going to be connecting as well. Texture just bounding back and gets forced into the open and this time the op shot does connect. Nice little setup there from Cushy with the Armageddon. Pushes out the raise and they’re able to capitalize. Kill is found. Seal guard now however going to be invested here on the side. Karan trying to swoop in off the back side of that one is unable to do so. One yet over at Mound finds Munchkin. Best chance in a round that RQ has found so far as Karan takes aggressive space. Immediately gets the tap looks for the transfer for the third. Cannot. But what damage is dealt? 2v3 now with Foxy tucked here at stairs. TP forward. Bonet basically shoulderto-shoulder and Foxy some damage dealt but kill not found. Paranoia going to be dodged out. Ash has to do it all. Spots the first. Looks for the transfer but Cushy will stand tall. 13-0. No more. RQ will get themselves online and on the board here in round number nine. This is just a tremendous counterplay here by Cushy. Great ideas. Uh they know that they’re going to feed this alt orb to Texture so you can send out the drone, nullify texture alt briefly, and then counter with your own Armageddon off of Genji’s Nightfall to isolate Texture, put him in a really uncomfortable position, and he walks out into the open of JK’s operator. So that round well thought out, welld designed, and well executed. RQ finally gets the big win. They keep the OP so they can keep their economy. Okay, you they’re still able to get the rifles, a few half armors here and there, but all well that ends well. Still have that showstopper to consider. And this time it’s going to be Munchkin taken down. Jimkin finding the first shot. Does have this dimensional drift in case things get a little bit dicey. Gate crash is set up in waterfall here for the moment. Prowler waits it out. Eventually clears it. This time showstopper going to be sent in towards the back. Crazy guy however able to trade it out. Texture dead before the rocket can connect. Player advantage still going to be here for RQ. Spike planted. Karan trying to take a cheeky angle. Swap of the weapons. It’s Foxy trying to play it unexpected timing perhaps. Ash gets two crisp shots and Cushy and Xarrow now suddenly eliminated tucks back around the corner. The fake out leading the charge. The real thing however finding the kill. Double face coming in. Manette to collect or Q now finding their second round win. All right, starting to get it together. Had to throw some ultimates there with a gemkin but Genji not able to find those favorable trades. You know, yeah, you get the showstopper, but that’s immediately dealt with by Crazy Guy. That opening pick from JKin. Very important that he’s going to find those. So many of these rounds are coming down to which duelist can break things open first. That is disgusting from Ash. Jkin here just leading the charge around the corner. Ash knows they’re coming, but not much he can do there. Two players coming through now. A little bit of confidence and Odin from Met. Let’s see what RQ can get done. Looks like just the two controllers for Geng going to contest Rubble. And that’s going to be a TP forward by Karan. Dodge some of those bullets. None of them connecting. Paranoia at the ready. Knows he’s in there. Maybe he’s thinking about a smoke now and will go ahead and send one door going to be broken. Double face out. Car going to be taken down as Cushy finds texture. It’s another great start to round here from RQ. OP shot not going to connect this time around. Foxy is able to go ahead and scale forward a bit. This flash not quite connecting the shorty almost takes him down but does not confirm the kill. Foxy with a sliver does manage to hold on. Munchkin similarly getting head shot falls down to about half HP but still does manage to go ahead stay alive. Stealth drone going to be cleared. Munchkin collects the operator. He’s going to go to ahead and look to peek in at Waterfall. holds the angle. Cannot readjust. Timing going to be found as the stun goes in. Ash able to dodge this one out. Salvos and everything thrown at him. Pitch sync may as well be chucked in. He just wants to peek the angle. Eventually is able to get him to do so as Ash looks to try to clutch this one out. I don’t think he has. It’s just being held. Manette, he’s got the one way to try to play off of and Ash cannot realign the spray. Damn narrow margins, but RQ clinch out another round win now. three consecutive looking to get themselves up to that four and eight half. Well, this time RQ has a good plan for that Gen player that’s trying to tuck in outside a door. Got a couple players stacked towards the destructible door at a link themselves and Munchkin there. Two huge kills to nullify the pit, but switches over to the OP and isn’t sure if someone’s tucked into the cubby on his right hand side. It’s kind of caught switching back and forth. Nice attempt again. I mean, Ash has hit some snappy shots on C site. Yeah, it’s only got seven kills, but pretty much all of them have just been nice little one taps. Yeah, stun in looking for the Armageddon. And that is texture dead. Great little trap play off the rip here from the side of RQ. There’s jump peak. See Munchkin and Kushi’s going to slowly drift away. Say, no, I’m not going to go for that again. Foxy good last time at predicting Jimkin’s angle. is able to jiggle it well enough. Doesn’t seem he wants to push any further forward. Doesn’t want to push his luck just yet. Maybe waiting for a little bit more space to be taken at C. Still again just Xeral holding the line at C for now. Although Cushy starting to make his way over. So this could work out pretty nicely for Gen. They’re able to bait the drone out. Just a little bit of pressure, but that shot from Jenkin. It’s the tap of the door from Gen in response to the stealth coming out that gives Jenkin the angle. Foxy unable to clear it previously. Munchkin shot going wide. Three players now left standing. Just Karan with an ultimate. Ash dead means that you don’t have that nightfall as flash going to be sent. Jimkin does go ahead eats the lion share of it, but he’s got the quick exit from the gate crash. Karan now going to be tping into the back of a site, but Monette is still holding a lobby with this rubble control. Push out. Snaps down. Munchkin dead. Now Foxy 9 needs to try to work his way over here, but the OP has further reinforced the position. Enemy remaining. Cover going up. And he’s clutch for Kron to get a 9 and three half. Otherwise, RQ dragging this back as much as they possibly could. Cover going up. Good luck. This ain’t going to be easy. Certainly not. Left him behind the tree, but no one on the approach from that angle. Every single player from RQ is here in the sight. Peaks looks for the first one. The off scaling forward, finds a tap on the one. gets a shot into the shoulder of GMKin and in the end RQ will be able to go ahead and collect four rounds here in the back end of this half covering it as much as humanly possible as they get ready to go on the attack. Yeah, that it’s a phenomenal play once RQ is able to get into that operator that really gave Genji fit. So many of those opening picks start going the way of RRQ and it made things really really challenging. And that’s a great setup again. A nice little trap place. You can see some of these ideas, some of these designs that RRQ had coming in in this map able to come to fruition uh later in the half. But was that eight round streak that Geng was able to run going to be too much for them to overcome? I was getting worried there for a second that I miscounted rounds cuz like they went back and it was like 83 and I’m like, did I pull a lock? No, the HUD just had a little bit of a But we’re all good. Little bit of a heart there. Stuttered for a brief little moment. Hey, look at who it is. RB back over here visiting cutest human being. They’re going to say each other. How adorable. But of course, Bin Bon, one of our Korean commentators, there’s the day off. Decided to bring our be back into the studio. Yeah, such a nice guy. Came and talked to us for a little bit. Asked him how igling is going. He said it’s difficult, hard. I don’t think that many IGL’s would disagree with that. No, is very challenging of course and uh we’ll see Genji over to the defender side. RRQ a chance to maybe turn this map on its head a bit. That four round streak might be in the back of Genji’s brains a bit. They looked so good early, but again that operator started giving them really big problems. That is an incredible drawing. Yeah. Wow. ever the artists are Korean fans. Let’s see though how RQ fars dropped the opening pistol. Started that monstrous eight round win streak here for the side of Gen. Very much need to see them try to pick this one up. Jimkin working his way forward. Boombot not going to scout him. Oh, sure. Makes it back around the opposite side of the wall and will just slide in over here at a 4-1 stack essentially for Genji. But RQ’s making good reads with JMKin getting that space for free. Not being identified by texture. Just saw a player. Cushy spotted that TJO might give away enough here for Genji to start going for these moves. But look at Xaroh watching this lurk on however spot with the double face there able to go ahead and take him down. So kills found texture now playing dodge the player is just shifting away from RQ waiting for some reinforcements to join in here on this a site which RQ know that for the moment is secure to try to clear Kushy taking some forward space ends up getting taken down. Jimkin riding the rope he’s able to trade one back there snaps up finds another head shot. A third kill for him, but texture will pick up a 3k. Spike never planted. Genji two for two in pistols and now up nine to four. Ah, that’s brutal for RRQ. Looked like they might be able to fight their way back. Some trickery on the ropes, but a great haunt again. Ash has come come in very, very big with some of this fade util set up his other teammates. Chempkin there. Oh, that second was nasty. Right out of the air to get K on texture. Back to what we saw in the first half of this map. Crisp clean. Has to be all classics for RRQ. Not able to get that plant down. Not able to get a little extra cash. Maybe buy a sheriff or two or something. But Munchkin gonna have that judge holding right around the B door. And instead RQ is going to be dodging a lot of this. But little bit of contact off of a Prowler prompts Karan to get his clash. Oh, he took a bunch of damage. Yeah, down to 72. I think the rest of the Katch he’s now going to be sent. Genji just throwing some delay util. There’s texture peeking out from stairs. Able to find one. Ash crossfire set up from the baby door. finds money on yet. Scouting a little bit more as texture continuing to push forward. Finds Sparrow. Caron just straight across. Spectre in hand. Finds it and it’s going to be another 3K backto back for texture. So, one charge away from a showstopper as we go into Gen’s bonus here in the second half. It’s now 187 and one. This is extremely concerning for RQ because believe it or not, defender side is actually one of the better sides of this map for Gen. Like they they generally go positive. Like at worst they’re going even on their defender side in a lot of their matches. Even in like in the loss uh the last loss they had which was against T1 in the lower finals uh last stage like or excuse me yeah last stage like they went six and six on their defender side. So like this is really painful for RQ. This is a really stalwart GenG team. Yep. Wall falls. So too does Gemkin cut in half by the judge. Karan looking for the peak. Wow. Just snaps in for it. She wall raised spike on the opposite side of it in a snake bite there to defend. RQ is going to have to save the two weapons that they still have in hand. You would suspect strafing forward does manage to come away with a kill. Picks one off, but I don’t think Geng are going to be too bothered by it whatsoever. See if they try to still make a go of this. It’s definitely not going to be easy. Weapon upgrade there available for Crazy Guy, but doesn’t want to make the noise. Yep. Kiron seems to be reading it perfectly but doesn’t get the shot perfectly. Wide swings out. Crazy guy able to find that kill but 25 seconds unless they want to start sprinting in debate. This round is already over. Yep. Not much else to do. Just hold the angles at this point for both teams. I mean again, you know, Gen G just so aggressive. gets right up behind that toxic screen initially with a judge and punishes Jenkin just trying to gain a little bit of space. Ash close saw him but crazy guy I don’t think going to give him the opportunity. That should be onto the next round and it’s another bonus conversion for Gen. I mean they are just monstrous here on this map. They have been really really good so far this year other than their one loss to T1. This has been their map. Naru some ideas there on that defender side but it it’s probably too little too late now. Yeah, dimensional drift the only real thing to speak of here as Genji just setting out a season aid combination. Showstopper in hand here for texture swooping forward getting caught off guard. Crazy guy finds two. Shmpkin finds another and suddenly Cheni are on the back foot in a major way. Two players versus five. Weapons upgraded. RQ looking right as rain. What just happened? I don’t know. Last player standing. Spike planted. I mean Foxy 9 just walks into the site, gets taken down. I think it’s Munchkin here. No reason to try to do much else. Maybe you want to get those orbs. That’s about all you really can do at this point. This round is door shut, move on to the next. And that was strange. I mean, Texture never even pulled the Showstopper. I mean, I get it. They were Some of them were on an eco, but they carried some guns over. I think it’s worth I think it’s worth going Showstopper there. I mean, just end the map. Do some emotional damage to this RQ squad. Get into Icebox as fast as possible instead. This is This is a This is a replay round. This is a round that we need to see the replay is what I mean to say. Yeah. Yeah, I agree. Not not like a replay round. We have to replay the round. This is we’re not going to be yet. We know we’re going to keep moving forward here. But what happened is my question bunch of util breach util. Yeah. Clean shots off that. I mean just TPing from behind from JMKin. Just counteracts the attempted crunch play here from Geng. Yeah, just really well set up. Trapped the player in the corner. hit some good classic shots. Oh well, says Genji. We’ve got enough for an operator already anyway into an Odin. Plus, we have a showstopper. Still Jenka though with his alt. Let’s see what they can do off the back of that. He’s going to let loose with his TP over towards the B site. Little bit of spam early, but no pressure from the side of RQ towards Rubble. Here we go. Dimensional drift in play. Actually TPS right off the rip with it. Throws out another one. He’s going to go see what’s going on over towards C. maybe set up the team for a big hit. Oh my god, never check behind. Yep. Goes for the exit and Fox United able to immediately put him down. Similar scenes here for Manette. Carol just up and over the top. There’s the bound forward the double check and cool guys do not look at explosions. Just faces away and immediately knows that he’s gone expired dead to right. Nothing left to do but try to save SQ. It’s a tough spot to be in and the orb or pick up is just kind of giving away the position a little bit more. I mean, you’re stuck stuck here on mound. Texture just holding with an OP over towards your spawn. And if they decide to fight for the space, which I think Genji will, got to be a bit careful here, Texture, though. Don’t want to drop this operator. It does not have the money for another one and whiffs the shot. Slides back whiffs the follow-up shot. Okay, crazy guy with a nice head shot. Are they sprinting in for a plan? I think it’s just sprint to it in behind Rubble here. Surely 10 seconds left. I don’t They might. They’re going to try to make a go of this. Cushy looking for a flank. Well, the time’s just not there either way. So, can maybe get some plant money, but Karan is just going to say no. The N’s out way. OP is scooped up by Munchkin. So they’re able to go ahead and keep their hands on that. 12 to five map point now here in hand for Gen. Smooth sailing able to recover the OP it looks like. So all is well that ends well for Gen there. Nice little up and over for Kon. Yeah, texture great with the showstopper. Not so good with the operator, but that’s okay. Just all over the map for Genji being so proactive. really punishing RQ and RQ is going to pull their last time out. Again, this is more about mental stability than anything. I mean, look, this team could go on a run. I don’t doubt it, but you want to make sure that they’re not getting too down on themselves. Get a couple wins here. Going to ice box feeling better. Yeah, just a quick little pump of the brakes. Make sure all is going to be well here before this map comes to a conclusion. [Music] or they run back seven in a row. Strange things have have occurred. Yeah, I mean, look, Genji ran eight in a row, so so could do it. I suspect that it’s going to be the former though. Yep. Fans looking to spur them onward here to Toronto and beyond. Absolutely. I mean, nobody wants to go up against this Genji team. They are so good. they’re on point especially like obviously you know the fragging power of this team but you know as they’ve been progressing this year with these new players uh the the coordination the reads have been looking better and better and better Munchkin is finding his groove again I mean it just could be that when spring rolls around that’s when Munchkin wakes up out of his hibernation spring rolls spring rolls oh that does sound really good right now Yep this time able to hit the Three peaks. Bots have multiple and cannot get away with the blast pack at the same time. Gemkin over outside. Rubble here. Finds the head shot on to Ash. Karan on the hunt, but lifts the opening shots. And looks like both players widely going to be going their separate ways. Sees sight still targeted here for the side of RQ for the moment as Munchkin still creeping in behind the boxes on red. Absolutely unexpected and absolutely unpunished. Two kills found. Two players remaining to the side of RQ. Kushian Manette refacing back in. A bit of damage suffered here. He looks for more. Presses forward. Dodges the stun. Finds the third and will be taken down. Seems like 3k is all that anyone’s going to get on the side of Genji for this map. Double stack here at B main. Manette asked to clutch this out. They’re going to be moving over towards B here pretty quick. Are they going to going to stack together is the big question. Yep. Go. Nope. And there you go. This will just hound him down. 13 to five. A dominant showing from Genji on their map pick of Lotus. Swiftly dismatching RQ and taking that first step towards being the first seed into the grand final here at stage one of Pacific. That was impressive to say the least. I mean, yes, they’re map pick, but still they were dominant. I mean, that four round run that RQ was able to string together again, get the operator in hand, and they were able to really kind of shut down some of those early peaks and aggression that Genji was trying to take, but this looked like old school Genji. Munchkins all over the damn map. You never know where he’s going to pop up. Textures just absolutely frying on those entries. Kon in the backline doing multi-kill things that he does. Everybody looking sharp. Ash, I thought played really well with the fade. I really think some of his utility was extremely crucial to setting up texture to setting up some of these rounds. Uh clearing some space on some entries on their attacker side. And Foxy, he looks good on the works, too. So, what else can you say? This team looks well drilled right now. Yeah. All in all, maybe, you know, one or two overheats from the side of Geng. The crunch attempt not reading what they’re going up against and not really just spotting out crazy guys positions. But overall, this was a damn clean effort from the side of Geng. That being said though, we know what RQ are capable of and Ice Box is a map where they have put that on display with regularity. It’s always one of those maps that Jimkin happens to just go crazy on. But that’s what they’re going to need right now given the form that we’re seeing from Texture if they want to extend this to that third and final map of Split. But for now, we’re going to get ready to go ahead and pass things back over to the analyst desk to break down the action from Lotus. Thank you. Yep. Victoria Pilsky and big time here. And Geng, you guys called it. They’re really good at Lotus. Oh my god, I’m shocked. What a surprise. Attacking side as well. Insane. Like honestly, what a run from them on the attacking side of Lotus. They converted a mantis advantage in the bonus and they just went on a bloody tear, mate. Like there was nothing that RQ could do. They were mere passengers in that half. I mean, I I think especially when you go down so heavy at the start, zero and eight, they did come alive more in like the last bit of that half, but it’s not enough. And I mean, you go into a map like this, number one, a map where Jenji’s already so strong and you lose both pistols and both bonuses. I mean, your chances of coming out with a win become minute. I like that uh Dexter wasn’t screaming for help this time. He was just screaming for joy. He’s always screaming, aren’t they? But he was definitely screaming for joy here. Uh top bragging looking fantastic again on that raise. Uh we’ll break down a bit more about these entry uh dualists and how they how they approach the map here, but I mean everyone performed really well on Lotus for Genji. Yeah, absolutely. Frags aside, effort by committee, their macro was very very good. But I mean, we can touch on that a little bit more in detail in the future um a little bit later in the segment. But RQ, I mean, you definitely did not want to get swept aside on notice. You know that this map was coming up in the veto, but it is the Gen Classic. You know what they’re going to pick. You know what they’re going to do, but you cannot necessarily stop it. Their fundamentals are way too solid. And RQ, the approach that usually works well for them, did not go particularly well. And what I usually say about RQ is this is a team that they all show up together. It’s off of offered an effort by committee. Make no mistake, it’s led by GMKin. But lately, their individual players have been performing really well as a whole, but this game pretty much everybody but Jenkin went missing. Yeah, that’s right. In fact, let’s take a a look like a step back and take a look at the macro and how Genji approaches this. Yeah. So, I want to talk a little bit about numbers theory and having your IGL on the wing and you can see this will be a very common start to a round for a lot of teams on Lotus. You got the Viper sitting outside a main. The rest of the boys are looking to take some C mount control. Now your IGL over on the wing can hear all of this utility. He hears that there’s four players over towards A for RQ and they therefore know that it’s just a solo anchor Viper on this C side of the map. They isolate him and pick him off with the showstopper and the round is over from there. And this is something that really frustrates me playing ranked is that a lot of people they just don’t understand numbers theory on Lotus. They don’t know. Like I hear four pieces of util on a don’t go a everybody just runs out. It dies every time. Thank you. Can you preach this? People who play rank, please listen to Pillski right now. Every round I’m just staring at a wall. You know, I’m playing Senti. I put my little, you know, killjoy tyrant up facing front B. Everybody’s dead and I’m just like like you. Don’t even see where there are less people. Just go to see. Go see, guys. Please. I’m begging you. I will say I think Munchkin is one of the best at this as well. I think he understands that area of the map so so brilliantly. He’s always, you know, number one, he’s always feeding back that information that’s obvious, but he understands when the timings are. You see him lurk out all the time out there. He just dominates those fights out there. So Munchkin, this is why this is why they’re so good. He’s a Viper expert and he’s a Viper expert on this map. So it’s no surprise why they keep doing so well when the IGL is so enabled like this. It’s just instant decision making. adjusts paper and you’re able to make the the perfect call as a result. But it’s also the way he denies info to the other team. It is the biggest strength of the Viper and Genji is the team that innovated this and invented this on Lotus. They totally understand that if I put the wall up, you’re not going to know what’s going on on that side of the map. And you can pull and push rotations by just pressing a button on your keyboard. Free life hack. Yeah, free tips, guys. Listen to the desk. All right. Now, what is also classic Genji, other than perfecting that macro, is texture. Yeah, I mean, he’s coming alive. And I think the one thing Genji do so well is they really enable texture. You see him, he’s always hunting for these anti-eco kills. Sorry, the eco kills. He’s anti. Yes, he is. He’s a disgusting anti-eco fragger, but that helps you get a lot of showstoppers back to back and those are free rounds. We just saw one of them. Yeah, make no sense. It’s very, very deliberate in what they do. I think Ash and Karon do a fantastic job of setting him up and especially at the start of these games, we see them go up an 8 to0 because texture is able to get these showstoppers. fairly clean and he’s just great at his job. Yeah, 100%. For Jenkin, he was great on the openers. Actually, Texture, the only openers he was really able to find was with the Showstoppers and the rest of the time he’s dying first and Genji are picking up the pieces. But over on the side of RQ, you see all of Jenkin’s frags there. Five out of the six he got in the opening uh in the opening half there, the first half of the game were opening kills. So RQ is very consistently able to find man advantages, but they’re still not able to pick up rounds. Yeah, it was 9 to9 in opening kills this game. So they still got dominated. Yeah, I mean that’s what you need to do against this Genji team, right? You can’t give them that free first blood cuz they will just roll you. But I think it also shows the strength of Genji, the strength of people like texture where they’re always able to claw their way back into the round. We keep seeing Munchkins sit in these ratty little positions. They’re so good at it. You know, we used to have a protocol on uh one of my old teams called Genji, which is about how you’re able to kind of stay alive in these late round scenarios cuz I think when the round breaks down, this team is absolutely at their best. Yeah. Oh, absolutely. Uh and now that we are going to be heading into map two, this is going to be Icebox. Both of these teams good at ice box. Has RQ prepared this time? Yeah, the thing about RQ is they’ve beaten T1, who is horrible at this map, and DRX, who is also not good at this map. and have won lost every single time that they’ve played ice box. So RQ, look, credit where credit’s due. They’re picking Icewalks. They’re winning Icewalks. They’re only beating the opponents that are in front of them, but it doesn’t necessarily fill me with a ton of confidence that they’re going to be able to pick this one up, especially with how good Genji looked with this Yoru KO comp against Talon given that was against Harbor. And I feel like that comp plays amazing into the Harbor comp that Talon was bringing in. Maybe it won’t play as well into this comp that RQ is bringing in here, but this is what we’re seeing. We’re seeing some evolution from texture. He’s bringing out the Yoru and he’s making it look pretty damn good. Yeah, I mean I think I remember the first game we saw as Yoru. We were not as convinced, but then he settled into it and looked a lot better. Of the only changes that we’ve seen between these two compositions is, of course, Genkin stays on that jet. He stays true to himself, true to the comfort of Icebox. So, I mean, I I don’t really want to see him change. I do think Genkin is a great Yoru, but I think he’s a better jet, and I would like to see him sit on that jet. I think there’s so much you can do with Jet on this map. There’s so much the way you take advantage of all the elevation. I think it’s just such a natural fit. So, I do think there is still a fair amount of hope for this RQ team. There’s a reason why they like to pick ice box. I do think it’s a strong map for them. And I want to see a little bit of a better anti strat than we saw on that Lotus to be honest. That’s fair. I mean, to your point, the verticality for Jet on this map is super fun to watch personally. Anyway, but four times Gen has denied RQ. Three of those times was thanks to coach Solo once he took the helm over for Gen G. And yeah, we do want to see it. You were the only predictor for RQ today. Um, at least on paper, and how are you feeling now? I know you said like there’s a chance here, but how are you feeling? I mean, that that one was rough, but they lost both pistols, both bonuses. You know, it’s so hard to win a map when things go like that. I think they just need to kind of find that little bit of consistency, get the anti strat flowing, and get Gemminkin a lot more activated in this game. I mean, he is so good on this jet. We talk about it all the time. I need to see him getting more than just that first kill and then dying. Jeff’s going to get his numbers. Like, where are the rest of the boys? Where are the rest of the boys rocked up to Lotus? So, we need to see that well-rounded performance. I’ve said it a number of times now, but that is a strength of RQ right now. It’s not just a hard carry from GMK. He is undeniably the most impactful player on this team, but everyone else on RQ has been in pretty phenomenal form as well. I think Kushi was in better form in kickoff. maybe he’s fallen off a little bit in stage one and part of that’s due to how good he was on the SOA and it’s not really something you get to play as much and even here on Icebox you’re probably not going to be seeing him because you’re seeing Teao have a lot more prevalence. So look, let’s see what comps these teams are going to be bringing. If there’s going to be any change ups, any uh little adjustments that you’re going to get from these teams for Genji, you are going to see once again the same comp they’re running in with texture on the Yoro, which is the only difference in these two comps um is just the the duelist for both of these teams. Yeah, again, no surprises here. Aro is sticking with what they’ve shown before. So, once again, this is a lot like that first Lotus map where but I think both these teams knew this map was coming. Both these teams know that these compositions are coming. This is all about how you spend your week preparing. Absolutely. You got to be aware of what the trends are going to be from the Yoru on defense. The TP timings are absolutely everything and RQ needs to play around them well because they understand how Yoru functions. It’s an agent they play on almost every map. That’s right. Now we are going to go to map two and see our you can bring this at the full distance. We’re going to send it back to our casters Achilios and Paper. Thank you very much. Here we go. Ice Box once again being leaned on here from the side of RQ looking to get themselves into this series. Only five rounds acrewed in that opening map. started seeing some of the gears turning the end that first half, but couldn’t quite find their comfort nor their footing. Let’s see what happens now as we jump into this one. Should be a lot more comfortable territory for RQ. Absolutely. I mean, obviously, you know, the desk was talking about it a bit and we were talking about it. Genkin is so important on this map, but I need to see the likes of Met and others uh really getting into gear here. You know, you got to pick it up behind this duelist cuz the Genji, they’re not going to give you great opportunities in those situations. Texter took a bunch of damage off the rip there. Still going to push forward. And look at this. They’re they’re expecting this. RQ’s kind of ready. Reading this incredibly well. And he should be dead to rights and he will be does still get a good amount of damage across. Potentially an easy trade back on towards Jimkin for now. RQ in with the player advantage as and your point is going to be spotting out Karan and RQ will start shifting their way back across towards this A site where it’s only Munchkin to try to hold the line. Yeah, even though we’ve only seen one map from Genji of Ice Box. You can see RQ being really diligent on this pistol round. Want to make sure that this one over the line, but Munchkin on the timing peaks out up and over the topics. Pharaoh able to go ahead and find himself a second elimination now putting that sheriff to damn good use site opened up three-player rotation needed here from the side of Gen as they will start pivoting across 30 seconds left 3v5 going to be a tough retake to say the least had a little bit of util here and there but not much just really Ash going to have some available as the stun salvos will come online really weak staying planted here in this forward position. Bride up and over the top here from Karan. But the question is, does he look down? Cuz JKin is looking up. Push forward. Fox9 not ready for it. JKin still able to come away with one. Karin turns back, finds him on yet, but cannot get the previously tagged up jet. So just the one casualty. RQ, they will find their first pistol of this set. Go ahead and take the opening round here on Ice Box. Yes, this is a tremendous effort here by RRQ. Some good reads early. Expecting aggression somewhere on the map and find their man. take texture down and then Munchkin there trying to find that timing where he can sneak in, get a freebie and get out. But they’ve got a player up on belts already and I think maybe more players than Munchkin’s expecting in that scenario. He pays the price. The heavy stack after losing texture was still on B for Geng. So they weren’t anticipating a re-rotate uh especially with the zero point being invested from RRQ. So good change of ideas, good change of utilkin. Ooh, tries to play for it, but Salvos are out trying to box Karan in to see if they can grab this orb. Scale a little bit further forward. Kon does have that sheriff, though. Going forward. Push up. Flash is going out. And that’s going to be Foxy Ash taken down on finding one. It looks like RQ suffering the one loss. Okay, we don’t really want to play around this anymore. Let’s back away. at least fake back for a moment. See where they do end up. Like where they’ve got X Feral watching for these rotations. Munchkin just one tap away from being taken down. 26 HP on him. Knows that they’ve given up any eyes on tube. So he’s concerned about a potential push from Kitchen, but in the end’s not really going to matter too much as texture just swinging out. is able to find a timing kill, but does just leave two remaining players now as Munchkin somehow does not get hit by that stun. It’s a tiny bit of damage across, but cannot find any more eliminations. Karen will come away with a second. And it’s decent damage dealt here from the side of GMG, but RQ still start off two. Yeah, and they’re still going to keep two Vandals. So, that’s not the end of the world at all. Again, kind of showing us similar ideas. Put some pressure on to B. Uh they they get too much resistance. They swing back to the other side of the map and this time the trap from Genji is a little bit further back with texture. He just pops around the corner with that classic goes for the right click. Kan gets a couple big kills with the sheriff. So the investment well worth it I think for Gen. It is going to be an outlaw for Genkin seeing that money and there are three players are going to get one tapped by it. So this could be a little bit tricky for Gen. looking to push forward. Just around the corner here is texture and it’s instantaneous with that head shot. Is on it today. That is brutal with the phantom as well. Crazy guy. Go ahead f some of this util out from Foxy9. I like the way they’re playing the map though on this attacker side. They’re being really tricky to read. They’re throwing you a lot of different looks. And this time they’re going to use the Taho utility. They’re not baiting any rotations. Genji already wising up to this game. [Music] Hello. And he spotted him. I tagged him previously. Not sure. Is texture cheating. Do we need to investigate his PC? What is going We’ll have to see that one back in the replay. I think like you said, he’s just on one. Either way, Outlaw once again changing hands, finding no value. Zero point confirmed that no one was forward here at B, but Foxy still holding deep line from Snowman. He’s keeping eyes trained on this Viper wall. Time bounce out into the corner, but Karon is just able to hold that. Gets the kill before Stun can connect. He finds himself a third and Foxy finds the lurk. Gen will flawlessly pick up the anti- bonus round. Wow. I mean, that’s really clean. Texture again, just so fearsome on the front lines. Has full armor just in case with that outlaw, but it never is able to find him. Seems like he just had a sneaking suspicion. Had an idea. Just doing your homework there. Obviously, this map you got a little bit. You just knew. You just knew. Again, that’s preparation though. Kind of understanding the tendencies of your opponent. TJO utility still though. Texture able to grab the alt. Yeah, had to retap it as well, but there’s just no player in position trying to find a punish on him. Punch at the same time as quite a bit of damage down to 40 there. Dimensional drift now at the ready for texture. Looks like RQ though got going to slowly drift away. Crazy guy maybe just trying to keep some interest on this site by sending out the stealth drone while everybody else goes on a bit of a mission across over towards mid. But at the same time, stealth drone moving forward into the garage. Looks at the ping. Spots nothing. Gets the rather than other than the suppress I should say onto Monette. Yeah. So both teams there trying to figure out what’s going on. And drone for drone again. Crazy guy happy to try to sell these fakes. But this time he’s actually calling the forces back. Just hasn’t met anybody on the other side of this wall. So he says, “Well, let’s try and make a go of it.” But that’s the that’s the strong side. Eventually the call comes in. They say texture, go get some information. He’s going to be able to spot out four players here. Flash is now being sent to just try to go ahead and slow up the approach. The zero point as well connecting onto a multitude of players on the side of RQ. sure trying to find himself out onto the angle. Bonet finds the rope, gets across over to Nessen. Immediately plants his feet to find the kill going to be called in. That just pushes Karan out into the line of sight of four players as Ash will find one, but immediately he’s going to backpedal and look to save this weapon. Great round here. Great patience from the side of RQ and also just great shots. Yeah, it’s it’s just this extra little pause they take. You know, Texture goes out into his alt, gets a bunch of information, and then he kind of tries to get ahead of it, and they’re just already there on top of Nest when he’s swinging that corner. So, the flashes don’t really matter that he throws out, gets taken down, and yeah, some good shooting all around from RQ. They’re being really tricky on this map right now. They’re doing a great job of throwing util in places, keeping Genji guessing on what exactly the util will mean. And it’s going to be in the back of your head like when are they going to use that to drone to make a fast hit? When are they going to use some of that util from the initiators to catch you off guard to catch you off balance? So far these pauses that they’ve been taking have really been giving Geng trouble. And god that’s fast. Yeah. I mean had it been the real thing. Yeah. Would have been dead as quickly as the real thing ended up being I suppose. Yeah. Yeah. has been able to turn that. Pops a fake, swings back around, finds the real thing. So, there you go. Timeout call nice and early here from the side of Gen G. This is tough. I It’s been really tricky for them to get good reads in this round. They get the read. They understand what’s happening and they still can’t stop it. So, now you got to try to figure out ways to give yourself better opportunities there. uh when you when you are getting the good read, you know, find those timings with those flashes. Maybe be a little bit more patient, wait for them to try to go for the plant before you strike. Uh situations like that can be tough. You know, you’re trying to get ahead of your opponent, you’re trying to catch them off guard, and instead it’s you who is unaware of exactly what’s going down. So, I think uh belly bumping. That’s adorable. Just Oh, nice little drawing. Believe the previous fan signed and said that uh it was their birthday and they want to see an ace from texture but with a win. Ah, and now the fans they seemingly have turned to calling him texture, putting the four in instead of the three in his name 4k texture. Also, he is tax season. It is. That’s what I’ve been. Hey, citizens. That’s what I’ve been doing the last couple of days. I just got mine sorted. Mine are getting sorted. We’re working on it. So here you go. Like this is kind of tough now because is this going to be a fast hit? Looks like it. I mean has taken just a ton of damage as Ash able to find one. Finds himself a second being. He actually gets a turn for the third. What? How does Exper not have him dead to right? He’s going to look for a little bit more. Full flash in mind. Still hits the head shot. Excuse me. Another one. What is this round? The reel’s coming off until the very last moments as texture just gets the flank. Otherwise, Montette had a real opportunity to clutch that one out. It’s a replay right now, please. Oh god, what in the world happened here? I mean, okay, Jenkins storming forward. Never even sees Ash. Ash playing that corner nicely. Oh my god. X Barrow just got turned on. Hell of a turn. Manette hit some nasty shots in there, too. But there’s that fast hit that I was wondering about from RRQ. You know, how well prepared was Genji going to be for that? But they it plays right into their hands because of Ashure with the knob. Too far forward. So that’s going to be a collat. They’re just strafing together. Two players dead. Zero point. Goes deep. Hits garage. Doesn’t necessarily scout the rest of this, but actually should have heard the footsteps previously. It’s a tough angle, especially with the drone there. Yeah, should tell them that everybody is now clustered up in front of green getting now over towards yellow. Clear on some of the util here. And texture just has the fake out and gets the peak on Manette trying to slide in behind the box. Mr. 4K might just be activated now. And there you go. texture. Question is, does he actually go for the ace? Does he risk at all? How much do you want to bet Munchkin is like, sit there, don’t move? Well, this is this is a decent read, but the alarm bots there. The nano for Foxy. Should be able to play off of this nicely. Munchkin already on the hunt. Wants to try to get involved here. And they’re getting a pretty quick read that. Okay. went over towards eight. Let’s see what we can do. I mean, crazy guy, the money’s not great. So, yeah, he’d he’d appreciate just the opportunity to save 10 seconds in the RQ faithful and probably Chobra himself as well, begging for crazy guy to go sprinting to try to find texture to beckon the ace curse. They’ve given him the gun, but I hear the scream already. He’s just It’s a gift that keeps on giving. It really is. We don’t even need to hear it. You could just see it and it’s in your brain. You know what he’s saying. Yeah. Slight delay as far as like what’s happening on stage to what we see and what the audience sees. Get there. And I can hear him screaming. Oh, it’s so good. He wants it still. I mean, I love how he just curse be damned. He wants his ace. Yeah, I do appreciate that. It’s a shame that his sorrow is our happiness. True. When it comes to these aces, bottom to one and a minor head shot there on a crazy guy. I got the dink through the corner. Haron able to find Cushy and started off looking pretty decent here. It’s quickly spiral out of control as Crazy Guy tries to find his way back in, but dashes out of the back raptor. Finds it this time. Texture doesn’t even need to be involved. Genji now find themselves in the lead by one round. Yeah, I I mean I like what Genji’s doing. You can absorb a little bit of this pressure. The OP there gives you a lot of map control. So, as RQ, if you’re not able to deal with that, you’ve got to win these fights on site. And that’s great timing there from Ash again. He has been so sharp today. Foxy9 looking great there holding back screens. But the thing I like about these last couple of rounds from Gen G is, you know, okay, you send that texture forward the previous round and get the collat whatever. But then you just absorb the contact. You force RQ’s hands, let them show what they’re really going to do, and then you let them over play. You let them force themselves into positions where they’re trying to set up for post plant and you can punish. They’re doing a really nice job now. That’s how it was avoided. Crazy guy not jiggling out too wide here. Oh, goes for it. Now texture. Calibrating the angle. Monette gets closer and closer. Texture almost swung out. Have to wonder if the gun barrel had been spotted. It may have just been. Looks like it’s me. Stealth drone. However, wisely going to be sent here from Ash up and over the top and texture. Casual readjust. So, finds the kill there. Jimkin at the ready with the knives needing to find some solid impact. But Foxy 9 similarly prepped has the lock down. Sends it immediately in behind the screens. Can they clear it out? Normans are have to fight their way forward here for it. But Munchkin and K are holding the line. Genkin, however, carving up two, but now he’s at risk of being detained and he’s got nowhere to go. The swoop around the back. The easiest head shot in the world for Ash as Cushy similarly trapped. Tucks back. Zero point. Narrows down his possible position. The fragment lands right at his feet. That shot however right between the eyes. Does manage to find one. Needs to be so damn clean. Can’t quite get it done. Five to three. Genji continuing forward now. Cash of plenty. OP still retained and ults behind as well. Yeah, phenomenal preparation here by Geng just knowing the situation there with the blade storm in hand. They’re going to have to push this this lock down. They’re going to have to clear it. And okay, he hits a couple nasty ones, but the blades aren’t going to clear that lock down. He can just play contain on Gemkin. There’s nothing he can do. That’s so well thought out. And yeah, a much needed timeout here going to come for RRQ to try to figure this out. things starting to slide in the wrong direction again. Gen just I mean they’re such a fearsome opponent. You’ve only seen this map once from them. Just Yeah. For anybody who didn’t know, it was based on a real thing. It is a real Yep. This was an event that occurred outside of the uh venue last year. Oh. Ooh. I mean, wrong jersey, but Ooh. Yeah, you got to get a little bit of a Yeah, it’s still a sick picture. Yeah, Foxy 9 has looked very much at home. Yep. And it, you know, highlighted it before. 100th map for Foxy 9 uh played there on that Lotus. So, now 101 on this ice box. And you have to, you know, consider that the man’s been on and off the bench. Yep. in in the teams that he’s been on. It would have been way higher achieved way sooner had he been able to find his footing. But it seems like Gen Z. Solo and HSK, they’ve worked their magic to really get Foxy on such a fantastic stable position. Yeah, you got to you got to appreciate his mental like that. He just comes back and is just fragging out. He’s he’s benched. He’s back in and he looks better than ever uh for Genji. And that’s just a credit to everybody on the team. But they can keep it together in difficult situations like that and still come through and get their way back to another Masters. He’s got a tough task here though. He’s very far back and he’s basically the only one here. Gets concussed. So stunned up. Walls raised, but he’s still managing to find the spray right through the corner of the floor. He gets out, slides back turn. Obviously not going to be alerting this forward spot here from gemkin but stealth drone very well may and it does ping out comes through however stealth drone does get sent before the pits and now they don’t have that feral on the deepest lurk but he needs his team to be able to hold the line in order for this to bear any fruit whatsoever finding the first know the couple shots came through he’s looking for Karan dropped down Foxy 9 finding three but yeah dead Foxy 9 on for the ace as Karan back around the corner And once again, Sparrow is just far too late. The team cannot hold as Foxy rips them limb from limb. They should give up now. Just love the timing here from Genji. I liked the ideas from RRQ. Manette in particular with the way that toxic screen was placed. I thought this was a cool little trap he had set up. He gets Munchkin and then Karan can’t follow up on this. You can see him spamming through, but with two different walls in the way, he can’t really fall in. And then Fox tonight is just like look out. I’m dropping disgusting through the box. Absolutely ridiculous. Texture likely saying, “See, doesn’t feel good, does it?” Not getting the ace. How do you like it? Everybody’s always making fun of me. I don’t They know that Nano was there, but didn’t get cleared. Oh well. Just a little bit of damage to the regen shield. So this time Foxy not in pole position but swoops forward and does get counter sprayed out by jumpkin but Munchkin similarly over by tube does manage to find the jet. So one for one in that regard. Armageddon at the ready here from crazy guy as dimensional drift is going to be sent. Texture going to spot out where possible again just going to be used out of timing here. Fragment onto the corner. Texture on the peak. Man yet on the floor. Kill found. Pop. Flash is sent. Just looking to try to keep them off set as the fragment finds crazy guy. Textures. Reik is there and the diffuse has been stuck this entire damn time. It’s brilliant. Six in a row for the side of Cheni. The way the way that texture plays that is just too damn good. I mean the timing here gets tucked in behind yellow. can find the space off the back of the fragment. Gets the first kill. Throws out a couple flashes. Suri misses one. But that’s opened up the space for the rest of the team to come through. Stick the defuse. Munchkin able to put that fragment of his own in a great position to not only get the kill, but to cover the defuse. God, they look so good right now. Genji is just so well drilled. Their protocols are near immaculate. Solo has got this team functioning at such a high level. And look at all this space they’ve taken at a it’s a bit of a weaker buy for RRQ. Guardian Bulldog. Still pretty fearsome firepower at the back of it. Foxy 9. Hello. I’ll put over the top. Yeah, a little bit of the wheel there. I saw him look away. Think might have been a glimpse over towards the mini map. Either way, Gemkin able to go ahead and get the capitalization there. RQ. Nice swift early plant. Good opportunity to try to stop this streak and Sparrow hits a very nice transfer. Crazy guy had been taken down previously. Munchkin able to go ahead and dislocate the lurk now. Gemkin gone. Suddenly we’re into a 2v2, but the time is going to be working against Geng. The flash going to be sent. Good timing going to be s there as Kushi looking for a little bit more. And will be able to find that final kill. RQ pick up a fourth round win by the skin of their teeth. Oh boy. They really needed that one, that’s for sure. Just a little bit of an off moment there for Foxy. Maybe didn’t hear the updraft. Not sure. Didn’t think he’d be there. This time, Xero on the lurk finding the value that he couldn’t previously. Cushy right where he needs to be to get that round over the line. Just the Viper pit for Karon. The only alt so far. I mean, maybe Jumpkin gets into the blades and it makes a difference. He could get to the lock down as well for Foxy. Other than that, the alts won’t be too in play. Might as well, I guess. I mean, it’s wide. He can also be playing deny. There’s too many alts for sure. Critically ready to come online. Playing mind games as well. Maybe you think it’s the killjoy or something. Trying to get close to the lockdown. Could well be. Oh, up and over the top. Munchkin not asleep. Finds one but is going to get timings. Not reading JKin’s position. Trying to bring out that fragment as JKin dashing in. Met with a flash. I think that was Cushy’s flash. Snake bite does get banked in. Crazy guy eating quite a bit of damage. Keeps himself alive for now. And yes, it was Cushy’s flash. Just lopped it right in where Jeffy was trying to go. The witch though. Flash is going to be sent. Jumpkin eating another one, but not before Ash gets taken down up and over the top of 410. Cushy able to find one. Foxy going to be eliminated as pick is dropped in and texture pushing forward simplifying the enemy jet. Still though a 2v2 and Kon caught outside. Pit now dropped all on texture. The time is just not going to be on his side at all. Swings forward, spots one, finds the head shot, finds another. And Xparrow is just not falling for it. Says, “Yeah, I know that I’ve won this one.” Mr. 4K will strike again, but it is going to be RQ coming away with the last two rounds of the half to make it 7 and five. Yeah, it’s kind of one of those rounds where you get into the post plant, you got all that utility, you got the nanos, you got the salvos, you got the fragment, you got everything in the kitchen sink to just buy a ton of time. Obviously, Gemkin there sneaking underneath Munchkin’s nose. Big time problem. Love the high setup there for Cushy. Great job finding some value. Yeah, okay, whatever. Yeah, let’s go. Got to turn it around. That was a pretty solid defender side on ice box for Gen G. Yeah, I they look I mean texture looks great today. Been on point. Couple moments scattered throughout here though for the side of RQ, but I I mean, you know, no other way to put it. They need to have a better performance on the defense than what Geng was just able to do for sure. Texture now with the Zoru chance to cause all kinds of chaos on the attack. And I really am loving the way that Texture has been getting more comfortable with Yoru as the year has gone on. I mean, we finally get to see him play it. He looked a little rough, frankly, the first time we saw it, but you can’t hold him back. Speaking of holding back, tough question. Do you do you dislike the team that always that regularly beats you? will say they’ve gotten the one win. Or do you Hey, the one that didn’t beat Gen G, so now you have to play the team that always beats you. For me, it’s an easy choice. It’s Gen G. Yeah, probably. Let’s go with Taxure. I’m scared. Time to break the ace curse. Yeah, I think uh business as usual is probably going to be the strategy for Genji fans. Yeah, we’re they’re they’re happy with the 4Ks. He can get as many of those as he wants. Yep. No aces, please. It’s almost like Oh. Oh, hold on. Okay. Well, Sparrow just trying to play off the turret, but double face into mid. Geni just having a strong eye understanding of what this pistol default setup is going to be from RQ. You see this all the time on this map where that turret’s going to be there on top of the boiler because it gives you so much information. If teams want to cross underneath the tube or to the tube, it’s a nice safer spot for it. And Genji has an answer right out the rip. X Pharoh trying to play with his turret and instead just pays the price. Sheriff’s something that we know that this, you know, Genji, no matter what the iteration of it is, what players are on it, they love the Sheriff’s. Ooh, so does Jenkin. I was going to say JK’s right there with him. Good kill to go ahead and pick off Munchkin. Flashes fragment for post plant now going to be taken away from him. One flash still in the hands here for Cushy as Jim get looking for a little bit more but Karan at range needs a bit of damage down to 50 but comes away with the shot of the ghost. Crazy guy nearly spammed out and essentially does get taken down. Cushy on the crossfire finds texture. Now it is Monette still just making his way over. Two players at full HP. Needs the shots to be crisp and they know his position now. toxins going up and we’ll just be picked apart there at the end. Three to one in pistols now overall. Gen not allowing for RQ to get on the fast track back into this map. That’s just such a tough one to give up. Oh man, Foxy clears the turret, clears the player. That’s that’s as good as it gets in that situation. JKin quick or excuse me, texture quick after JKin had fallen. Foxy still very solid just in cruise control. Let’s go. Yep. Getting that pistol win after going positive on your defender side. Oh, hey, these sheriffs are going pretty well. Let’s just roll run three of them. Why not? So, Bulldog, Phantom, three sheriffs. Odd change up here for the set of engine. If you win this though, oh yeah, you’re coming into that bonus with three with all rifles potentially. They are working their way in towards the stack side. They use the TP back towards A though. So this all may just be kind of checking although around the yellow box. They suspect this many on the back of yellow cuz she’s above really just Gemkin being noted so far. Clear’s one. Jimkin on the peak able to find another texture. Ice set towards the top and does manage to transfer down for a second. Jumpkin will similarly come away with another elimination so far. Weapons are scooped up. Just two sheriff’s lost here for the moment. Crazy guy in position. Salvos to potentially delay. Does help the stealth drone as well. Just waiting for Foxy to get there before they try to make their move. Jumpkins going to use the wall to thought about crossing. Then saw the salvos and it’s like no, you know what? Salvos all over the damn place. 30 seconds left. Use them while you got them. JKin trying to swoop out. Gets a head shot for a little bit more. Jimkin finds himself a third. Bulldog does get picked up. So, so far the two weapons, the two rifles are carried in here from Geng. One enemy remaining. Karan will find Crazy Guy. Kempkin to try to be the difference maker. He’s on for an ace with this now. He’s looking for a gun, but they’ve all been straightened away from him. And the turret around the corner. He hits the head shot, but the turret almost certainly would have finished him off as well. But damage is moderate as it is does get dealt. Chemkin one away from having the knives online. He’s now plus 10 over his closest teammate on the scoreboard. This is just a ridiculous round by the RQ bundle. No kidding. That is some of the best classic stuff you will ever see. That is outrageously good. What a turd there from Foxy. Again, for Gen, even though you lose that, it’s not ideal, but you still have enough for rifles. So, but now because he gets those kills, he’s going to glass cannon operator. They know they’re windcon. This is what worked for them in Lotus. Get to that operator early. Do they read this right now? The answers looking like they do not. Jump peak and gets the shot. Munchkin the one to take the fall. Texture similarly just strafing out into the open. Foxy9 trying to open up this aside a little bit. Finds the kill and it seems like that’s more than enough for Jen G to make the call to pivot. Oh yeah, you don’t want to mess with that operator. But Jenkins wasting no time trying to get over towards a got to cut off the vision. Kon, where is that poison cloud placed? It’s going past screens here. untenable. It’s an operator there. Yep. Use those salads to clear. Great fan. Cushy finding the first exper drops the spike now here in front of screens and Foxy will be taken out. Salad here from the side of RQ. Closing out the anti bonus, but it wasn’t even a pure bonus from the side of Cheni cuz Karen forced down. He’s going to come in. Not much money to speak of here. Looks like it’s going to be a lot of stingers. Kind of some Weird decisions there, but maybe not anticipating to output the first one. I get it. But the second one, that’s a little bit little bit of an overheat from texture, you could say. I suppose Guardian some stingers classic for Karon. Do have texture alt, so who knows? Maybe if you find an opening picking, hello. He’s just eating damage from below. had been valid, he would have been dead, but the stinger does manage to take him down to about half HP. Crazy guy just going to be dropping off the screen there. Some aggressive forward positioning taken from Genji. They pump the brakes and now they look to hit the go button. Gem going to be finished off as the salvos do collide cuz she crazy guy going to be picking up one a piece, but so too Foxy and Karan. Now suddenly it’s a player advantage for Geng. Four left in the mag. Foxy can drop down. goes for the reload and Xarro quickly drags across to find the head shot leaving Kin now on the floor. Last player standing. Ash dead. It’s all on Foxy. Goes up and over the top. Finds the first alarm going to be set up. Cleared out here by Manette. Slow and methodical. Spotting nothing here for the moment. The tap and up and over the top goes Manette and down he will fall. That is a Red Bull clutch for Foxy 9. His 10th in Pacific as Gen will find their 10th round of the map. This is scrappy as heck, but Genji’s flashes are so good at the back of sight. They break things open. See a lot of players trying to disrespect the Viper utility as well. So, a couple assists going the way of Karan, but Foxy again coming up huge when Genji needs him. And that’s his 10th clutch in his VCT Pacific career. And now Jenkin only has the blades in a stinger. Looks like full rifles for Geng. Yeah. No, never mind. What’s up? Oh, I just mean, you know, he’s played he’s played 100 maps. He’s got 10 clutches. So, so he’s he’s putting up quite a bit of clutch as far as uh maps played. Yeah, pretty good percentage there. Yeah, that has uh Genji thinking different ideas. That’s a lot of map control though for RRQ. That drone not going to see a ton, but they know the space is clear. So, the rear end of the turret. That’s not going to do too much. Negative information though. Still nice for RQ to know where they can take space and how they want to position their pieces. They’re just going to leave Jenkin there. Oh. Great readjust one. Yeah, it’s a little bit of damage in reply. The one shot really suffered as nanosarms widely going to be fun. The regen shield here from Karon. Little wider angle does manage to find the one shot, but Exper once again there to trade for his teammates in an advantageous position as Jimkin gets the knife into the head and gets the reset as well. Extra Foxy 9 to see if they can try to clutch this out. the double face and it will be Fox Boxy coming away with one and in the end RQ will go ahead and scoop this up keeping the gap shortened a bit. Three rounds separated. That’s huge for them. That keeps their economy in stable condition. Genji is not. Yeah, if one player’s got some money, but it is a little bit off balance for sure. Oh yes, but it’s that early map control that you’re able to take off the back of JKin’s aggressive play that makes this so so tricky for Geng. So many angles you have to worry about and great timing on that strike from GMkin. So it is going to be a hero rifle for textures. Some alts to work with. Still have that dimensional drift. Yeah, don’t want to go too much further forward. You get some info. See Jumpkins there. You go to the other side. I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t want that either. That’s not fun. God, you have so many alts here as Geng. I would at least like to see the dimensional drift ripped at some point, especially with the Phantom in hand. Just send it cuz we could take this round. Could be a real back breaker. Oh, never mind. Oh, there goes the Phantom. Picked up quickly by Munchkin. But Dimensional Drift, no more. Yeah, Foxy going to drop down and almost finds a timing. Had it lined up, but Jimkin just a little bit snappier there. Readjust to find the head shot and RQ gotten themselves the lurker out of the way. Munchkin trying to pop flash his way through that wall. Forced back here for the moment by the salvos. Now we’ll look to try to go in for the plant. Spike planted. Do have the Armageddon. Munchkin with that rifle trying to buy a little bit of extra time. Speaking of Armageddon sent out here from the side of Crazy Guy. Munchkin able to find the first, finds a second brings out looking for a little bit more. Ash at the same time able to find Gemkin. Suddenly the Armageddon does get called. Crazy guy pushes forward. Takes a ton of damage and manages to clean up the two kills. Bails them out of the round. Keeps them afloat. And now that Armageddon is going to feel like a bit of a bridge too far there from Ash. Can’t blame him in the moment. No, I I I don’t mind the play at all. I I mean, you’ve got a real chance to win this round. God, Jimkin. Munchkin here. Just an absolute madman. Dropping right down on the site and he’s trying to push the corner and Ash tries to swing it. Crazy guy sight relief. That was close. Gen knows they’re on the verge of a 200 win. Up by a couple rounds. I take a timeout to talk about this. At least I assume it’s However, as we go to them first on the camera. Yeah. Usually would lend itself to thinking that it’s going to be RQ. And it is. RQ are actually sending their second timeout. Their final one of this map. Hm. H curious. Yeah, I’m uh kind of interested in that. It’s maybe he just saw something he didn’t like. Yeah, I mean maybe the way they were playing that post plant, you know, kind of feeding over those kills to texture maybe or excuse me, Munchkin being a little bit overaggressive uh when they don’t need to be cuz there was a real window there where Gen G one more shot goes their way maybe they win that round. Oh yeah. I mean, if the molly was a little bit more shallow as well, crazy guy wouldn’t be able to get out away from it. Fall down what, 18 health, something like that. Yep. He’s 18. So, okay, I get it. And, you know, you you can also rely on the fact that if you start doing well, Genji’s likely to take a timeout anyway, so you’re still going to have kind of that that cushion. But look at their two duelists here. 20 and 21 kills a piece. Going back and forth is that’s what you want. Wonder if it’s a call because of these ultimates that are available here from the side of Genji. The Armageddon has been used on both sides, which means that these lockdowns are going to have pretty fair rain unless those fragments can really land directly on top. Yeah, you you make a good point. I don’t disagree now. Sight is opened up and the plant is in. Yeah. Well, now it’s a lot tougher for RQ because the lock down proficiency is going to be there for Gen. They’re going to use the pit as well. Sure. indeed out wide and crazy guy finds a head shot. The pit in there as we have the dueling lockdowns cutting across RQ to tuck back. One player detained. Xarrow going to be caught there behind the box. Munchkin is not spotted him out and he is getting spammed to all hell. The push forward strikes now. Finds the first but is swiftly going to be dealt with given the previous damage suffered. Foxy 9 able to find one. The diffused pulled off the time ticking. It’s just not going to be there for him. Crazy guy frantically trying to sprint away, but he cannot do anything to bring this round back to bear. Gen will lose Foxy on the back end. They still win out this crazy war of attrition. They now get up to 11. But again, it’s because RRQ has to give up the space. It’s that extra alt that Genji has with the dimensional drip that buys them the space. And then you force the lock down out of RQ’s hands. And that’s exactly what you want as Genji because you can then wait a little bit, place your lock down, and it gives you that extra little second to set up for the defenses. It gives you the chance to put down that Viper pit. Kind of counteract everything that R wants to do in that retake. Still make a hell of a go of it. Gem can up and over the top, but this just a target rich environment texture. Kate crashes out and sits over towards Belt. manages to come away with the kill. liked the anti- flash setup, the dash. It would have been a stylish little play. It’s one that Geng are able to get away from. Yeah, they’re again very well drilled, able to deal with that. I mean, we’ve seen Jenkin get aggressive towards that position before. Genji able to dial up an answer this time. We have seen success from Jenkin earlier, but are they going to be ready for these players that are tucked right underneath? I mean, they were expecting maybe one on the other side of the fence. He’s checking shallow, but crazy guy just flushed out. And what are these shots? Munchkin instantaneous with it. No real chance of responses. Sparrow does get noted by the zero point. Just the stinger in hand. And that’s going to be the call to pivot. Gen suspecting that they have drawn all of the attention across the map. And they would be correct. They even threw a fake TP and a flash just to sell that for sure. But this is 2v5 retake for RRQ if they go for it. I mean the issue is is they don’t have any money. So maybe just scoop up the guns and try to win four in a row to send it to OT. I think that’s about your best play to be honest. It’s the only recourse that they have available to him. A brutal position now to be in here for RQ. Gen have just been looking absolutely electric today. They’re just so good, dude. I mean, obviously they’re clean with their their mechanics, but it’s it’s more than that. They make great reads. Lotus especially, they had RQ’s number. And here, you know, there was a little bit of kind of difficulty at the beginning for Genji to get the reads, but once they got their feet underneath them, switch over to the attacker side, pretty smooth sailing. Some good adjustments in the middle of the first half from Gen G, from Solo. Really did a nice job of saying, “Hey, let them let them show their hand first before we start making moves mostly.” Other than texture with the operator, he’s allowed to do what he wants. He’s texture. He’s got an OP. It’s fine. Everybody else hold back. Wait for your moments to strike. God, just texture waiting back by spawn by the ramp. Much so damn swift. [Music] Well, now match point here in the hands of Geng RQ for opportunities for chances to try to run this back. Pit immediately going to be invested over at 410 there on the A site. Trying to really dictate the movements here of Gen Z. There’s no alts to clear that pit, but you know, you have the drone, you have some of the KO utility, but it seems like Genji just holding back. Worried that, you know, with that pit there, there’s going to be some comfort on the A side. So, RQ might think that they can sneak further forward positions towards the B and mid side. They wouldn’t be necessarily completely wrong. Crazy guy wouldn’t reveal his position though. Pays the price. Munchkin takes him down. Just a smattering of damage suffered here as Munchkin on a war path looking to march his troops onward into that grand final. Chemkin around the corner bottom of yellow here playing needing to be the impact maker for the team. Now his position has been spotted up. press connecting with a quick little exit. Jumps back away. Swings out to Jenkin. He’s able to put the enemy Yoro down. Now a 4v4. Three players on this side. Jumpin eating a bit of damage as to how’s going to be flying. And Cushy unable to find the shots, but Foxy and Ash. They shall a little bit of time by perhaps with the nanos, but Sparrow needs to go absolutely nuclear from this position. Finds the first, finds the second. Munchkin, however, shuts him down. And that bite is not going to stop the plant from coming through. It gets a tiny bit more damage across on the Munchkin, but he’s going to look to wrap around, maybe even peek through and across, but looks like he will just stay stagnant here. Back behind Snowman’s mind yet, how are you meant to get out of this position? The footsteps are heard. Munchkin relaying all of this to Foxy 9. the tap and basically no one peeking not giving him the time of day. Effectively ignoring him, ghosting him here on the round until the very last moment. Munchkin will hit the head shot. 13 to8 Ice Box is theirs. Gen denied in kickoff achieved here in stage one. They are going to another grand finals here in Pacific as the number one seed. The trajectory is up for Gen. Throughout the year, some bumps along the way, but here in stage one, they may very well be our top seed going into Masters Toronto from Pacific. They look incredible. So many good reads, so many great plays, texture just tremendous throughout the entire day. Uh, but everybody on Genji having their moments. I mean, really, really phenomenal team effort here. Munchkin, Fragging, Karan on point, especially in that first map. Ash, the crisp of the crispness of his shots as well as his util timings. Gorgeous. And then Foxy 9 clutches phenomenal. Everyone from Geni earning their way forward into the grand final here of stage one and they’ve shown in the past what they can do when they have that veto advantage. They’re going to be looking to prove it once more. But what a day here for Genji for RQ. Obviously hopes not crumbling completely. They are still going to Masters Toronto. They are still in this tournament. Have a chance to still make it into the top two, but it’s going to have to be through the lower bracket. For now though, we’ll send it down to Jen Lee who’s going to be standing by with a lunar interview. And we have our grand finalists. Congratulations to Jen G and texture and solo. If I could have you here. Huge congrats to Jenji. I mean, you guys are back in the finals with this clean 20 against RQ. Now, Texture, can you sum up the game for us tonight? Oh, clean to grand finals. It feels really nice. and Solo, you guys are in the finals and you also punched your ticket to EWC as well. Are you excited to have another busy successful year? It really means a lot. I mean, it adds a lot more value now that we qualified for EWC as well. And of course, returning to grand finals in Pacific feels super super good. Now, Solo, I want to ask you because you guys played a solid game tonight. Everyone saying, “Oh, Genji has finally figured out what works best for them.” So, do you feel like this is you guys demonstrated the full potential, the true potential uh when you set out with this roster, this iteration of Gen tonight? Oh Well, yeah, Foxy 9 and Ash, they’ve been destroying everyone in the scrims and we’re not being able to translate that uh on stage yet. I mean, Pacific being a huge stage, international stage as well. So, I feel like there’s little bit of jitters within them still, but once we shake that off and they get more experience on stage, I think we have more to show and that we can be even better than how we performed tonight. Now texture, Sunday is the grand finals. Who do you think will make it to grand finals? And also, what’s your mindset uh for the upcoming grand finals? [Music] I don’t know. I’m not really sure who’s going to face us in the grand finals. I mean, I’m pretty good friends with all three teams. They’re really strong. Um, but we have a very, very high confidence within ourselves. Uh, we love how we perform right now. So, I think I’m going to enjoy uh the game in the grand finals on Sunday. So, yeah, thank you fans for supporting and we’ll try our best to deliver on Sunday as well. Well, congratulations once again, guys. See you on Saturday. Good luck. Oh, thank you. Byebye. Bye. It’s so easy to see like your [Music] best miracle. Do what I tell you. Shut up and listen. We got the gifts and the vision. We’re hard on our mission. Oh, I really enjoyed the end there. Uh, Senator Texture to sing hello to all the people. They look like they were grilling Bane. Bane started leaning back in his chair. Solo standing over was like, “You think you’re good, bro?” Like, you see that? You guys aren’t going to be performing like that against an SCA team today. No chance. Getting in his head early. That was a dominant performance from Geng across both of these maps. I mean this team looks so rock solid, so comfortable and entirely unfaced by what RQ brought today. Yeah, and we could see the Yoru Ko comp that they are bringing was not just a hard counter to the harbor comp of Talon. It was a phenomenal game here for Geng particularly as you can see in some of these highlights. We’ll dive into a little bit more detail later on in the mid to late round. These guys were in total control and it’s something that RQ in their last game of Icebox actually did very well. I love the way they played retake, the way they played the post plant in their last game of ice before they played Genji today. But in the game today, Genji were all over them in the mid to late round. It was fantastic to watch. Yeah. I mean, just the way they mid round is so so smooth. Once again, we’re seeing that the first blood’s going in the favor of RRQ 11 to 10. That’s crazy. When we think about this Genji team, we know they’re so good at, of course, winning when they get that first kill, the very best in the Legion, but they’re also very, very good when they don’t get it. That’s what makes them so unstoppable. As I say, they’re mid rounding. When this round breaks down, we get towards the end, and it’s these unreplicable situations, right? These are stuff you can’t really prepare for. You don’t really plan out. Just shows how smart all of their players are. I mean, this is what happens when you have two of the best duelists in the league going headtohead. At the same time though, only four first kills for either of them. So you’re seeing actually a lot of other players getting opening kills, getting involved in the round. And at the end of the day, that comes down to how positional and rotation based ice box can be, especially when you do have um like your retake a setups and things like that. It’s not your duelist finding openings. It is your Sentinel on the lurk or it’s your controller player that’s walking up tube in the mid round and things like that. your uh Sentinel’s ability to be able to find the gaps and be able to pick players and and be able to create opportunities is very very important on Icebox. Now you gentlemen were talking about how good RQ was on Icebox with retakes, but now we’re seeing something happen on the on the flip side. Yeah. And it’s all about Gingi in these retakes. They’re so so smart in how they approach it because the main idea that you want to follow on this map is if you’re able to get a pick, then your retakes become very very possible. Look how smart this is from Foxy 9. That’s a lineup. You can’t ping this spot anymore. That’s a well practiced, well rehearsed way to cancel this plan. So then they launch themselves into this 5v4 retake. Foxy 9 just goes absolutely crazy here. But it’s such a clear game plan, especially towards this B site. They’re happy to give up space and then take it back when it suits them a little bit more. And you can just tell it’s so well rehearsed. They control this yellow space so routinely. Just give the attackers no room to play that post plant. and they just continue to pursue RQ down on this side of the map. Yeah, Foxy Knight, I mean, he didn’t frag that hard, but I felt like most of his kills came from these mid to late round situations, the the post plants on both the defense on the retake and also attack. Um, when he’s playing the post plants, he was playing it so well. Both of the times that he found himself sitting inside of a pit positionally, he just could not be faulted. And he came up with very important multifrags to win key gun rounds on both situations. Yeah, I think it’s huge the improvements that we’ve been seeing from Foxy and Nine over the course of the season, even since last year when he was on DRX. Now, are you guys OP enjoyers and do you like watching them? Like, who’s your favorite duelist to be on the OP? Oh my god. I mean, I was going to I was going to say famous, but uh recently uh not so much. I mean, group stage famous for definitely for me. But I mean, both these teams have a good shot of being that favorite. Both texture and gemkin. so so good on this map. You know, we see how they approach this jewelist role. So, they do take these different agents, right? We see one on the jet, one on the Yoru, but I do think ultimately, especially when they manage to get this up into their hands a little bit later down in each of these halves. I think they play in a lot of similar styles. It suits the map so well cuz of all of these long sight lines and you find both of them have this kind of escape ability. That’s why it’s so strong. I mean, this this 4K from Gemkin was loose. How is he getting away with this? This is that if that doesn’t tell you to buy the IRQ bundle, I don’t know what what will. Like he’s he’s on eco. He’s bought nothing in that round and he’s taken four guns away. Texture here, though. You saw the collat. That is an instant um instant TP being picked up off the back of that. You throw your TP behind you. If you hit a collat like that, you’ve got three Yuru TP straight away in towards that round. The ability to be able to find picks with Yoru on the OP is fantastic. And Texture, I mean, that’s another great series for him. He just continues to pick up more and more momentum as we head deeper into this stage one playoff. So, it’s no doubt that we found Genji in a grand final here. Yeah, I have to say I was worried about him at the start of the year. I thought this was not the texture that we’ve seen in 2023. Has he fallen off? But no, he’s right back where he was, if not better than ever. You know, he’s looking to carry this momentum all the way through to Sunday’s final where they’re looking to lift that trophy once again. Yeah, I think Genji is now looking like the form that Solo surely was trying to bring them up to speed on since the beginning of the season here. And not to take away from from it too, but RQ, they are going to learn how to work under pressure. Toronto is not going to be less pressure. It’s going to be more pressure. Uh, but I’m sure they’re taking a lot of learning lessons from this. And of course, Texture mentioned he can’t even decide who he’ll be facing off in the grand finals. He’s friends. He he does have friends in all three of the potential teams here. So, that is pretty cool. All right. Well, we do have a very exciting match coming up after this. Of course, it’s Paper X versus DRX, and we’re going to find out who’s going Toronto. And the stakes are so high, whether you’re going Toronto or just the road completely ends here. So, we’re going to go on a really quick break, and when we come back, we are going to dive straight into this very spicy match. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] Red Bull gives you [Music] wings. Red Bull gives you wings. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Red Bull gives you [Music] wings. Welcome back to Valerant Champions Tour Pacific Stage One. We are now in the lower semi-finals. We’re going to find out who the final team is that is going to Masters Toronto. I’m your host Victoria alongside Pilsky and Big Time. And we want to feature you guys again for the BCT Pacific moments where you guys can hashtag post pictures of your favorite moments that have happened here in BCT Pacific over the years. And we have a lot of fans flying in from China actually. And it looks like this fan is a huge Jin fan. Look at her uh her profile picture is Jinx’s face up close there. Oh yeah. Bloody hell. How’d you roll that up in your suitcase? That’s unbelievable. Had to check in extra luggage to bring the banner. That’s respect. I’m pretty sure like the uh at the airport they pulled that out. They unroll it. They’re like, “What the hell is this?” And they said, “Never mind. Move on. That Jing is the goat.” Yeah. But he had been pretty goated, so I think he’s he’s earned the banner. They printed that out and brought it over. Uh now, Paper X and DRX are were once upon a time were the teams to beat over in Pacific. But since last year, both of these teams have experienced the pain of not qualifying uh to the Internationals for the very first time. Now DRX with coach Termy at the helm. They found their breath. They found their momentum again. Wing it all at Pacific Kickoff. Qualifying to Masters Bangkok. And Mako now free from the IGL role. Is this DX’s moment? Yeah, they’ve been through the ringer honestly. Like some very uh unfortunate circumstances that they have had to overcome so far in stage one. But the reality remains the same. If they lose this game after being the team to win kickoff and the team that looked like the the best team in Pacific, they may be kicked out of the tournament to a PRX that maybe after the kickoff performance and what we saw in the earlier stages of the group stage, which they did play DRX in week one of the group stage and that was with flashback on the the roster. Um DRX ending uh to come out on top there. I mean, it would be very disappointing to lose against a team that you have been already able to beat head-to-head and that expectationwise wouldn’t be a team that would necessarily be expected to move on to Masters as much as DRX would after kickoff. Yeah, as you say, this team has really gone through a rebirth with the amount of changes that they’ve had to make. We saw them in kickoff embrace this Teao style, freeing really Shawn in that, you know, in that kind of meta. And then we see them move away to this double dualist. Then with Flashback’s departure, we see them come back to this double initiator. This is an incredibly versatile team that can compete in any meta, but it’s all for nothing if they don’t manage to qualify. This is a team that is hungry for those top placements and not qualifying is just not good enough for this DRX roster. It’s been an incredible hurdle for DRX. So, it’s quite impressive that they’ve made it this far once again and they’re facing Paper X. Now, when Paper X misses Bangkok, it sents shock waves through the VCT community wondering if Paper X was done for. But despite the staying in most in the most PaperX fashion ever, they are now at the f final hurdle of their miracle run through the lower brackets and might just qualify to Toronto. I mean, you you say this in stage one, they were 0 and three. 0 and three in stage one. There were not many believers then. I get it. Everyone’s on the hype train now. And it’s easy to believe now. They’re very, very close. Well, who’s there first? They had doubters. They had they had some serious serious doubters, but they have picked up steam. Then we see them eliminate T1 and then have that smooth win over Boom to get to this point into the playoffs. And they’re just picking up more and more momentum, more and more steam, maybe we can say. Yeah, PRX, I mean, they are revitalized since the last time they played TRX. Patman is topping the the APR, right up the top of the competition, very high in the clutch statistics as well. Jig is looking like when he’s on his form, which he has been almost every single game, he might be the best player in Pacific right now, and he is a big big reason why PRX, who are now starting to rediscover the identity that actually works for them on a lot of different maps, are doing so damn well for them. So DRX definitely not an opponent that you can underestimate here. And I think the map pool is going to be super super key cuz I feel like PRX, they’re still kind of discovering what’s working for them. Um, and I think this is super super interesting. This is either going to be DRX evening up the Masters appearances or PRX pulling ahead here. It’s been so interesting. They faced off so many times. This is the original Pacific LC Classico here. And it was it’s fascinating because DRX the coaches have never changed. Termy and DRX, their play style is very different. They were polar opposites in ter of play style, but now they’re a lot closer than they used to be. Yeah, we see more and more teams like to embrace this little bit more chaotic style. Give their players that little bit more freedom. It’s definitely the way it’s trending. And what’s so funny is we saw PRX almost try and move away from that. We saw them try and add a lot more discipline, add more structure, and now we’re seeing them kind of peel it back to what they’re well known for. And I think they are the very best in the world at this chaotic style where they really thrive in the moment. They play on those individuals. All of these players are just fantastic. All 10 of them across this server can really, really embrace this. as you say, such a long history between these teams and who knows who’s going to come out on top today. Yeah, I mean, sorry, go on. Oh, yeah. During the alpha group, we did see them face off and we did see the evolution of DRX. I have to personally say I did enjoy seeing flashback on this roster playing that double duelist. I kind of wish that’s the one we saw today, the double duelist versus double duelists. But alas, that’s not what it is. Yeah, I think you know DRX is a team that historically may have been a little bit easier to prepare for. You kind of know what you’re going to get. Nowadays, they change things up all the time, map to map, whether they win or lose. They don’t need to necessarily win or lose a map to change up their comp. They are a very adaptable team. You’ll see players be very flexible on the roles. Even seeing Bane over on the Sentinel, not something that he really has played too much. He’s been very flexible to fill a lot of gaps for TRX and depending on who you’re going to throw on the initiator or the or the uh the Sentinel role, things could really change up. But over on the side of PRX, this is what changes things up the most for me. who is playing the duelist and depending on what duelist it is, a different player is the best at it. Something’s jet is phenomenal. Jing is absolutely terrorizing Pacific on the rays and Forsaken able to play that double duelist on the neon particularly on fracture. It’s one of the only maps you’ll see him on the duelist, but we all know this guy can flex onto anything. And many shout out to Islay on ice box. Oh, true, true. Actually, you’re right. I wonder if that’s going to come out. I forgot about the ice box. Yeah, I mean, how many duelists does Paper X have? And they have a plenty. Now, what is DRX without MCO? And we were talking him about him on the IGL role and now he’s been off of it. I mean, just take a look at these stats. So, where we see when he’s IGLing and compared to now he’s free, he’s released those chains. He’s unshackled and he is a different beast of this IGL role. I mean, he’s putting up absolutely monstrous performances in exactly the same role. He plays exactly the same positions. He’s doing exactly the same job on the map. It’s just his mind is free to think about his crosshair to think about finding and hunting out his opponents instead of micromanaging those around him. And you can just tell he looks so so good off this IG. You’ll notice that I mean positionally when he’s clutching like aight ice boxing inside of a pit, he’s able to really isolate those DS and lock in on his gameplay. But Brim on fracture for example, the way that he’s able to on defense actually disrupt what the attackers want to do. is always timing down the sky smokes perfectly and he’s always positioning himself in the most annoying spot for the other players to attack into. Now these are our map to map uh map headto heads here. I’m curious what maps these two teams are going to be ending up picking. To be honest, personally I would like to see Fracture again. These are going to be the last final days that we’re going to be seeing Fracture before it’s gone out of the map pool here. And we know both of these teams do like playing it. Well, what’s not interesting in this veto though is both of these teams well-defined perma bands. PRX here selecting their Lotus. Their Lotus has been phenomenal since they swap comp 4 and 0 and their defense has been very very good, but DRX is going to be a team to pick ice box here. Their last outing on Icebox with the harbor went very well for them, but the games before that their Icebox was not too or inspiring and they did lose ice box headto-head to get against PRX in week one of the groups. Yeah, I’m definitely curious as to why DRX will have gone to Lotus. I wonder if they’ve kind of seen a weakness in the PRX kind of style on that map, but certainly not the pick I would have expected and Fracture we will be seeing as that decider map, which is very exciting if we get that far. Yeah, what a way to end today’s series if we get that far. And starting with Lotus, you guys have pointed out a couple things here. Uh how interesting it’ll be to see what DRX ends up pulling out today. Yeah, PRX, I mean, their last few games of Lotus have gone phenomenal. Ever since they’ve swapped onto Yoru Rays, Jing has just been running around dominating everyone on the rays. Something’s performances on the Yoro have been very key and it really helps to inform a lot of their structure on this map. You started to see him pick up the OP as well, which is a bit of a throwback to the old double duelist style that you’ve seen from PRX in the past, but reinvented for the current meta. For DRX, though, they’re quite happy to go to Lotus. They’re not scared of this pick for PRX at all. They played a lot of quality teams on this map. They always play very tight games on Lotus, so they’re going to be quite comfortable to play this as the first map in the series as well. Yeah, and we see so much flexibility across the board from them. Sometimes double jewelist, sometimes rays, sometimes that yoru, we’ve seen breach teao, we’ve seen them mix across all three of the main sentinels. So again, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a change here from DRX once again. Yeah, you can see them quite happy to just swap up one role or two rolls, a different sentinel that the other team has to attack into or a different initiator that can kind of give a different feel the other team will have to adapt to on the fly. Well, the stakes are higher than ever for this particular series. One team does not get to go Toronto. The everything ends here. The other team will be punching that final ticket to Toronto, uh, making it back to the International. So, let’s find out who that’s going to be. Is it going to be Paper X or DRX? Let’s welcome the teams. [Music] Here I am now. What you waiting for? Got the rings. Yeah, we on the floor. Make the best move. Get ready for the ride. Let’s fly. [Music] Are you Rise Pacific. [Music] DRX. There is only one spot left to qualify for Masters Toronto. And tragically, but great for us, it is between the brothers RX, DRX, and Paper X. For DRX, it’s been a season of redemption. After falling short last year, they regrouped under Ter Steady Hand, storming through the Pacific Kickoff and earning a spot in Bangkok. But now they’re up against their longtime rival, the team that shares part of their name. Can they defeat Paper X once again? Yeah, Hianmin is such a scary duelist inside of Pacific. Marco is unshackled and DRX are looking to derail this PRX hype train before it makes it to Toronto and maintain their appearance at Mast’s events. Paper Rex is the opponent. They were once a favorite on the international stage and they faced a reality check in March, missing out on their first ever Masters event. This was a team that once held the record for the longest consecutive qualifications and they were suddenly left watching from the sidelines, but they fought their way through the lower bracket, now just one train stop away from reaching Toronto. This might be the most paper story line ever. Yeah, the former kings of Pacific had to watch their crown fall and they’re picking it back up. And if they win today, it rests firmly on top of their head as they can lock up to be the most attended once again in these Masters and International events, making it a seventh. Such a storied team, such a storied derby between these two rosters as well as these great coaches. Yes, these are legendary coaches at this point here in Pacific. They face off so many times. There is a huge friendly rivalry between these two teams. But I know when they both go to international events, they become best friends. And that’s why it’s so sad they cannot go together this time. Someone has to go home today. One of these two teams will not be making it. But it’s so hard to call who? Arguably both of these teams deserve to be there. They have such such storied past attending these big events. So it’s going to be sad to say goodbye to one of these, but as you say, fantastic for us to watch. Now, here are the predictions. We got two glowing in blue, Pilsky and Achilios. And honestly though, I think this could still go either way. But Pilsky, why did you go for DRX? I feel like DRX is the most solid team out of the two here. PRX have a lot of momentum in the lower bracket. You can see everyone is on the hype train, but make no mistake in my opinion. I don’t think DRX are underdogs. I think they’re the favorites in this series. I would agree with you. I was shocked when we saw how many of us predicted for Paper X. I do think DRX are still the favorites into this game, but it’s so easy to get behind the boys at Paper X. You pick Paper X. I I mean, I believe in them. I believe they have a great story, but I do think that they’re the underdogs. I think DRX have been proven to be such a solid team. Arguably, they should have locked up their spot already in that RXQ game. They were one round away. Paper X have had a much harder time. Well, I you guys saw the sign just now. For them to win, all they had to do is throw Mini into the coal there to fuel the train to victory. Just throw an old expanic coach. Seeing the agent compositions picked here, TRX are making another change. We’re seeing them bring out both Vice and Deadlock. Now, this has to be a deliberate counter to this Paper X double jewelist style. They have a lot of stopping power and a lot of utility across the board. Both Vice and Deadlock have a lot of different tools you can use to kind of slow down this double jewelist. I think it’s going to be very annoying for PRX to attack into that and especially be able to attempt the post plants here on the defensive side. But DRX’s defense has been so good on this map. They are 36 and 12 in defensive rounds the last four maps like 75% they are owning on defense with this double duelist and a lot of that comes down to uh something on the Yoru and just how annoying Jing is being on the raise right now. I mean you guys make a good point about DX though. I don’t know who the underdog is here but DX definitely knows how to play double duelist now even even if they’re not doing it today but that means they have a lot of tools to face against a team like Paper Rex. Now, these are rivals and brothers in arms and take to take us through the faded series. It’s Achilios and Paper Thin. And here we go once again. The derby comes back around. But as the desk was saying, this time only one of these teams can get that final spot at Masters Toronto. TRX versus Paper X, the Elcláico of Pacific to decide it all. This is an incredibly hype matchup. I mean, with the stakes that are being presented to both of these teams, a trip to Masters Toronto on the line, and both of the RXs are so used to being there. They’re so used to being that team that goes to the international events, but this time around, it may not be. Brother v brother here it feels like as we get ready to jump into this one. Lotus to start us off once again. Then an ice box as the followup. [Applause] DRX faithful cheering out. Sure. The paper X faithful cheering from behind their PCs. Majority of which will be watching from home. as for now on top of the orb. Get crash used here. Hunman clears out the door. Jing just got to be tucked in for the moment. Hiding away. So far, it’s a very quiet round here from both sides. All right, let’s see what DRX can do. Being very cautious. You know, you want to figure out where these double duelists are going to be coming at you from. Especially Jing who has been devastating, especially in pistol rounds for paper paper rex recently. Back on the race, back on that comfort, and he’s been making the most of it. Saw how quickly he was able to get those showstoppers online versus Boom on this very map. Believe it was 3K into 3k when the pistols came down to it. 40 seconds still remaining on the clock. Everybody from DRX now clustered up as Bane. lineup set up here for Waterfall. Wall will go up and over the top. See where it pops down right there. That perfect position starting to get cleared out here. And for now, the site going to be taken by DRX. Divine holding back here on the corner. Head shot finished off freeing clean with that ghost as ever. Now looks to back away as Prowler and Paranoia both get sent over towards this singular player. He swoops back down over towards Waterfall is able to find himself a second kill as MCO unscouted, unnoted and Untenable has torn apart three. DRX will take the opening pistol. Yeah, just good map like map control here for DRX. They’re able to push some space on towards Rubble. Use some of that info they’re finding early to pivot over towards C. Paper X has to try to fight their way back in. And that that grenade made Jing feel like that corner was going to be clear, but it didn’t go quite deep enough. Mako was able to slide down the ramp a little bit, retake that position and clean up the round. So DRX comes out with that first pistol. Ever so important. Going to have an outlaw. Gunman looking for an opportunity. Smoke blooms just in time for the players of paper racks, but that’s DRX’s smoke. Four targets through that smoke now. Scaling forward. Hyan Men going for the peak. Finds one target. Quick little exit here. Estraa sticks around for a little bit longer. Finds one. Swap to the ghost. Yman tagged low. Backpedaling but swiftly puts Forsaken on the floor. Orb going to be picked up here. Freeing looking to get that Armageddon online as seems like the quiet over towards a being signaled over here to the rest of the players. Gentleman asks for the rotation. They abide. DRX successfully avoid the final two players of PRX. Yeah, just Paper X trying something a little bit cheeky as is normally the case. And they’re going to be pretty quick to rotate though. And depending on the timing, well, Mako’s just seemingly just going to turret in that direction. Doesn’t want to let that flank come through, find any value. But this is going to open up some space here. Derrick’s going to grab an extra orb. Can figure out who they want to give the plant over to try to fast track some of those alts. Sending the paranoia tapping the door. He’s constantly shifting back towards the site. Now peaks out back. Rubble finds one. Not going to be able to find a transfer through that second. So it does get taken down. Bit of damage going to be dealt here, but it’s going to be Hungman as well finding himself three charges towards that dimensional drift. Steart things off two zero. Yeah, that’s just solid stuff from Yungman. Hasn’t died yet. Three kills so far. Mako though just, you know, relieved of the IGL duties and is just able to go out and frag and is accomplishing that. Has been a real force for this team as usual. You just are going to expect that Mako’s putting up numbers. Now it’s Paper X’s chance to try to respond. Still though, couple bulldogs that Outlaw some good weaponry. Apex is going to have to face mo TP back. Rubble bit of pressure coming his way. Swing out something able to find the head shot puts him down. L spray forward into the smoke. Not going to be rewarded with any damage. A one for one at the end of it all. Jing left dead on the floor. She cheer wall here as Batman. I’m not sure if that jiggle went wide enough to actually get the spot out. Estrella holding the angle. They got a double face, but he actually pulls off. Is finding the timing here. Does Estraa to go ahead and get himself out of harm’s way. Bring them down. And Pac-Man now send that Prowler out. Seen by DRX. It’s just going to be freeing on his own. Salvo’s about to come back online. Forsaken just got a peak. A little bit of belter of a shot instead. Just quick little backpedal on the floor. Player advantage now here for the side of Paper Rex. Forsaken looking for more and he will indeed find it. Three kills. Spike now on the ground. Wall tripped. Freeing. Locked in position with the player on the flank. 30 seconds left. Well, thinking about his best course of action here. Would love to get some more damage in. Kind of know he’s probably pillars. Swoops around. Something about to be in the open, but has the head shot. Crispy with it. Survives the 46 HP. Four players alive. Rex get themselves on the board denying the bonus. Yeah, this is really crucial for Paper Rex to come through this relatively unscathed. Good read there by something. Yeah, Youngman able to find the one. Jing trying to blast pack his way a little bit closer to Rubble, but he’s caught in transition. Forsaken holding the line very, very nicely. So that Rubble fight in the long run going paper X’s way. Curious how much attention DX wants to pay play to this, but I mean having that deadlock in there makes things a little bit trickier in that regard. You’re not going to have quite as much util. You still have the Teao of course. We’re about to have a fight amount and that’s going to be one that Maka loses. Basically trapped there on Lonesome ends up getting taken down. Still the double stack set up freeing around the corner. Boombot looking to try to scout him out. Does not, however. Question is, do they think that he’s there, but they’re not going to stick around to find out. Quick back away for taking back to jiggle peeking here. That should give you a pretty good read that it’s going to be a I mean, Fing trying to sell this as best as he can, but that Prowler got no contact at B from Patman. Flash to try to do something and something going to know here with that tap of the door for sure. Paper X ready to roll. All they try to block off stairs as Estrella given the task of trying to breach this position here perhaps and Jin could be taken down but Bon quickly traded out as something does manage to find the one. Australia doesn’t even get the opportunity to be involved in the fight which is a glimpse there. On to Patmanite opened up 2v4 though try to keep the lead. Fing is he going to be ready for this angle? And he’s just slowly walking forward. There’s the check and there’s the snap forsaken. looking damn clean so far. Dimensional drift even committed just to give no opportunity whatsoever. Astray is going to be harassed by the Yoru as the diffuse gets started and now he just holds him back, locking him away from the site. Two to two, we are tied up. Paper Rex very nicely dispatching DRX here. Yeah, they’re just reading the map really well. This is something that impressed me uh when I was doing some bot review getting ready for today with Paper Rex uh in their runup here in the playoffs. They’re making really good use of the information that they’re finding on the map. And it’s stuff like what Pac-Man does. He just throws out a Prowler B. You know, they’ve only had a little bit of contact Z over at A. Something’s able to backpedal. And they’re still able to kind of put the pieces together that this is going to be an A hit and, you know, just smother DRX out of that A attempt. Force them over to B where Forsaken’s happy to find that off angle, get the kill. And here we go. Now TP’s with his alt. Going to go just check things out. Razor vines there to slow up if there was any fast hit off the back of it. And look at where Paper X is. Yeah, they’re all clustered up. They’re showing discipline though. They’re playing back, not wanting to give the opportunity over to DRX to find these opening picks. The wall quickly cleared out because they have everyone in position. So now the site is suddenly that much more insight here for them. There’s Jake bounding forward. Able to find one. Bane the trading it back. Stray on the floor. The spike not yet planted. Marco has the ultimate be a potential pivot angle, but they’re still widely stuck in here. Back online. MCO able to find one. Little bit of a wide swing out. Patman trying not to just whittle away here at Hunman. Hasn’t really gotten too much contact yet. And now is going to be the last one standing. And as he swings back through, Hunman will have the head shot. Three players alive. MCO holding on by a sliver. DRX do manage to go ahead and reestablish the lead by one round. Yeah, don’t mind the ideas here on the fly from Paper Rex, you know, wanting to stack up, wanting to deal with that dead walk, deadlock wall as quickly as possible, but I I mean DRX postpl even though it’s not technically a post plant, but they get into these crossfires, they get into these setups, and they’re so tough to break. They’re so disciplined. So having to give up space early is going to play into DRX’s hands in my opinion. Um, and now you’ve got a couple huge alts. Annihilation Armageddon. Miss of the shot. A rare miss considering know how he’s been performing with the OP in the last few days. Double stack of mounds. Drone gets cleared. Spots him out. Saken ready in case there’s going to be more pressure coming in this direction. But RX already has scattered to the winds. Shoulder spotted. A warning shot there the end of the day for something to jump still though they’re reading this nicely with players still that close to the door. Send some reinforcements over to back up this operator. He’s going to put the TP at drop but maybe this seemingly going to be a B pivot with players at B main. There is that vice wall. Yeah, looking for the net just in case there’s somebody playing close. No one going to be spotted. Sonic sensor going to be set up there with the connector position as pain shells get ready to fly. Bouncing forward looking for some damage. Bring on the crossfire able to find a vibe. Pacman going to be getting out before he’s able to find Hung but out of bullets. Not able to find anything. Forsaken cannot escape the grasp here. The annihilation catching just a moment before the TP could go through. Dragged to his demise. Something now just looks to try to hold on to this operator. But this round is on lock. DRX looking to move up now four to two. Yeah, DRX doing a great job. Saw it early in the pistol round in the followup where they’re really working the map nicely here. They’re kind of back to it getting that early B main control. Paper X giving up a lot of space. DRX able to take full advantage of it this time. It’s a quicker pivot. It’s an instant decision to set up that B crunch and it works an absolute treat. Don’t want to mess with the OP anymore, though. I’m just going to let Paper X carry that over. Curious if we’re curious if we’re going to see an early timeout from Alex and Mine Freak. Weird to say that. Still getting used to it. Be that being said, you know, the answer is yes. Good. I think it’s the perfect time to do it. Um, and I think really what you’re what I’m saying here is get a little bit more aggressive at the mains. Get a little bit more aggressive at Cound. take a little bit more map control here. You don’t have to go nuts, but because it’s going to be, especially with that OP there, you should be able to do a pretty good job of locking down one side or another. Either CRA and then playing a little bit more aggressive off the back of that is potentially what it could be, but also uh talking to some people behind the scenes. Mine Freak really getting involved during these timeouts. He’s like really got some good ideas. is there were some timeout calls uh previously when they played boom that he came through with some really good calls that literally won paper racks rounds. So nice to see him getting involved and still keeping that positive mentality, still being that team player. But Patman as well was Oh man, he was so good in Fracture last week. He was so clutch, dude. It was a huge part of that victory for them. Please dear go to Toronto. Yeah, may still have an opportunity to have that impact again if this goes to three. And this is Paper X’s pick here as Lotus map. So, we’ll see how they fare. Have the operator still very solid potential to get some damage dealt if not pull off the thrifty given that I was going to say everybody else has sheriffs. Forsaken ups to change over to the ghost made ready as well as that se trying to get a catch here at back rubble. No one really being caught by it as the push forward and Jing just able to barrel stuff. Finds young men. Shows up immediately going to be drawn out but it seems like botched I think he died as he was trying to get the rocket a fly. No flick to be found something. Repositioning shifts over as DRX could very much do the same and just call a pivot over towards B if they’d like. Either way, looks like they want to still plant here on A. Paranoia catching on to them for a moment. Forces them off the angle. The full flash connects now on the device. He plays towards drop cover going. Got to be mega careful here. Something do not want to give that operator over. You feel like the call has to be for him to go to a save is okay. Estrea not quite able to spot out divide from there, but the salvos will go ahead and ensure his demise. an attempt to try to take somebody down with him. At the end of the day though, it’s going to be something once again holding on to the operator. So, Thrifty not to be found. Yeah, but I like the ideas here from Paper Rex. You have some really good util to contest that a main control, that a lobby control. Throw it at DRX. Make them make the first move. Put the pressure onto Hunman. I mean, as great as he has been this year, put some pressure onto him and see if you can come through. Obviously, weaker weaponry there. That may be a big part of that equation, but it was exactly what I was kind of looking for. You have something to take COM control with the OP. You you put some pressure at Rubble. The meta the big picture ideas are good. Obviously, the weaker weaponry. Yeah, we’ll see how they fare going into the next buy. Does feel a lot more costly though. We’ll see here perhaps what happened to the showstopper as Yeah, just an attempted sending it, but point blank there was Bane able to find the punish immediately before that could even fly out. Otherwise, that could have been absolutely devastating. So, for now, still a bit of a slow game for Jing. Have to wait to cycle up that next one. Steel Garden going to be online here for the side of Paper Rex. Not too far off having that Nightfall either. Batman just one more charge. Well, this time something shifting over towards B. I have a chance. Depends on if they commit a flash or paranoia to this angle. See Mako and Hunman. Fake out being sent. Not being bought. This would have been a hell of a time to fake it. Either way, Sherwall does get cleared. MCO starting to drift backward. The swing out. There you go. Right into the midsection. Something has the kill. should be reading pretty well pretty soon that this is going to be C. But all this util very far back for Paper Rex ultimate ready going to have an ultimate there as well for Australia. They’re going to pop it and Paper Rex wise to it. Backed away. Yep. Triple push. A bit of a slow up there outside of a main but something on the peak. Able to find one. Is Australia going to be taken down? OP. still finding that value and now he repositions wrapping around joining in alongside Divi. Nothing’s looking to be taken away on Pop. Paranoia out tucked back behind the box. Two players pinned in here now trying to fight their way out to Freedom. Bane can’t find it. Fing now all alone here on the site and something picks up a 3K to get Paper Rex their third round win in flawless fashion. Yeah, I mean, you got to love the awareness you’re seeing from Paper Rex just being ready for that alt to be grabbed for Estrella playing back off of it so they don’t have to worry about the steel guard and they have a steel guard and a counter. They can play that tic-tac-toe game all day and that early map control so important. That rumble control so important for them cuz that allows them to take space on the map quickly. It allows them to rotate through their opponent’s spawn so quickly and it helps now something starting to hit some shots. very important for him because you can see that earlier on they showed us a graphic where oh when there’s an operator on the defender side for paper X they’re winning like twothirds of their rounds so need to get a few more of those ago going meanwhile Termy’s like nah bro we got to we got to win a bunch on this side I have to assume that it’s likely related to the operator how to identify it how to avoid it what they to be doing given the impact that we just saw from something in the round. Yep. Be my suspicion. Little bit tough though. Uh you know, obviously you have the stealth drone. That’s the only thing that’s really going to give you that clean look. Yeah. That free look, hard clear. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You can do some soft clears, right? Jiggling and things like that, which you expect to see. But some good smokes as well from MCO. But, you know, with a double sentinel composition, it’s going to be tricky to scale forward. to get past that OP. I mean, you’re not going to give yourself as many tools to deal with it. So, it has to be a lot more diligence with your individual play and positioning for every OP shot that something hits. DRX is well aware it’s another corpse thrown into the fire by Sliggy and it’s another fueling the train. It’s another shovel full of coal. Oh, they’re throwing the fans in at this point. They’re desperate. Oh, that’s right. I heard. Yeah, they’re running out of gold. Yeah, that’s right. Pop flash turned away from Pac-Man. Looking for the transfer and has it. Bane just does not have the weapon at the ready. Huge outplay. Gun barrel going to be spotted. Mako still however able to find two, but Jing on the peak shuts him down. Pel try to force a straight up back. Manages to trade one. Now it’s just freeing alone. Spike in hand. can try to get the play here. Try to get that spike planted perhaps. They’re worried that he got all the way up to stairs, but little do they know he slipped through towards B. May just wrap all the way to C. Indeed, he will. And that Vice Wall not going to give you any info on this one. It’s just going to be a free plant. OP and a Vandal. So, it just comes down to how did Dev and something want to approach the situation? something a couple flashes though so some decent opportunity they could figure out where he is but freeing kind of guessing correctly here will put himself in a really nice position to use the salvos and the concuss potentially he’s getting that door let’s see what Paper X can do swing all the way around slowly here towards the waterfall but if something gets set up on the line and anticipates this could be brutality but freeing finds the peak finds the shot but peaks out as he sends the salvos plays it impatiently and Dvi hits the shot to go ahead and bail them out on the round. Five to four, just under two seconds to spare. Tell DRX maybe getting a little bit antsy off the back of the timeout, not being able to find the win. Vapor Rex got to be gritting ear to ear. Should be able to keep an OP in play as well. Jing getting involved. Good setup there with the trap behind the smokes. Again, you’re going to see a lot of that trickery from Paper X. They love to try to catch you off guard. Yunman going to have an opt now as well though. So both of our Yorus going to be sporting the snipers. And you do have a couple alts. Pman has his Armageddon. Oh god. Does almost take some damage there. Grab catching something there, but he can TP right away. So that’s potentially false information unless DRX can get a good read. He would have TPed away from that. I think if you get seized and then you gate crash, it should pull you all the way back through the map to that spot. Just reeling you in. That would be sick. Timing peaks. Stray timing dies. Jing now looking to do the same. Bane scouting him, but nobody else prepared to really take him on. He swoops forward. Mako melted down as Jing comes away with three. And it’s flawless from Paper X as they tie it up at five to five. Yeah, they’re really starting to come online now. Starting to feel themselves a bit. Great Nightfall and Jen plays off of that so quick. You know, Mako has to be watching the other direction. There’s players coming from a bunch of direct a bunch of angles and his teammates, you know, you got to expect that maybe they can win that fight. Yeah, Jing just not having any of it. Starting to come alive for Paper Rex. Again, if he if he starts to frag out too, then this two-headed snake that they can bring out with these two duelists is fearsome to say the least. Not being shy about this at all. But look at this. I mean, he sees Jing taking this orb. He knows that the showstopper’s online, but there’s nothing more that they can do to try to prevent this young way out. Showstopper going to be sent. It’s going to be Batman. He’s able to find the kill. Astray swinging the corner. Able to trade one back as Jing does get taken down. Armageddon even going to be committed to this round as AO finds Pac-Man. Forsaken is dead. Suddenly player advantages here for the side of VRX as something drops down has a mask of his own. Slaps it on. Divine fully blinded up. TP reposition. Ults galore being committed. But Defy is able to find two. Freeing it straight out. Now going to be taken down. And Mako hasn’t clutched at all. Collects a weapon. The plant not for him. Manages narrowly to get the kill. The retap though. Divine. He knows that he’s not on it. Bako swings it but cannot clutch it. Defy saves them once again. And that is devastating as TRX committed a ton. Everything. I tons of alts used in this round. Showstopper Armageddon. I mean just crazy stuff. Hey, Omen TP as well. Two two Yoru alts. Omen TP. Nice read there. Oh, Dvi. Nice to see Dvi though, smiling, coming up with big clutches. And it looked like maybe he had lost that spark now. He seems to have it back. Paper Rex could take a positive half here. DX wants to tie it up. That six and six very possible, but of course it’s the double duelist on the other side as Paper Rex get ready to go on that attack. T-Rex know that they need everything that they can possibly get. Bane one away from having another annihilation. First one able to find value. Gotten that kill onto Forsaken. Portal closed. Something repositioning both of them. Operating basically in tandem as both send out great crashes. Estraa’s just strafing in to be double stack setup. Batman gets himself the kill handed over on a silver platter. Tight angle for something. Look at the reef from PRX. They’re already in position here. I tell you, they’ve just done such a good job with their preparation. The TB wide, however, it’s actually sold them short. He spotted nothing. Did Forsaken calls for the rotation out? Something tries to scale forward and then they don’t read that Hungman had moved that far up. Seal guard looks to try to slow them up. Jing is able to find one. Spring is going to be taken down. Spike going to be recovered. There’s that annihilation. Not finding anything. Batman pushing up shots. Just fishing through the smoke as MCO often does. Finds himself a kill. Looks for a little bit more. Tags up Jing, but as the smoke dissipates, Jing finds the head shot. Too many players. So damn low now. All on Hunman with just 8 HP. Sends out the fake. But he is dead as he exits that smoke. Seven to five. Paper X out in front with a massive five round win streak to end the half. Other than something just walking out there and dying at a main. This is just a great read. So many good reads for Paper Rex. Really understanding this map so well. But you know, you look at it from the perspective of this second half. You look at the double duos versus that double sentinel. You know who’s going to be able to slow who down? How impactful is that deadlock going to be? How impactful is that wall going to be? That extra little bit of control you’re going to be giving yourself potentially a seight front of B. Things like that. I mean, you have double wall, right? You have the vice wall, you have the deadlock wall. That’s so annoying. You have to be so diligent here as paper rex. Oh, I wonder who she’s Oh. Oh, tough choice. Yeah. will surprisingly go with DRX. I’m so shocked. Oh, wait. Ah. Ah. Okay. Do we have another one? One more. It’s a best of five. Ah, apparently not. Master of Valerant all time Korea number one. Omen. That’s what Macco stands for. Hold on. Uh, let me write that one down. It’s pretty good. Master, what was it of all time? Korea. Uh, Korea number one omen. Korea number one omen. Okay, put that one in the notepad for later. Uh, yeah. I mean, I think overall you have to be pretty happy with that defender side as paper rex normally, but going up against the double sentel, I don’t know. Obviously, that’s going to be a big question mark. you know, how are they going to be able to adapt this adapt to that? I will say, God, if there’s any team that can do it, you got to feel like it’s Paper X because these guys just are so on the fly anyway. That’s just how they roll. Maybe this is just really isn’t too big of a deal. Two sheriffs in hand. Cheer wall. It’s going to be double face takes a ton of damage. He’s got 3 HP. Just ate that paint shell. Then on the corner head shot into the spray down Forsaken himself a second spike now planted freeing coming away with two. Tries to keep it competitive but two players that just are so damn low. There you go. Final shot will take him down. Bane just trying to send out the net. Gets a catch but there’s just no way to try to fish out these kills. Divi perfectly happy to stay sat there. Crouch down Sheriff in hand. Paper X will go ahead tie up the pistol count. You one step closer towards closing out their map pick. Yeah, I mean good coordination here. Got a lot of bodies you’re throwing at the problem. That is a such a fast reaction from for Jason. Goodness gracious. Did you say for Jason? For Jason. Yeah. Did you mean to say for? Well, I wanted to say Jason and I was in the middle of saying Forsaken and then it just all came out. Look, I just turned 40. Leave me alone. That’s true. It’s well it’s well past my bedtime. I’m sure most people will be shocked to hear that you’ve turned 40. I’m sure because they’re like, “Damn, I thought that happened years ago.” Yeah. No, I know. I mean, it’s a miracle I’m not dead. [Laughter] I love it. Anyway, so exact here onto the a site coming through for Paper Rex. No real opposition in their way. CRX just going to be looking to play bit of a death ball retake perhaps, maybe even cluster up and die to the spike. Though knowing Paper X, they won’t be happy with that fate for their opponents. They will go on the hunt. Oh boy. Something. Little does he know there’s quite a few players right around that corner, but they’re actually mostly going stairs. So, he’s going to have an isolated fight up there. This actually works out pretty well for Paper X. I think there’s head shot being able to find one to buy. eliminated. Some decent damage is found here onto the players as Mako frantically trying to take down something. Gets in the 20, however, but cannot find the kill. Overall, fairly clean as Paper X now 9 to five. One away from hitting double digits. Yeah, so far we haven’t really seen the utility from the Sentinels have much impact for the side of DRX. Got to start now. It’s great read from from Paper X as well. You know, most of the players are coming from the stairs area. That’s where your crossfire is something on his own and you put Mako up there to try to duel him. Look, Mako’s great. But terms of how you kind of draw it up as Paper X. That’s exactly what you want to see with that retake cover going out this time. Knitting really aggressive trying to play off the back of the drone, but there’s a counter drone there. Keep him at bay. No spokes. Oh my god. Smoke spam. Goodness. Smoke spam available. There’s that wall able to be baited out by the clone Batman. Just doing his job, seeing what’s going on at B. Sonic sensor right around that corner there for Bane. See that quite often with deadlocks on this map. Is that going to get red though? There’s that wall. Timing quickly cleared. Just go ahead and break that down. Still for now though, DRX stagnant in their movements. Something creeping forward. Corner just around this corner is Estrella. And it’s going to be H actually who finds the kill. Likely preferred anyway from DRX trying to get that ultimate online here for the Yoru. Oh, that gets a catch. Two players held Bane for now. Bane hearing the footsteps and Saken able to take one down. Mako hugging here alongside the smoke finds one. Turns for the second bit of eye able to go ahead and cut him down. We now go into a 3v3. 17 seconds remaining. Util available to try to prevent this plan though as Jing instant with the head shot but it’s onto the clone. Looks for a little bit more. Gets the dick but Kevin still staying alive for the moment but going straight out. Forsaken able to cut him down. It’s all on Estrella. the 1v2 wrapping around both players here in position. Not ready yet. Won’t even get the chance to try to use the flash. Basically stacked up here for him. No way to flush this out. Divine picks up a 3k and Paper X pick up a 10th round victory. Control the space. I mean, it’s just so cool to see Paper X the way that they’re kind of death balling around the map. Okay, yeah, you lose something there, but that’s fine. And again, if you’re stacked up like they are, you know, you find one wall, the other wall gets used, you’re able to clear it so quickly that it’s essentially null and void, you’re able to just scale your way onto sight, find some good kills. I mean, even though Jing didn’t get a kill, he did some damage. That shot onto the clone was nuts, but didn’t matter. Still though, Stinger Sheriff’s ghost. Oh, the flash just got there in time. wants to try to get a catch here on the Yoru, but gate crash does not care. Noises made able to hear the exit. Still thrown chasing forward. Not going to catch a glimpse there. Thorne’s already going to be preopped though. She wall still set up. Seal guard going to be sent. Fake out. Hit there by the stingers. TP forward and freeing has the head shot. Finding one. The damage suffered. He’ll buy something once again down to 20 HP. pinned in by the wall here for the moment. Swinging from the back. Bane looking for a little bit more. Gets fully flashed up though and Jing finds two in all the chaos. Suddenly it’s just Youngman with the stinger. Low HP on both only popped up here for the moment, but it’s going to be the Vi continuing to find these final kills. Paper Rex have been running away with this across the two halves now nine rounds in a row. It’s just, you know, when you get into the mud, that’s where Paper X likes it. These things are all kinds of scrappy around this this wall. You know, it’s nicely placed. It traps something and then everybody’s trying to figure out a way to deal with it. They throw a paranoia at it as well. And it looked like maybe DRX was going to come through, but the weaker weaponry cost them. It’s a good idea now that Paper X is kind of aware of it. Try something a bit different. Still though, Vice Wall going to be at C and this could just be a pretty quick hit. Second in spawn. Bane seemingly conscious about this is swinging out and losing the fight. Forsaken has the Vandal. He’s able to take him down. MCO tap of the door finding kill onto the has widely been the final boss for a lot of these rounds. I’ll handle this. Sean going to go rushing forward here with the dimensional drift. Sees that they’re not going committing in with the plant holding here behind an upper. Jing has sight set on the angle. Pull out of the dimensional drift here for him. Immediately going to be chipped down the two HP. Forsaken able to find that kill. Estraa arriving in from behind. Apart Jen. The spike still not yet planted board here into Mako was able to cut down three. Forsaken answers back with a shorty with 7 HP. There’s nothing more to be done. DRX, they close out the round, but Paper Rex still have smiles on their faces. They know that they’re still continuing to do so much damage to this economy. It’s a really good early read from Paper X, but DRX able to stabilize and hold so many different angles that Paper X never felt comfortable that they could put this spike down. They knew they had the Armageddon in play as well. So DX just able to kind of find their timings. Just let the clock run, make Paper X make some moves. And then just punish him off the back of that. The timing there from all the players of DRX coordinating together on that. Good. Still a ton of work to be done. Something grabbed here by the net. Did he see Youngman? I don’t think Gun Barrel’s been spotted, but I don’t think’s been scouted either. Has a gate crash. They are frantically looking for each other. But right now, Hman with the advantage. Catches something completely off guard. Makes a quick exit. Just gate crashing back over onto the site. Yeah, they immediately paying the other side of Rebel where that TP would have come through. Weren’t really aware that that could be a possibility. Bane has his ultimate as well. This could get a little bit dicey. Trying to hold down that post plant. Just getting there may be difficult. Got Hyundman and Bane very very close to throw up the wall. Immediately cleared for what it’s worth. Paper X has been really on point with making sure that deadlock util doesn’t do much. Or tapped. Jing looking to play entry here. Now is committed forward. Young man able to stabilize. Finds the shot before getting taken down. Going to be the Oh, he got the hit actually as the annihilation goes bounding forward. He catches one. Have they cleared him out? 30 seconds. They certainly have now, but it will still lead to his demise as Bane. Turns over to the side, finds Forsaken. Batman dead. Straya arrives at the front of the site. The RX now two rounds in a row. Still four separating. Well, seemingly able to find their footing a bit more. Again, just a little bit of trickery from Hunman. Something not ready for it. Probably kicking himself a bit. Even got the Nightfall invested. Batman Forsaken. Yes, that was disgusting. He He was jumping around. He just turns and head shots his opponent. So, okay, now it’s Paper X’s turn to be on a weaker buy. Jing does have his ultimate. Showstopper there. Bucky to back it up. The paint shells and yeah, right into his face. Mco sends the paranoia early and he’s just going to get out. Really thought there was going to be a ton of pressure coming his way. and at the same time in his defense. Oh, he’s out of the wall. It is paper X. Sure. I don’t blame him. Very true. You have to Well, there’s also a showstopper here from Jing, which might just be about to see. There you go. As Mako counting up and over the top, TPing and nearly TPS right on top of where I thought that rocket was going to go. Had Estraa not gotten that kill. That would have been both of them. absolutely destroyed. Mako stays alive. Shot hits the clone. Flash forward straight up playing here within the smoke, but Mako still playing up on top of the site. Comes away with a second kill here. Peaks in for a little bit more, but something manages to bring about his demise. 5 HP remaining here on the Yoru. Swing onto the corner though and Pac-Man going to be taken down and it would have to be some of the crispiest shots that we have ever seen in quick secession to one another. And then it will be Hunman barely scraping by to keep himself alive. 8 to11 DRX now three away from tying it up. Yeah, I think Paper Rex probably should pull the trigger on the second time out here and talk about how they want to deal with these uh walls at the front of C. It seems like originally they were just kind of throwing the clone at it and now they’re trying to get through it in different ways. I think you’re better off just early around taking some mound control, throwing the throwing the clone at it, getting rid of it and working the map off the back of that because Every time they tried to just go through that vice wall, either just sending, you know, something through a TP or Ching blast packing forward, it’s been dicey to say the least. Yeah, there was one round where they won getting through that way, but it doesn’t seem to be consistent. So, I think you really need to be diligent with clearing out this Sentinel util. And yeah, just uh a fan from that one. Unsure who to vote for, so they’ll hedge their bets. Can’t decide. I don’t blame him. Yeah, I love both of these teams. It really does feel like sending one of them off in in this kind of fashion given they have to play against one another. I mean, RB is probably going to be cheering for we would suspect DRX, but uh it feels like watching two friends go to different colleges. They’ve been together since middle school. One got into NYU, one got into Temple University. I might be speaking from my own experience bias there. Oh, yeah. Okay. I mean, it is it is because it’s such a classic matchup. Um, there’s just tremendous history here. Obviously, our first ever Pacific Finals. You know, you want to see both of them succeed. Yep. Uh, what in the hell, Henman? It seemed like he had no idea where he was. Looked like you walking down the street, but then he got his bearings and he got the shot. What? I’m a good walker. Don’t take that away from me. Say you haven’t any You’re not bad at walking. You just don’t know where you’re going. Oh, well that’s intentional. Yeah. Okay. Well, that shot has certainly brought this round to a bit of a screeching halt. I mean, you’ve got something’s all but you lost quite a bit of early oomph there. There’s that wall. V just walks past it. Yeah. has been popped and Estraa immediately going to be sending that steel garden. Forsaken tping forward here within the smoke. Makco like he’s suspicious of this as Salvos going out back water and then the stray up peeking out able to find two three as forsaken does fall. Pman answers back for a singular kill onto the vice but it’s paranoid up. He’s up and over the top and MCO likely just going to go for a quick little peak. Finds the head shot and that’s going to be DRX now continuing with a win streak of their own. two away. Uh-oh. Things starting to get a little bit out of control here for Paper X. DRX coming right back. Jeez. I I mean, the ideas were good there. It’s just the timing a little bit off for Jing. He’s just a little bit slow behind that flash. Number of times that we’ve seen Jing go for that setup and come away with the kill. Yep. Him versus Kong Kong. Lives rent free in my head. Also had the operator. Jing, he won that fight this time around though. And not allowing for it. So OP still retained. It’s going to be a double push up as Bane in as that smoke now blooming here. And as the haunt gets ready to come through just take that gate crash out. Looking for that sonic sensor. Now they’re going to have to rethink this. Take a moment to consider. Got that rebel control. want to show some presence on the rest of the map from two sides of the clone in tow absorbs that OP shot here for them. Wall set up a tree freeing able to find something here at the door as Prowler quickly cleared out. Pac-Man able to draw down the Sheriff finds the kill and that’s going to be a weapon now collected. Straya looking for some timing shots. A tiny bit of damage going to be found. Let’s push up for MCO finding the lurk. Divide gone. 3v4. But tight quarters contact as the stingers are going to be able to find some value. Shorty going to be drawn in. Narrowly gets away with that. M goes ahead. Throws on the dimensional drift. His weapon’s going to be juggled around forsaken. However, grabs the operator. He’s going to have to contend with Yunman here from behind. Classic drawn out. Forsaken is able to find that. grabs another weapon, but Bane capitalizes before he can get that steadyied. Time ticking. Pacman on the cross angle, needing to clutch it out. Bane drops down. He faces forward and Pman hits the Red Bull clutch to get Paper X up to map point. What a round. This is it. He has been so good for Paper X in these clutch situations. The new kid on the block making it look easy. He has just been so so reliable post plant. He’s so disciplined. I mean that that weird position he takes catches Mako off guard. Nobody holds at that angle. Nobody holds inside of the archway of that door and then he backs right off, buys himself a little bit of time, confirms his other opponent’s position and deals with that. This is the last time out. All four going to be used here. DRX with the final one. Trying to find a way to get three in a row to send it to OT. Looked like maybe they were going to get it done. Pac-Man had other ideas. Le go to Toronto. Well, timeout call needing three in a row to take this into overtime. DRX has been playing uh a good amount of overtimes as of late. No stranger to it. We’ll see how things look going into this one. Paper X just going to be looking to bring this to a conclusion right here, right now. Not leave that door open any wider for DRX. There’s something. Oh boy, he’s got a judge. And he’s got a dimensional drift. This ought to be good. This ought to be good. Certainly, there’s some kind of setup here with this. Plus, you could use the Nightfall. They’re one away from a steal garden as well. They got a ton of alts online whereas TRX don’t have much of anything. TP forward with the dimensional drift. Something on the hunt here. Wall just going to be shut down as Bane frantically figuring out where the hell he can go to escape. Will ride the rope. Nope. Drops down and something runs out of time. Face your fear. Waits too long. Burns the pot. Food not being eaten tonight. That’s Bane able to find one more there before Jing comes in for the trade. Dropped down. Little avoidance there from Hung as he tries to stay alive. Jing similarly has to take the rope down out towards safety. Looking for that little flash out. Shorty drawn down. Hungman carved up as Dai at range able to find the kill now alone. The spike in the meantime has never been planted. It’s not in play. Dubai needs to try to clutch this out. Eats a bit of damage and paranoia going to be sent. goes backpedaling but freeing is just here around the corner. They need to try to hold on to these weapons has a chance and he gets so damn close but freeing will get the final shot. DRX will keep themselves afloat. Just thought it was going to be another classic divide clutch here. Jing doing what he can to try to disrupt at the top of rope. Derrick’s able to stabilize at the back of drop. Freeing able to reclaim that rope space and use it to set up a crossfire there to break free of that enttrapment. Man, oh man. I thought Dai was just going to send us on over to Icebox. But now he’s got the steal. I mean, they they’re one away from a showstopper. They can try to get this orb steel guard and equalize the weapon uh you know, playing field. Yeah, could certainly get this done in thrifty fashion. got that annihilation to contend with. You know, it’s probably going to be a that’s been Bane’s home. Wall sent out. Freeing catching a glimpse. Knows that they’re there within the smoke. The annihilation immediately going to be sent there. Nei going to be taken down as free is able to find one. Sends out the stun. Looking for the hit doesn’t manage to find it, but gets the head shot onto Forsaken. All the same as that is now something alone here on the site and taken down. Flawless DRX dispatching the thrifty attempt. Some, let’s say, moderate frustration perhaps in the face of coach Alex. Oh, for sure. As DRX is now one away from pushing this into OT and from there, who knows what the hell happens. Well, exactly. It’s been such a good second half here for DRX once they got a few rounds in. really started to find their comfort on this defender side. Just can’t quite get this double dist to connect something. 13 and 14 Jing 14 and 19. Little bit off balance using those flashes. Jing for a turn of the flash. Unable to find it. Does he just check the angle? Freeing flushes him out. The showstopper. No foul. You found once more. Freeing pushing forward. Gets a tap on the Pac-Man. Forces the rest of the team back. And now the spike dropped here inside of B. But something pushes up into upper catching off guard to the corner. Freeing now going to be flushed out. Steel Garden holds back the remaining players. Spike planted as we go into a 3v3 in the post plant. Utils burned. Not much more to work with here on either side. Makco breaks down one of the walls. The rest now expired. Net lobed in as MCO tries to go for the swing. Estraa fallen. And there you have it. A kill a piece to bring it to an end. OT not happening. 13-11. Paper Rex will close out there. Matt pick of Lotus. Oh man. And Dai pumping up for Zank there. Got to love the energy that we’re seeing today. That was a hell of a comeback though for DRX. It looked like this was Paper X. Easy go into Icebox. DRX had other ideas and just in time, Paper X is able to stabilize off some huge plays from the likes of Pac-Man Divide coming up big when they needed a most. We’ll see. Forsaken really solid throughout that entire map. What does ice box look like between these two teams? W train bound for Toronto. You can see how bumpy the ride was on that little artwork there. The tracks are a little rickety looking, but they’re holding. When you’re laying them one by one, one after the other. Stability is not going to be that much of a concern, nor will it be guaranteed. This was by narrow margins. Paper X crucially do get their map pick. And now they are one map win away from getting themselves to another international event. Missed out on the first year this year. They want DRX’s ticket. We’ll see if they’re going to be able to get it. Ice Box is all that is going to be standing in their way. We’ll see how DRX looks on that one as well. A bit of a rocky start. You’d have to say for the Korean squad, but started shooting back, started finding their footing and getting a read. So hopefully that is going to continue. Just get one hell of a map two between these two teams. Let’s go back. We’ll see what happens up as we go ahead and take a much needed break after all the chaos from this opening map of Lotus. We pass it back over to the analyst to break down the action. Hey, what’s a DRX Paper X game without a little bit of a heart rate spiking a little bit here and there, especially as we near the end of this first map. Uh T-Rex almost made this into an overtime, but Paper X, you know, they continue to do well, I want to say dominate on Lotus, but D-Rex really figure out a lot of things. Dive relief. It was only a fake comeback, guys. Don’t worry. Fraudulent comeback in the on the cards there. I mean, still definitely could have been overtime. That was a threeon five conversion right at the end there to be able to just scrape it across the line. 1311. And that just shows you how annoying this DRX comp that they prepped coming into Lotus here is to attack into the deadlock vice an absolute nightmare for PRX to navigate. And it just once again shows you how flexible DRX is as a team. This is not the same same ideas over and over again. DRX, you know, Korean approach of just perfecting the same approach over and over and over again. They are a different team every time you bloody play them. And would it like I don’t think it can be a PRX versus DRX game without it going to all 24 rounds. It’s just meant to be. We all knew that this fake comeback was on the way whether they converted it or not. Both Omen’s topping the charts there. Obviously different styles. Mako with that zero first blood. A little bit more reserved compared to Forsaken’s. Much more aggressive approach onto that Omen. But both of them big standout maps. Yeah. And Dvi uh really stepping up here. 20 fracks and uh I think this is a good sign. This is a really good sign for the side of Paper Rex here. Every single one of them performing. Every single one of them keeping their cool. Also Pac-Man in that clutch moment there. Just absolute steady hands for a guy who’s a complete rookie here in Pacific. And uh Morgan, I think you’ve you’ve prepared something. I wanted to tell you all a little story. This is something that, you know, I think it will really capture the hearts of many right now. I hope you’re all sitting comfortably. Uh I was I was out of town on Sunday and I heard my friend Alex had retired to the countryside. So rightfully so after such a stressful time coaching the world’s most chaotic team. How have things been? I asked and he said it’s all good. Life is a lot more chill now. I’ve had a lot of time for farming. We walked out towards the back and I was hit by the most foul eye watering stench. And I turned to him and I said, “Alex, what’s that smell?” And he looked me dead in the eyes and he said, “My goats are never washed. They can never be washed. Wait till chapter 2. A train tears through the tears through the farm and it’s violent.” But we’re back. The goats are not washed. One map away from Toronto. Yeah, I like that story. Breathing, Harry Potter. Get it in your veins. Maybe don’t breathe in the stench. Maybe not. Yeah, they are never washed there. Uh um so I we’ll see if this is how things will end. They are going to continue in the 20 fashion here, but we need to rewind a bit. And dear uh Paper X on the defense, really solid ideas. Yeah, absolutely. They they just so disruptive on this defensive side. And you you see that being uh the C traps, multiple different setups where they can get involved in the action and then over on the other side of the map, you got something with it all. Yeah, I think it’s about understanding the stylistic differences between these comps, right? When DRX are running this double sentinel, they have to be slow and they want lots of map control. Once they have that map control, they’re in a really good spot cuz they can hold it very easily. So PRX go out in front, they go forward, they disrupt, they get on those deep up lines to not give them any control. That’s really good macro understanding, really solid coaching, and good game plan. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, their their defense has been super solid across the last four maps. And again, I I thought they were actually going to need more than that on their defense because uh but on the attack, they managed to clutch up a couple of rounds, come in with enough ideas against the deadlock, but DRX brought ideas of their own into this game. They completely changed up their comp. And I love this pistol round. This really reminds me of the set execute that you run on ascent a site with the deadlock where you throw the wall up over the top, block one of the major retake pathways in through waterfall there. And the other thing they did so well was disrupt PRX before they could come in for these retakes. You see players taking DS in towards spawn. So not only you running into Deadlock utility and Vice utility, but you’re also getting disrupted by these individuals taking fights with you as you try to complete your retake. Yeah, we saw at the start of this game how PRX’s approach was to try and get into the site fast. Try and not let them get that spike planted. So, when you’re able to have those set play walls that buy you a lot of time, it lets you set up for that post plant, which is obviously where the comp was very, very strong. I’m just really liking what I’m seeing from both sides today. Uh, Paper X could close this out, but really, who knows when you have a map like Ice Box, but I think whoever ends up winning today, very welld deserved. And, uh, you know, I think they’ll have a great performance over in Toronto. And I still don’t know who’s going to win. I’m very happy again to see Paper Rex kind of up and up, you know, track by track, fish by fish, at least for Lis uh for uh David anyway there. Um and I didn’t pick Divide today, unfortunately. And who is this big time? I have you got some good numbers on the board right now. And Jing, I mean J could have got me some more if he could land a showstopper man. It’s a free kill button. It’s a free kill button. He just kept walking around with it. He never shot it. He just He was cursed with that. if he’s playing and Ice which you know I’d be kind of surprised but if he does then I mean these two teams they have played each other on Icebox though we cast our our minds back all the way to week one of the groups. It was the opening game for these two teams and Icebox was picked by Paper X. This time it’s being picked by TRX who have not been great on this map. They’ve lost most of the times they were playing but that was with the old comp that they were running. Um, this time you see them mix in the harbor up against Talon and it worked an absolute treat. But the last time these two teams played, PRX played this way comp with triple initiator and they got 101 on the attacking side. They rolled them on attack. Yeah, I mean I just don’t see PRX bringing this out again though. I don’t see this way coming. I certainly don’t see this triple initiator coming. We’re way away from that meta right now and I think that’s probably partly why DRX wanted to pick it. PRX have not shown a particular willingness to play this map. I think they’re trying to spot the gaps in the map pool where sometimes when you’re doing these map vetos, you want to project strength, right? You might not necessarily want to ban it out all the time, but you just kind of hope it doesn’t go there. And I think that’s been the case with PRX and this Icebox map. So very very targeted pick. But again, as you say, it’s not been good for DRX either. So I have no idea what to expect here. Do you do you want to see this? You say probably not. We probably want to see the way triple inn. You don’t want to see it again. Please don’t do that to me. Paper X, it was weird. Didn’t love it. I don’t care about that. To be honest, though, it will play very well into the harbor comp. If you see the harbor comp come out for DRX, I mean, uh, the the amount of initiator util that you’ve got here, you’ve got flashes, you’ve got way. It’s going to actually work a treat disrupting a lot of the the harbor walls and things like that. PRX had a lot of interesting ideas, but it did feel I mean, it did feel like a one pump comp. I call them one pump comps. is like you just throw out a comp for a specific matchup then you’re probably never going to touch that again. I also feel like if you’re expecting the harbor on the other side I think there’s better approaches than way I think Yoru brings more don’t get me wrong I think KO there can be good but I think you just need a KO I don’t even think you really need that much just like a KO in the comp probably good enough against a harbor and it’s it’s a fantastic in on ice box as well. It’s my favorite in on ice box for sure. No sage then they used to like play Sage on ice. I love Sage. I can’t believe we’re not seeing it from anyone. I think it’s great. Hey, I think it simplifies the map. It’s fun. Everybody’s just boring nowadays. You know, no one likes to throw things back to the good old days back when Valerant was, you know, at its peak when I’m talking peak Valerant as in like when the sage orbs were like huge and the the wall was insta. Take it back to beta. Cost nothing. You have to put your fragger on sage. Yeah, the res costed Yeah, the res did not cost that many. You just want a fragger and you could self heal yourself. You don’t want to see Jing on Sage this game. Jing on Sage. You don’t want to see it. I want to see. Can you imagine? Especially on defense. He uses the wall just to go as quickly as possible back to spawn. Surprise me. PRX. Okay. I think they will. I mean, they they have continued to do so with the way comp. Uh but you’re right, Pilsky. They ended up dumping it just like they dumped it over in Lotus and figured out a brand new comp. Let’s see what they are bringing out today on Ice Box. This is DRX’s map pick. And DRX absolutely need to win this if they want to have any chance of going to to Toronto. All right, DRX are going to back themselves with the exact same comp. Worked in a treat against Talon. They smashed Talon with this harbor comp and uh they were playing against a comp without flashes playing up against Talon and they’re playing against someone somewhat similar. Something looking very standard here for PRX. Yeah, I think that double controller. That’s that’s the main thing. The Omen is the biggest mixup. The Jman is back on the PRX comp. That’s the biggest mixup now. I love watching the Omens look through mid. It’s different than how the Viper does it. Can smoke off those turrets, TP to find those timings. That’s what I want to see from Dream. Get up in their face through mid. All right, we’re going to go to map two of this very exciting series. I have a question for the casters, Achilios, and Paper Thin. How do you feel about trains? Uh, not something that I have a necessarily strong opinion. I take them from time to time. you know, the the the train system here in South Korea pretty good. Uh whether or not we’re going to be seeing a crosscontinental railway be built from Asia to North America, that is another question. We shall see. But Paper Rex have taken that first step. They’ve gotten the investment money. Construction is underway. Whether the project will be completed or abandoned, we’ll have to just wait and see. It is a long bridge, no doubt about it, but it’s getting close to completion across the Pacific Ocean. I’m a huge train fan. Uh, Mako, a lot of players there. This is scary. Okay, he’s okay. A good amount though. Those footsteps telling a broad tale here as Hunman dodging up the paranoia. The shock. Dark tailwind went into the corner. Tailwind went out from Hungman as Bane able to find something and Dubai gets taken down. DRX once again looking for the open pistol as MCO still on the lurk wrapping his way around. Turn back up for a brief moment there from Jing. Seems like maybe giving some credence to this flank but now trying to break through. Get this diffuse going to prove to be difficult. The salvos about to be sent. Held the half but Pac-Man taken down. Freeing finds one. Jing looking for that second. Can’t quite make it happen. DRX will take the opening pistol here on Ice Box as they look to extend this to a third a map. Yeah, this is this is going to be rough for Paper X, I imagine. I mean, this is almost the same comp that they ran against or excuse me that Talon ran against them that Paper Rex are playing. Just an Omen is going to be the difference there instead of a TJO. Uh so a nearly flashless map other than the paranoia. It’s going to be quite interesting. So much of this going to come down to the controllers. So much of this, in my opinion, for Paper X, going to come down to Forsaken on that SOA. That scan util is going to be so important for figuring out what the hell is going on on the other side of these harbor walls. Oh, and Jing spotted out. Suppressed. So can’t try to TP out of position. So it’s just going to be the stun into that safe pipe there at his feet. And while Defy on the swing will be able to find Hunman, weapon can get scooped up. TRX have a firing squad there ready to just go ahead and pick apart the remaining players of Paper Rex. Sheriff now in hand for something and I believe a shoulder scene through that wall there for a brief little moment. So position noted. Bane on a flank swooping around given that he’s got a sheriff. Will just opt to back away. Oh, good read though by something. Just needs to do as much damage as he can. Going to be tough of course. So many players stacked here and eventually shots will come through. Estraa starting things off with the 3k gets DRX fairly clean anti- eco two start and reckoning online going into the bonus. That’s huge. I mean that gives you such a great ability to clear through on towards a with that reckoning. Force Paper X to play retake. And again, that’s really, really tough going up against this double smokes comp that DRX is going to be piloting because you don’t have a lot of flashes. You again, you have to rely so heavily on either just contact or Forsaken’s util to get you the info that you need to make good decisions on the way in. But they’re going to get aggressive. They’re going to try to get ahead of it a bit. Our paper Rex over on the A side, but all the attention actually towards B. Oh, DRX kind of doing what you would not expect when you have a reckoning in play. Just going to make a quick hit and divide just has to backpedal and wait for reinforcements. There’s a nano to try to delay, but now the reckoning going to be invested as the wall goes up. Cutting off the angles here at Snowman as well considering the bite. Some shots are starting to fly and there’s the spray through and going to be put down on the floor. Walls getting ready to fall. This now becomes a very difficult position here before the side of TRX actually get the spike in play. They are able to do so but freeing both going to be taken down as something pinches in from under two. Mako lingering here within his smoke but something just a little bit faster. Bane finding himself a second the nano at the ready. The wraparound here back yellow something with a 3k will go ahead and deny a bonus conversion. Minor damage dealt. Two casualties overall not too bad as paper get themselves on the board. Yeah, for sure. And overall, I I just really like the understanding of the situation here for Paper Rex, just knowing that the Reckoning is in play. So, your option is to either just let them get a for free and try to play for retake, or get ahead of it, send a bunch of players out, take a control, divide wisely, just backpedaling the whole way once he starts getting contact. Let them let them play for this site. Need some of those long range guns and something getting them hyped up. Rifles abound. And now we really see what the meat and potatoes of both of these teams looks like. Early dart there trying to set up for this aggressive push does allow them to get into a nice forward position. Shaken going to be sending the drone. Bane does get spotted out. Something on the prowl up and over the top. Dropping down. Dash at the ready. He will just slowly back away. Ping’s coming through. Bane swooping in. He’s getting closer here to making contact against one another now. Backpedling out and the pressure is there. The pinch coming through looking to try to take him down here at mid. Swing in. Bane somehow though winning out this fight. Three player wraparound now. MCO trying to note it from behind at garage but ends up falling to the wayside. Spike at the same time gets planted here on the B side. Forsaken only player forward as everybody else cuts across through mid. The fuse now starting to get held. manages to get that up to half. Salvo’s going to be sent in on the back end of that one, but cannot find that kill. Cloud’s going to be thrown down. Astray up finding one. Looking for the spray. Push out of the wall. And it is just going to be that round starting to really spiral out of control here from Paper X. Felt like they were in a strong position, but Pane finding that kill changes the plot. I fully agree with you. It’s all I can think about is that kill for Bane really changes that round. Makes it way more difficult for Paper Rex. can’t take as much map control as they like. They can’t control that space over towards the attacker side spawn. They have to loop back through tube and DRX is happy to let Paper X go through that way. They’ve got those crossfires set up. Got the walls they can throw at it. Similar ideas, but a much weaker buy behind this. TPing ahead. Oh my god, Jing. Okay, well, they’re just going to go aggro again and this time get rewarded for it. The kill that they couldn’t find in the first round or the previous round, I should say. And they’re able to find it here. Fing taken down. And that is the your post plant util. A lot of it out of hand. This paper X getting themselves a thrifty to close the gap down to one. That would be devastating for DRX. No doubt. Knives out as well for something. He is so so good with those. Really be a difference maker potentially in this round. DRX though patience checking every possible angle. Double drift under two. MCO trying to clear out whatever util may be here at the plant spot. You still have three players. Eyes on this position. Hyun creeping towards mid. Might get a peak here from Pacman. Staying stagnant here for the moment. Where did that go? I don’t know what happened to that. I was just looking for it, too. Did he just evaporate immediately? Didn’t show up on the map. Okay, the mid didn’t show up on the mini map, so I was very confused. Same. Oh, tons of damage. Spike planted straight giving his life for the cause there. Now you’ve got three players versus five. Hungman on this flank. Needs to go absolutely monstrous for the team. There’s swing out. Pulls the trigger. Doesn’t play it patient. Just lets him know where he’s at. Knives now swooping forward. Something able to find one bane. Transfers in for a second. come in’s position noted. The plant not really going to be for him. Up and over the top he goes. Tries to get the spray down, but Forsaken collects the weapon dropped on the spike by Estrea previously and he will narrowly clutch this out to ensure the Thrifty Paper X find another round win. Yeah, it’s just crazy stuff from Paper Rex. This early kill from Jing. Such a tempo setter. Estrea there has to give his life for the cause. And that puts you at a 3v5. Bane fragging out on this map. Looking good. Yman doing his best. Great switch, but forsaken coming in clutch. Another hero stepping up for Paper Rex. Something with that OP. This is where things get scary. You do have Oh, hunter Fury. Bit of damage going to be taken there from the salvo. Oh, the jump up the drop down. I think he might have seen here as Hunter Fury now also going to be opened up forsaken fishing, but I think he heard it. Tags not found. He heard the jumping. Very well may have MCO pushing forward. He hears the footsteps and oh, it’s just a glimpse of Pac-Man as well. Now MCO going to be maybe pinned in a little bit of a unwanted position. At the same time, Reckoning here onto the ASET to try to open things up and here comes the swing from the flank. Monaco about to be hit from that left hand side and nearly hits the transfer. Some damage dealt on the two divide forsaken tagged up planting play now a 4v4 as timing send here on this lock down pinged out. Pacman chasing forward finds that elimination but now needs to try to just go ahead tuck out into the corner. So lock down gets ready to trigger and it’s going to be the pit invested actually gives himself over to the detain. Go ahead. Turret keeps him protected from behind here for the moment. Bane on the hunt trying to flush out Forsaken at the same time. Armageddon goes in and Forsaken. Guns down three. Swing out. Cannot find it. A 4K as we are tied up three to three. What a round from Forsaken. Goodness gracious. Forsaken looks like he’s done. They know he’s there. They’re busy cleaning up stuff on site. They’re somewhat ready for him. Forsaken is just having none of it. Love this play by Pacman by the way. Eat the lock down. One enemy remaining potentially but have the Viper pit there. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Yeah, let him know. Man is on his feet and Paper X now poised to go ahead and gain the lead for themselves unless DRX can pull out their own thrifty. Two sheriffs, a ghost, some knives, and a stinger. Lot of danger for Paper Rex in this, but something with a judge. He’s playing close up at B, so they can lean a little bit heavier into the drifting out wide. Knives avoided. Two of them going to be burnt here. Not really deterred nor slowed up. Estraa bit of damage going to be something there from the shock dart as co’s popped through the wall. Now here on the floor, divide with one. Get him a lock down as okay. Youngman quick little dip back in on the POV on that line and he’s going to be able to find himself a second kill. Something taken down but divide out has the lock down immediately sends it given the Armageddon investment previous in the previous round. Cannot clear this out with any kind of ease. Headshot going to be found there from Fring and Pacman falls low but he stands tall finds the stray up that now leaves two players left. Last player standing. Smokco scaling forward finding the first of diffuse being held and Batman there to bodyguard. Damage dealt but round not found. Paper X they gain the lead. Three in a row for themselves now up four to three. I just love the confidence from Pac-Man. I this looked like Hunman was just going to take take over the round but finally Paper X able to get the weapons to bear and Pac-Man just no fear. gets dked once. Still happy to step up and take players down. What a great play from him. Lock down. Well used there as well by Paper Rex. So again, a lot of the macro play for Paper Rex. Really looking solid. You know, DRX trying to write the ship, trying to find some answers there on that eco. Almost get it done. Bladestorm so impactful, but still just not quite enough. And uh man, I mean, Forsaken one round, Pac-Man the next. I mean, the star power on Paper X. Just through the roof. The confidence finally back. Yeah, let’s get that Let’s get that plane ticket ready for Paper X. Well, maybe not there quite yet. Should be a train ticket. That was a plane ticket. Ah, well I mean I mean I guess you could argue they’re similar. Fly into Toronto and then take the train to the the venue. Yeah, sure. That’s also doable. So, but I thought we were building, you know, like a huge bridge all the way from Soul to Well, sure. You know, the plans haven’t been communicated. It’s not public information yet the fans here. This is Sliggy’s top secret mission. Yeah. No. Oh, if they make it, I expect that. Okay. Well, I’m dead. I’ll have to hold that thought as ring’s dead. with that whatever the timeout call was for. Paper X have undone it instantly at the very start of the round. They’re so aggressive. I guess now I have time. I was going to say every Paper X game if they make it to Toronto. I think he needs to dress up as a conductor. He needs a train whistle. He needs a little hat. Oh, he should. Yeah. And if you don’t do it, you’re dead to me. Yeah. Yeah. You’re just a bad human. You don’t do it. I will never communicate with you again. So get on it. Get get that outfit ready. Well, this is going to go from bad to worse. Divide just holding out a wide angle. Two players now trapped in to this a site to around the corner. And Paper X not looking to get overly aggressive except for Forsaken who will go for a quick little peak. Unpunished though. And you’ve got little insurance policy of something around the corner. Forsaken even getting closer. Thunder fury. Oh, Jing goes down. Okay. Don’t want to give Mako many more looks like that. Forsaken might have got spotted there. Even if he has, I’m not sure if there’s going to be too much to be done about it cuz Forsaken is on it. MCO now frantically trying to hold on to the weapon and he cannot. Batman is right there to go ahead and take it away from him. And that is Paper Rex counteracting the timeout call gorgeously by spamming the wall and then just running forward and getting kills. I mean, yeah, that second kill is much more Paper X, but that spam there just anticipating that there’s going to be a player up on belt. Heck yeah. Giving the Paper X fans something to be excited about. Again, Hudman with the hero rifle. Little Mako’s pit if he can get there, but it’s a lot of pistols behind it. Her rifle for Hunman. Jing so aggressive. I mean, this space they take at a early is so frustrating for DRX. Is does Bane have any information about this at all? Seems like the drop not heard. Maybe starting to hear these footsteps. Perhaps that’s something. He’s just mowed him down through the smoke. Jing eventually patience there. Gets rewarded. Finds himself a kill. Hunter Fury going to be called out. Something finds freeing and that’s going to be a flawless round. Paper Rex now. Five consecutive. Get to six on this defense. They look so good right now. I mean again the the map understanding their win conditions to get ahead in multiple ways. Like not only does this early aggression on on a just net kills going to make things difficult, but it gets ahead of the controller utility that makes this harbor viper comp scary. Puts a ton of pressure on them. There’s so much that’s layered behind this idea that is working out extremely well for them. On top of their just cracked mechanics, I mean, you got to love this as Paper Rex. You don’t have to worry about any flashes. You can just run at people and shoot. Yeah, it’s the best day ever. They’ve now gotten themselves six round wins, guaranteeing at least a tie at the half. That’s after not cleaning up the pistol round. And from the defending side, tap of the spike. Something out wide. It’s not a shot and Bane will go ahead get alerted as MCO does note that flank coming down from mid. Batman thinking that he was going to be able to spring a trap. Marco keeps them in the round here for now. The wall or rather oral fault. Forsaken joins it. And it seems like DRX will go ahead and break this round win streak. And Paper X had established get themselves a four to six score line. Cash of plenty, but Paper Rex not looking to get uh you know too silly with it. They’ll just back away. I wouldn’t mind seeing DVI go out there and die. Try to get a little bit closer to that lock down. But there’s a caveat the rest of this. Have a followup to your statement. What statement? Just I wouldn’t mind if you just went and just died in this in this round. That’d be fine. Yeah. I have reasons for everything to go hunting. Yeah, but I mean like you know we could get closer to the lockdown is my point. Yes. No, I don’t disagree. And there’s still a lot of damage to be dealt, but I think the call is okay. We don’t want Bing to get any closer to his lock down. Freeing to that Armageddon as well. Yeah, two more rounds to be played out. He will he’s going to poke and pro around mid. Got spotted. He’s going to die around mid. Maka will be able to find it. That’s okay. But he already had that pit. So yeah, you give it up to the right person. No biggie. No biggie at all. All right, Estrella has his alt again. Great win there for Bane. Something’s just threw his aim off a little bit with some movement. One of those bullets went wide. [Music] So, a little bit of mismicro there cost him potentially against Bane. Operator available. One away from a bladestorm as well for something. Again though, a lot of scaling ability here for DRX with this reckoning. goes up there in mid. Jing as well scaling further and further down too. But double face out and that’s going to clear the turret. They keep the OP hidden here for the moment. Marco pinging out the position though damn near perfectly. Does he know what weapons behind it? If they can lock this mid angle down, this B hit has to be really clean for DRX. Swoop out. Seems like they didn’t know. Oop. Catching them off guard. Something brings it out. Now down a player. They’re flanking that potential A pressure that could be coming out. Very quickly gets nullified as Jing shifting over. Snipes him out of the skies. Two kills found for him before getting traded out. 2v4. Tap on the plant. MCO trying to see what kind of response he gets from it. But now he’s backed away. spots out Patman here. Wide swung from Snowman for the final one, but unable to find Forsaken. He hits that shot. This round may be doable, but instead it’s going to be Forsaken collecting the final two. Seven to four. Paper X guaranteed the advantage here at the half. Yeah, this is just great creative stuff from the early part of the round again. This time they’re showing different looks to DRX. It’s been a lot of early a pressure. Goodness gracious, Jinx. But one enemy remaining. That gives them so much map control here. They have that mid. They get that kill. They know that the, you know, one of the lurkers is dealt with. That allows them to just plant their feet there. And Estraa just pushing forward to try to get the spike down. Never gets to use the reckoning. Still has it. Still have the pit. Only one more round to use him. Oh, confidence play from Pac-Man. But shots going a little bit wide. Hungman able to chase in. Finds that kill. MCO trying to get himself entrenched here in tube. There’s Estrella Cove down. Shock dart avoided there. Goes for a little bit of a safer plant. Minor damage going to be suffered now. Stays in a forward spot. Drone to try to flush him out. The wall falling. Something scoped in. Finds Hunman. Estrea now. Flush out with Bane covering fire. Able to find one. Pinches in from mid as wall gets raised in the opposite angle. And Bane is just holding this down. Keeping his IGL alive. Now Maka up over the top springs the ultimate trap and it is just Dai left. DRX seven and five here in their grasp as Dubai running out of time and options and everybody disconnected here away from the site. Even the Armageddon layered in cuz why the hell not? The paint will go ahead started off the defense there will finish it. TRX rescue the half as much as they possibly can. But now they moves to the defense. It needs to be immaculate. Yeah, this just felt like a hard read from Paper Rex. They’re assuming that with that reckoning there again, the last time they saw it, it did go B. So they’re like, “Okay, surely this time, hey, Pac-Man, you can play a little bit aggressive. Maybe get some space, get some map control.” Nope. Got shot right down. And uh well, halftime 75 again. Paper X up on top on their defender side. I mean, that’s scary. You, you know, going to that attacker side, that’s their better half of the map on pretty much every map. Yeah. [Music] Tough choice. Oh, we’ll go with MCO, though. Yeah, I think you could you could convince me either way. Yeah, I don’t think it was a bad uh I don’t even have a bad selection whatsoever. No. No. Who’s stronger? Like, in what regard? Like, who can lift lift more weights? Well, I don’t know. cuz they’re both pretty skinny. They probably, knowing these two and what a pair they are, they probably can like bench the exact like down to the gram, the exact same number they can bench the bar. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe. Maybe. I mean, right now, if you’re going off this series, it would have to be Forsaken. The impact that we’ve seen from him. Yes. has been just utterly fantastic. He has really stepped up and I think that that’s a that’s a great sign for for Paper X in the long run if Jing doesn’t have to be the hard carry like he was last week. Not that he had to be the hard carry there, but if he doesn’t have to be and they can still come out with clean, you know, pretty good victories, convincing victories, that is going to be a very big boon. Well, if you can get Divi, you know, everybody something firing on all cylinders for that Paper X team, we know what can happen. We’ve seen it before. We’ve been there. And they’re going to stack up pretty heavily over towards a alarm bot at the front. Other than that, it’s just really a anticipation of a behead. Even the harbor wall being put out. They’re going to get a rude awakening here shortly. Just how much damage can Hunman do? As the sheriff and the tailwind still not yet popped and it’s going to be some damage exchange here between the two jets. 9 HP the difference. There’s just a couple fishing shots. Nothing really going to be found. Salvo sent out, but Plant still able to be stuck. Not quite on the mark. Front box plant here from Forsaken. dodges out that TJO util something. Two quick taps. Bane and Estraa both on the floor. Ping reveal as well as Hunman completely utterly spotted out alongside Fing. Mako now rewrapping around gets himself towards the rafters and something collects himself a third kill looks for a little bit more but it won’t matter. It’s going to be a flawless pistol. Paper Rex. Two to two in that regard across this series. But now once again up by three rounds. God, something just so clean here. A little bit of early round patience from Paper X pays off cuz they’ve got DRX just completely bamboozled. Just seemed like was a pretty hard read that this was going to be Bside leaving Hunman on his own, you know, and right after the harbor wall had been used. So, it’s good timing as well for paper racks just kind of waiting for the clock to tick down. That’s when they make their strike. Little bit of extra utility even squeezed out of DRX before they get there. So the retake just never had any legs. I mean Jing waiting there with a paranoia at screens. The recon util good something good. All good. Hard to do it better than that. Josh MCO alone here on site for the moment. tucks back behind as paranoia went across quick to try to pivot and get into position here as Bane needing quite a bit of damage. Biggest firepower that they have with that sheriff now down to 60. Push out shots flying somehow with a classic at that range is able to go ahead as classic takes down Jing. I don’t know by the bundles as plant is not yet in forsaken pushing forward. He’s trying to bait young men out here on the peak. The retap now coming through. Damage suffered onto something. Looking for the peak of the tap. Forsaken draws down the guardian. Eats a bit more damage as finds a second. And in the end, it will be somewhat rescued as Forsaken scrapes by with three HP remaining. Well, that was probably a little messier than you’d like it as Paper X, but you get there in the end. Forsaken now going to be your top fragger. Well, tied with something, but top KD. God, it’s disgusting. Batman under two. Ooh, hits a couple nasty ones. One enemy remaining. Saken, nicely done. Cool. Calm, collected as always. And it’s collection of half armors here for the side of the RX. Only with full. Ah, if only they had done an outlaw. What a guardian. would be uncommon for something on the attack. That’s kind of what I was thinking. Maybe it would be a good choice here, but whatever. Oh, what in the ho. Yeah. Cover going out. I swear he just he just knows. He just Well, got to be careful there. Jing. Yeah, head would have been spotted up over the top as well there from Henman. Paranoia quite connected onto the jet. Either way, something forced to reposition. Goes out with a tailwind. Shing tries to plant his feet, but Fain is there. Two guns pointed at him. And right now, a stray up coming up with two, but Divine tries to answer back a bit. Makes it a bit more costly here for the side of DRX as two casualties do come in. DRX not going to allow for a bonus conversion and keep the gap to just three rounds. I mean, what it what it signals to me with Mako when he does stuff like this is that he just does a ton of odd review and he just knows where players are going to sit behind smokes and just spams it has tremendous crosshair placement. So, well done. Okay, so bonus isn’t this time going to go the way of Paper X after they win their pistol like it did on Lotus. Now you’ve got that outlaw, but like three players have full armor. Yeah, it feels like maybe a round length compared to when you would like to have had it, but still an opportunity for it to do some heavy damage here. And even if you get the body shot, you know what else would do heavy damage? A train. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe one day we’ll get a train map in Valerant and there’s a train that just drives through the middle and you have to avoid it. I’m okay with that. It’s at a certain time of the round. Well, see there you go. Might not be a kill, but he got him in at 10 HP. He’s not going to be looking for any PS something. Somehow does not get that shot. Eventually is able to take him down though. Doesn’t suffer any additional damage either as lob on the nano going to be too late to try to really find any punish damage there onto the plant. Batman now very deep late lurk around this B site. MCO at risk of getting caught as all sites from DRX are currently trained forward here on this position. Estraa is moments away from potentially dying. Pman striking now from behind. Finds one of Bane similarly dead and screens. Something going to be picked off, but the cleanup is there. The Outlaw finds its value. Paper Rex get themselves up to double digits. So good. I love how something just yeets himself there at the end. Sacrifices himself for the cause so his teammates can get these kills. Good opening outlaw shot sets up that opening kill. One enemy remaining. And then they just flood onto sight. Reckoning be damned. Paper X getting ever so close. Time out here. Lot of pressure on Turmy and DRX to get this turned around and turned around quickly. By the way, I have some beef with you. Yeah. I have some bones to pick. Go ahead. I was listening to your broadcast last week. Yeah. What was the problem? Well, first of all, you said whoever’s sitting next to you, you’ll back them up. Unless it’s me. Yeah. A Have you not Have you not noticed that yet? No, I have. But after all these years, this is a [ __ ] Shut up. B, you made a pun last week. Okay, this is what actually upsets me. You made a pun. I did and I immediately regretted it. I’m so jealous. Yeah. Of Komodo right now because I made a pun in front of him. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Well, you’re the one who’s going to be judged in the long run. I guess you’re just going to have to suck it up and move on with your life. I mean, that’s that’s really the only choice I have. So, yes. It’s good to have you back. Yeah. Yeah. Good to be back. All right. Well, scattered by here for a scattered DRX. as Paper Rex looking to take some very aggressive space and Estraa does narrowly come away with that kill. Gman similarly on the forward peak finds something drop down herd as the Vai up over the top not quite being spotted but this not noticing as Batman’s head was just minorly exposed there over the top of that harbor wall Batman he’s going crazy now dead just the one hero rifle in play the drop down able to find one more kill here with it but Bane now stuck at back sight one enemy remaining jumps out but no it’s Pac-Man who rushes forward. Mako now arriving, knows where he’s at. Sends out the bite. Clear the recon. They’re looking to try to double face and Mako cannot find it. Pman with a massive fourpiece, denying any heroics. DRX can get damage, but they cannot get the round win. Just I mean a good start here for DRX. They’re up 53. Batman puts on the the mask and the cloak goes hero mode. Absolutely ridiculous stuff. Goodness, he has been such a find here for Paper X and he is fitting in so well. 16 and N now on the Viper. Two rounds for Paper X to go to Masters Herano. Gentlemen, solid start as Jen gets taken down. The Huntress Fury in reply here. Forsaken getting the hit. Estraa going to be taken down. A one for one exchange at the end of it all. Smokes for walls. Batman on the corner here of the window. Peaks out. Alerts. Bane. Sites now turned over towards mid. He didn’t clear it initially. They wait a little bit. Goes for it now. Got to check kitchen. You got to make sure he didn’t walk past. Stealth drone. Nothing spotted. Forsaken does make his way across the mid. Thought maybe they would double back after the drone. doesn’t see anything but Bane at risk here being caught but it’s a little bit of early damage and tucks back around the corner. Batman unable to find that kill. Just go ahead slide his way through tube but now has the catch as Mako pinched up over the top. Hyundman a little bit too late. The shots did not get found. Springing eventually will be able to find it but something goes up and over the top. Hungman dead. Player advantage massively in their hands as Devi with the OP. Cuts down freeing the bank accounts empty. Paper Rex one round away from getting themselves over to a Masters in two fashion. Dude, this round is off Pman. The way he is playing this tube is so good. The trickery he is employing popping the turret, sliding back down, using his poison cloud to slide under the tube, catching him completely off guard, the timings, the movement, the efficiency. Do Pac-Man. That is brilliant work. Oh, Dai just going to hold the line. Knives out. Youngman over the top. Just below him. There is something. Drops down. Gets ping revealed. Henman now going to have to reposition. Hyperrex similarly thinking twice about working their way forward into that site. Pit available for a post plant. No alults to speak of at the moment here for the side of DRX and Armageddon if freeing can find a kill. They’ve taken just enough time. They threw out one single smoke over at Pipes. That’s got DRX at least leaning an extra player back over towards a drone as well. So Paper X really trying to sell that. They’re still thinking about a when we can see this is certainly more of a B hit. I like the change of position here for Bane. Little bit further back in kitchen. MCO taken down. I thought maybe would be at risk if the OP could get onto a wider angle, but something has just been so damn clean. The drift under two. Freeing turning back, but does he get timing? Batman on the hunt, but freeing finds a head shot. Armageddon now at the ready. Sends it over towards yellow. Youngman updrafted finding the buy. Forsaken going to be taken down as the alt goes across. Paranoia not connecting, but something’s blades do. falls down to 8 HP and it’s he and Jing the duelist duo to try to see if they can keep this from going on a little bit longer but they cannot Bane will find three kills to keep DRX a float five rounds in a row is what’s needed though to try to take this into overtime huge step up here from the DRX players some of their individual moments even though you lose one early freeing great recognition immediate understanding standing from DRX. They got to be watching for Patman under that tube. He’s found ways to slip the net and they got to be diligent. Bane, good stuff. There’s still hope here. We’ve seen what DRX can do. We saw it on Lotus. They can run rounds together. They can challenge young men with the OP. Lock down for Bane. OP as well for Divi. Still, let’s see what Paper Rex has in store. TP deep over at Snowman. Makco sites immediately turned back towards that position for a brief little moment at least. He’s holding close. Catches a glimpse and something’s going to be taken down. Reads it incredibly well. MCO turns back and finds the lurking target. Rex fighting back here tooth and nail looking to at least bring it to four remaining chances. I’d just save here’s Paper Rex to be honest. Yeah, their money is going to be a bit out of sorts as there’s a reset on the aim. Stay collecting two. And now it is just the operator in the hands of Dubai. And the call to save might just have to be made here as the spike is out in no man’s land. There should be no world where Divide does this. He’s going to make a go for it. Maybe just get out, my friend. This is long since over. He’s been having a hell of a day, but this might be a bit of a stretch. So, we’ll just go ahead save. Go for the operator. Has no idea if there’s anybody flanking him here. We’ll just play this out as quietly as he possibly can. 20 seconds to go by. DRX will get themselves an eighth round win. Yeah, they just shut the door here on B. MCO not fooled at all. who cannot fool the master. He’s one of the best in the business when it comes to smoke trickery. And he is just head on a swivel ready to go for an attempted kind of cheeky crunch play from the side of paper Rex and wins his duel against something and immediately turns his attention back towards Jing. This is Oh, what a timing there as well. Nice. That poison cloud is blooming. Makes it a lot harder for something to react. All right. Timeout now. Going to assume paper act. Talk about this a little bit more. It’s the first one they’ve had to use. Yeah, they’ve been in a fairly comfortable position. I mean, when you look back at the the round sheet, how this has developed, they’ve been in a solid spot. Started off the half with that pistol win. So now looking to pump the brakes here for just a moment and then get those gears turning again to try to bring this to a conclusion to avoid OT to avoid a third map to have it be over and done with as both of these teams have to be prepared for another series tomorrow. a longer one at that as the loser here or the winner here I should say has to go up against RQ. The loser is done until stage two. Yeah. I mean it’s a it’s a it’s a grueling run but we saw T1 do it in kickoff. Yeah. So very doable to come through and still saw Genji do it all of last year. Yeah. Basically I’d like to see the OP passed over to something here. Maybe maybe play a little bit of tube pressure but one way or another this works as well. Well, pit immediately going to be invested here from MCO. Not wanting to give this round up. Has the judge, but has to backpedal that forces him out from the moment as something gets quite a bit of damage in. MCO down to 54 just from that frenzy at mid-range. Loses the pit. Has to give it up. Paper Rex. Now they might feel even more inclined to pressure this side of the map. Love the way they did that drone into a recon finds a kill. Bring taken down there underneath tube. Just got the peak. Bane now having to hold that angle which leaves Mako by himself. Hand of the sky from Pac-Man. Ready to send out that bite. That’s the start. The lock down sent matched in kind here from the defender side. just looking to try to disrupt as MCO trying to find any kind of damage that he can possibly get. White going to be layered in. He’ll get pinged out. Forsaken tagged up a bit as something is going to be detained, but Bane hasn’t noticed quite just yet. He has not turned back. Finally does. Moments before something would have gained his weapon. Two kills going to be found. Player advantage now for the side of TRX. Still though, the operator in hand for Dubai. Paranoia sent out. Lion share of the players able to dodge that one, but the nano swarm finds Australia. Paco dead and Ching will find the last kill. All aboard, ladies and gentlemen. The train is for real. Paper Rex have qualified to Masters Toronto. The final seed, the final team from Pacific. They are back on the global stage once again. The rumors of Paper X’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. They are back, ladies and gentlemen. What a performance they put on here today. A 200 a run through the playoffs and they’re back and it doesn’t look that different to how it has in the past. They are fragging out and they look so so good. Commiserations. I’m sure that these bounds will be taken with a heavy heart for the side of TRX. not able to make it to backto back international appearances here in 2025. But you have to give enormous credit to the team as well as the coaching staff for what they’ve had to deal with this season as far as just the the changes coming through. It’s been a very solid effort from them, but the same could very much be said to Paper Rex. Pac-Man will be making his way onto the international stage. And what a trajectory for this young player it has been from getting picked up a decent first outing into absolutely helping demolish DRX as they qualify. Tremendous. Tremendous. All right. Well, we’ll send it down to Jen who’s going to be standing by with our winners interview. Congratulations and welcome to Masters Toronto Paper X. Congratulations Alex. Congratulations Dubai. Here you go. microphone. If I could have you stand in the center. Bye-bye, Alex. Microphone for you. [Applause] Oops. Congratulations, guys. I mean, I could see the excitement in your eyes, especially for Forsaken’s reaction, too. But you guys will be fighting in Toronto. So, can you tell us about how excited you are to be back on the international stage? How excited. I mean, what was it? That’s how excited. I mean, obviously, I’m very happy and I think the team feels the same way. We’ve been working very hard ever since we have a rough start in the beginning of the season, but I told the team that if we win the DFM game, we’re going to go to Toronto. [Applause] I saw Forsaken going, “Holy sh” like three times in a row. Why? I don’t know. I think he’s been working out also and also I think he’s been very excited and also he’s also been working very hard. So yeah, I guess the gym energy is hitting him. Alex, I mean, you guys missed out Bangkok, but this time you guys will be flying over to Canada to fight on an international stage once again. How proud are you of the Paper X guys? And also, how happy are you tonight? I mean, I’m obviously very happy. Um I think uh I can see the amount of work they put in you know even from the start of the kickoff I think we came back immediately after we we basically took like a 5 days break and we came back immediately to Korea um to to achieve this. So I am extremely proud of [Music] DVI, you guys had a lot of changes that you had to go through within the past five weeks, right? You know, Pacman coming in, vibe has changed, coms have changed, you know, people are saying, “Oh, Paper X is definitely back.” You were saying, “We’re back.” So, what do you think the biggest factor was when it comes to Paper X remembering who they were and you guys getting back into that prime form? Uh, I think it’s hard to get the form again because I mean, let’s be real, this year we have so many good teams like especially from Pacific, you know. So, we’ve been trying a lot of things in practice and stuff and of course there’s a lot of online coaches as well, you know, like try this, try that. So, yeah. And yeah, I mean it’s good that it’s working out. I mean to be fair, we had Pac-Man on the first game. We knew that it wasn’t enough time yet to get the chemistry together, but we believe in the process and also thanks to you guys that been supporting us. You know who you are. Ping pong rituals helped you out too. Yeah, I mean ping pong is quite fun, but I’m not that good. Okay. [ __ ] Okay. I want to hear from you, Alex. What do you think enabled you guys to get back in form, figure things out quick enough so that you guys can book your way to Toronto? I I think the biggest thing was just to get a win under our belts. Um even you could see we struggling in the DFM game because we’re just trying our best to just win. Um the most important thing was that the players had to believe that they were good enough to do it. You know, after the DFM game, I think everything changed. We were a little bit more confident. We knew that hey, we’re not that bad. Um we had a lot of external help as well, performance coach, uh remote coaching from other people, you know, and I think that’s a big deal. Also, we have Sliggy. I don’t know if everyone knows the meme, but he was running the he was he was leading the train charge, you know, and we managed to get it to Toronto somehow. It was still going to be here in Korea. We have we have things to do. Not finished yet. We pick up some more people, but we are going to get to I mean, I’m glad to say that the trade will be stopping in Toronto. My also shout out to Pujan. You are our lucky charm. So, thank you. Good job. for out. Okay. facing RQ tomorrow. What’s your mindset heading into that matchup? I mean, we had our X teammate in the team. I just hope that he’s going to perform well. We also going to perform well so that the viewers enjoy the show. I guess he’s the better of the Indonesian, you know. So, which one is the better Indonesian? Congratulations. Thank you. Good luck [Applause] tomorrow. There [Applause] are going to show the whole world. Paper Rex is going to Toronto, baby. We’ve been waiting for it. And thank you for your sacrifice. The fuel, the coal in that terrain sending them all the way across to another continent. ending this match in a 20 fashion against DRX big time. You said Paper X were the underdogs there. Yeah, I really thought they were. I felt like DRX have been a much more formulaic team and I thought they almost should have got their ticket against RQ earlier on. I was really, you know, I really believe X could do it, but I really did feel like they would be the underdogs, but I think Paper X really crumbled under the the pressure that PRX were able to put on them today. Absolutely. I mean, it’s what a turnaround. You look at kickoff performance into the start of this group. Five from six series loss and then they win five in a row. They scrape their way just through their group and then every single lower bracket series they just pick up more and more momentum until they deal with DRX pretty decisively here. Especially the ice blocks pick. But DRX, that one’s going to sting. And that means that both Masters representatives from Pacific have been ousted in the lower bracket here. No DRX, no T1, and it’s all new representatives for Pacific. And that if that doesn’t tell you something about the competitiveness of this region, and how many strong teams we have here in Pacific, I don’t know what will. Yeah, there’s no doubt about it. They really had to run the gauntlet. First it was T1, former Masters winners, then it was Boom, top of the group, and now DRX, a huge staple here in Pacific, and I think they took them all down royally decidedly. There is no doubt in anybody’s mind now that they deserve to be in that top three and they deserve to be flying to Toronto. Absolutely. This is going to be the first time we have two Southeast Asian teams uh basically we have a majority Southeast Asian teams going to a international event here. Um and of course DRX it’s unfortunate but like you said they showed really promising signs here and I can see why that a few of us did pick DRX. all the Koreans, the casters, the talents, they picked DRX, but it wasn’t a biased pick necessarily. DRX looked very good. But Paper X just like everything was kept keeping um very calm, very cool, very collected throughout. Yeah, I mean DRX are the known quantity. They’re the reigning champions of Pacific for a reason. I think they’ve just had to undergo a lot of changes unfortunately and a lot of complex like roster instability that they’ve been trying to overcome. Um they really could have taken Lotus here. the ice box pick I wasn’t necessarily convinced by and I think that they are still trying to discover what their style is, get Estustrala kind of um into the team and actually integrate a little bit better and some of the players individual performances I feel like have had a bit of a fall off for kickoff particularly in this series. But you can’t take anything away from Paper X. They’ve just been playing better and better and um yeah, I’m loving watching their style at the moment. And I think that they looked at that ice box pick and they were able to solve not only that but also the the tricky Lotus comp that DRX tried to pull into this series. Yeah, this is the kind of team the kind of form you want to see a team go in for Masters Toronto. Same thing with Genji earlier today. This is a form that we want to see. This is not just beating the Pacific teams. This is like this is global level uh play that we’re seeing coming out here. So I think this is going to be really exciting next month when we finally get to that point. Now who is your match MVP? because so many of them perform so many so well. Uh we had to go today with of course Forsaken the ultimate flex. I think he looked fantastic on both of the roles he played today on both the Omen and that SOA. I mean his individual level was just so high taking over the server today. It felt like and I honestly I believed he was going to win every single jewel against anyone on DRX. Absolutely. I mean look headshots percentage there. He is literally just one tapping everyone. I think I’m sure he’s always performing. He always puts up his numbers. I always put him on my team because PRX is a crisis for Bill D, but Forsaken kind of solves that. I can pick Forsaken and I can put him on any bloody role cuz he plays everything and he always gets his. He does. He’s fantastic. Um, we saw one of the coach interviews happen where they interviewed every single playoffs coach and the player that they most would want on their team was Forsaken. He was the number one. There’s no one who wouldn’t want Forsaken on your team. I feel like he can do absolutely everything. He is a coach’s dream. I will say like small shout out I mean huge shout out actually to Patman though like rookie season to come into a team that has so much pressure and expectation on them. He’s had to flex into a bunch of different roles and in this series, how many clutches did this guy win? How many rounds were they on the ropes? And he was actually able to come up with some really big multifrag, some clutches and things like that. So, he honestly Patman had a ton of impact this series. And I very much considered giving him the MVP. I think Papin did choose him as his MVP candidate. And I think like to see a rookie come up clutch in a make orb break series like this on a big team when you haven’t played in tier one before, he has absolutely exceeded expectations. Yeah. The last time we saw a rookie perform to this level was Karen last year on Gen G. Uh we did see the rookies uh get pushed to the limit today. We were observing Hung a bit Kushi as well. Uh I think these are all the kind of experiences the kind of stress you have coming near towards the finals and and you need to get this kind of experience before you go to the international stage. And Patman like you said is looking uh very steady there even in the most clutchiest of clutch moments. Now, we do have one last game we do need to wrap up today, and it is the build diff. And here are the builds we had today. Today’s probably the first time I didn’t go for Jing as my duelist. And Pilsky went for Jenkin here. These are all all these most of these players were pretty solid. He didn’t go for Jing. He went for something instead. And something just went crazy on this iceberg. I think you’ve looked this up again today. Yeah, I’ve seen him play pingpong. He’s on. He’s so on today. It’s just a ping pong form, isn’t it? It is. I mean, you could trust him to put on the duelist if you think he’s going to get on chair. I mean, we highlighted it in the pre-show, but these this PRX team, all of them have their signature duelist agent that they do so well on and the rest of the boys trying to fit the comp to make sure that you can put something on jet. You can put Jing on the rays and then the rest will work itself out. That’s right. Well, this has been a fun uh game. Uh we are the winner is going to get a is going to get an Acer Predator laptop. Pilsky does win today. I wonder which who did you pick that? Congratulations. Congratulations everyone. Fantastic game today. Yes. Great. Good. Good. GG. GG. Very well done. Who were your key guys? Okay. Definitely Forsaken by everyone. What do you mean? Yeah. Actually, everyone was pretty solid. Good pick around. I’m a bit better at build diff than I am for at uh sorting my cable out. But uh and we have the total scores of course. Uh drum roll here. We don’t need a drum roll. Uh I mean give it to me. We were never going to close the gap. Like you have absolutely destroyed us this season. Picks have been insane. You picked Francis on a life game. You’ve picked the correct PRX players every time. You knew texture was on a heater and I picked Famous like a fool. And like you you’ve just absolutely destroyed us. She’s back from the future. I am back from the future. I’m ready to become a tier one coach. You you are off fraud watch. I officially I officially uh denounce you from the fraud watch. You are not a fraud. You you you know ball. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Congratulations. Postudo the Valerin. Uh all right. Well, uh we’ve been seeing great games all around today. I think this has been a stellar start to this particular weekend. But what that means is that Paper X and RQ is going to be facing off tomorrow. Oh, we saw Dubai speak just now about facing off his old teammate Monette. We know RFQ and Paper X are also good friends here and they all three of them are will be going to Toronto, but of course there are a lot of other stakes on the line here. You do want to get in that grand finals. You do want those championship points because champions it’s not over, right? Like after Toronto there’s champions happening as well. Yeah. And and like I said, with how much par there is and the different performances you’re getting from a lot of these teams, that’s going to make the champs points towards the end of that stage shoe look something insane. Like I I don’t know who’s going to be snacking that extra spot, but I’m looking forward to these games as well. Both best of fives lower finals between RQ and PRX. That’s a mouthwatering fixture there. And then the rockolid Gen final with a veto advantage wanting to once again prove they are the very best in Pacific. Yeah, absolutely. These are games you do not want to miss. All three of our Toronto representatives juking it out for that top spot and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. All right, so I did ask you guys last week who you thought was going to be in the grand finals. I I agreed with you, Pilsky, that Genji will probably be one of the grand finalists. I got it right. I don’t even remember what I said. You you just say Geng and you said definitely an RQ. Yeah. But uh how do you guys feel now? I don’t know. I think RQ against Paper X is a very tough one now. It is a tough one. I think either RQ or Paper X will be in the final on Sunday if I had I don’t even do real analysis. That is so insightful. You can take that to the bank. Oh, okay. Yeah. Wow. Okay. That’s a great prediction. Yeah. I don’t even do real analysis. I just ask Reddit what the curse of the day is. And look, RQ always lose to Gen G. Um, you know, Masters winners always get knocked down in the lower bracket. Like, all of those things have come true this season. So, that’s all I need to know. Well, uh, one thing you guys, if you missed the beginning of the show, it is also Pilsky’s birthday. Uh, happy birthday again, Mitch Pilipowski. Best best present, honestly. Like, I’ve followed PRX and their core for such a long time and so many teams after they fall up fall off, they they don’t manage to make it back. So, it’s great to see these guys back on the international stage again. Oh, I’m glad that’s what you use your birthday wish for. That’s nice. I used it to get rid of Morgan. What do you think? He’s not going to be here tomorrow. I’m I’m gone now. I’m gone. I’ve already seen him slip on a hill in Korea before he injure himself. So, that’s definitely on the cards again. Well, we will be having more guests here on the desk over the next two days. So, maybe that is when you are going to get the boot time. Uh but anyway, have a really lovely evening. Have great uh birthday libations tonight. Pilsky big time. Wonderful as always. And guys, I hope you enjoy today’s show. But we’re going to have more tomorrow. I’m Victoria. This is BCT Pacific signing off. Have a wonderful evening, everyone. Bye. Bye. Go get those train tickets. [Music] Rounding forward. Has them on reveal. Swings in. I don’t think Crazy Guy had any idea of his position, but Gushy similarly able to go ahead catch Foxy 9 off guard, but then texture still there. Battle recovered, but he is just strafing forward and texture. Little bit of misalignment there to begin, but eventually gets himself a 3k walls raised, but he’s still managing to find the spray right through the corner of the floor. Know that a couple shots came through. He’s looking for Kan dropped out. Foxy 9 finding three champion dead. Foxy nine on for the ace. [Applause] As Foxy rips them limb from limb it. Does he just check the angle? Freeing. Flushes him out. The showstopper. No foul. You found once more. Net lobed in as MCO tries to go for the swing. Estrea fallen. And there you have it. 13-11 Paper Rex from the flank. Blanco must be hit from that left hand side and nearly flush out Forsaken at the same time. Armageddon goes in and Forsaken guns down three. Swing out. Cannot find it. A 4K. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. They are back ladies and gentlemen. A 200 a run through the playoffs. [Music] Here I am now. What you waiting for? Got the rings. Yeah, we make the move. Get ready for the ride. Let’s fly. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music]

VCT Pacific – Stage 1 – Playoffs – Day 5

MATCH 1 : GEN vs. RRQ
MATCH 2 : DRX vs. PRX