On April 6, the best and worst teams of Group Alpha will clash at VCT 2025: Pacific Stage 1, as BOOM Esports take on Paper Rex. One team will have the chance to pull ahead and secure first place, while the other will aim for their first win in the tournament to get back in the playoff race.
Current Form
Paper Rex
Paper Rex started the 2025 season far from expectations. A 5th–6th place finish at VCT Pacific Kickoff marked their worst result in the past three years. Out of their last five matches, they’ve won only one — against ZETA Division. Things look even worse at Pacific Stage 1: two losses so far, including one to Gen.G Esports, who themselves lost to BOOM. PRX have yet to adapt to the new meta and the level of competition in Group Alpha.
| Date & Time | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 30, 11:10 | Paper Rex | 1 - 2 | Gen.G Esports | VCT 2025: Pacific Stage 1 |
| Mar 23, 10:00 | Paper Rex | 1 - 2 | DRX | VCT 2025: Pacific Stage 1 |
| Feb 01, 14:15 | Paper Rex | 0 - 2 | DetonatioN FocusMe | VCT 2025: Pacific Kickoff |
| Jan 26, 13:15 | Paper Rex | 2 - 0 | ZETA DIVISION | VCT 2025: Pacific Kickoff |
| Jan 20, 13:15 | Paper Rex | 1 - 2 | T1 | VCT 2025: Pacific Kickoff |
After the Kickoff failure, the organization made its first roster move in two years — PatMen joined as the sixth player. However, he hasn’t debuted yet, and the active lineup remains unchanged for Stage 1 matches.
BOOM Esports
BOOM Esports are having their debut year in the VCT. After a disappointing Kickoff performance (9th–12th), many expected their losing streak to continue. However, the team unexpectedly shifted their approach, kept their roster intact, and won both of their opening matches at Pacific Stage 1, including a major upset against Gen.G Esports.
| Date & Time | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 13:10 | BOOM Esports | 2 - 0 | Global Esports | VCT 2025: Pacific Stage 1 |
| Mar 24, 10:00 | BOOM Esports | 2 - 0 | Gen.G Esports | VCT 2025: Pacific Stage 1 |
| Jan 26, 10:00 | BOOM Esports | 1 - 2 | Nongshim RedForce | VCT 2025: Pacific Kickoff |
| Jan 18, 10:00 | BOOM Esports | 1 - 2 | T1 | VCT 2025: Pacific Kickoff |
This propelled BOOM to the top of Group A for now, marking them as a potential underdog with bite.
Map Pool
Expected map veto process:
Ban 1:
- Paper Rex — Ascent
- BOOM Esports — Split
Pick 1:
- Paper Rex — Fracture
- BOOM Esports — Haven
Ban 2:
- Paper Rex — Icebox
- BOOM Esports — Pearl
Head-to-Head
The last match between the teams took place two years ago when BOOM was still competing at the tier-2 level. Paper Rex had no trouble winning back then. Since then, the roster has remained mostly unchanged, but BOOM’s approach and gameplay quality have dramatically improved, and now they’re competing at the highest level in the region. Past results don’t hold much weight here.
Match Prediction
Paper Rex still look unstable and haven’t found their rhythm this season. They’ve lost their previous momentum, and the addition of a sixth player hasn’t changed much so far. Their strategies seem weaker, and individual performances are far from peak form.
On the other hand, BOOM Esports continue to surprise. Their gameplay looks cohesive, and wins against strong teams no longer feel like flukes. They appear well-synced, ambitious, and calculated.
Prediction: BOOM Esports to win 2:1.
VCT 2025: Pacific Stage 1 runs from March 22 to May 21 in a LAN format at the Sangam Colosseum in Seoul. Twelve partnered teams from the VCT Pacific region are competing for three spots at Masters Toronto and valuable Pacific Points for qualification to VALORANT Champions.
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