Another elimination match in the VCT 2025: Pacific Kickoff tournament is upon us. The clash between Paper Rex and ZETA DIVISION in the first round of the lower bracket will determine who advances and who finishes last in the tournament. In this article, we’ll analyze the teams, their map choices, and provide predictions based on this data.

Current Team Form

Paper Rex

Over the past month, Paper Rex has participated in two tournaments: the VALORANT Radiant Asia Invitational and the Spotlight Series Pacific 2024, winning both decisively. Despite the challenges in the lower bracket, the team has proven its resilience, showing that they are prepared for new challenges. In their last five matches, Paper Rex secured three wins, with their only losses coming against T1, one of the region’s strongest teams.

Notably, the team has retained its roster from the previous year, which is determined to correct past mistakes and reach new heights.

ZETA DIVISION

The situation for ZETA DIVISION is less promising. In the Spotlight Series Pacific 2024, the team placed only 4th, highlighting struggles in their gameplay. With their current lineup, ZETA DIVISION has played just four official matches, all of which resulted in losses. Given these results, the team will need to focus heavily on improving synergy and tactical preparation.

Map Pool Analysis

Paper Rex

Paper Rex is likely to rely on their strongest maps:

• Sunset (84% win rate)
• Pearl (81% win rate)

They will likely ban maps where they’ve been less successful, such as Split or Bind.

ZETA DIVISION

Since ZETA DIVISION is still adjusting to their new roster, their map selection strategy is harder to predict. They might attempt to ban Paper Rex’s stronger maps, such as Sunset, and pick less popular maps to level the playing field.

Predicted Map Picks

• First ban: Paper Rex will likely ban Bind, while ZETA DIVISION could ban Sunset.
• Map picks: Paper Rex is expected to pick Pearl, while ZETA DIVISION might opt for Split.
• Decider: The third map will likely be Haven, which is neutral for both teams.

Head-to-Head History

The teams recently faced off in the Spotlight Series Pacific 2024, where Paper Rex secured a convincing victory, winning both maps. This highlights Paper Rex’s clear edge in both experience and tactical preparation.

Match Prediction

Considering the current form of the teams, their head-to-head results, and ZETA DIVISION’s overall instability, Paper Rex is the clear favorite. The team’s experience and roster synergy give them a significant advantage.

Predicted final score: 2:0 in favor of Paper Rex. If ZETA DIVISION can put up a fight on one map, the match could end 2:1, but this outcome is highly unlikely.