Welcome, Valorant fans! The playoffs of VALORANT Champions 2025 are now in full swing, with the world’s best teams battling for the coveted title of “Global Valorant Champions” and a massive prize pool. One of the most anticipated clashes features Paper Rex, the powerhouse of Southeast Asia, facing off against Europe’s elite Fnatic. Both teams have shown exceptional form throughout the season, and this playoff matchup promises high-level competition, intense strategies, and thrilling moments. As the series approaches, we’ll break down likely map picks, current team form, and the key players who could tip the balance in this exciting contest.
How bookmakers see it: Paper Rex favorite
According to the bookmakers, Paper Rex are considered the favorites in their upcoming clash against Fnatic at VALORANT Champions 2025. The odds are set at 1.55 for the Asian powerhouse, while Fnatic stand as underdogs with 2.35. On the map total, betting lines suggest a close battle: over 2.5 maps is valued at 1.95, while under 2.5 maps sits at 1.79.
Both teams are among the strongest contenders of the tournament, and their recent results only add to the intrigue. Paper Rex claimed the Masters Toronto 2025 title and remain one of the most dangerous squads internationally, while Fnatic reached the grand finals of both Masters Toronto and the Esports World Cup 2025, proving their consistency on the biggest stage. With so much at stake in the playoffs, this matchup promises to be one of the highlights of the tournament.
Paper Rex form: What result can be expected from PRX?
For several years now, Paper Rex has remained the dominant force on the Asian Valorant scene, consistently ranking among the strongest teams in the world. The 2025 season began in the best possible way for them, as they quickly reaffirmed their status as one of the championship favorites.
The current Paper Rex roster features seasoned veterans: Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto, known for his versatile style and ability to shift the pace of a match with a single decision; Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee, the brain and backbone of the team; Wang “Jinggg” Jing Jie, their main source of aggression; Ilya “something” Petrov, the Russian duelist who added explosive firepower and individual brilliance; and Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza, whose composure in clutch situations has saved the team countless times. The squad is led by head coach Alexandre “Alecks” Sallé, who has built a system that allows each player to maximize their strengths.
Paper Rex roster: f0rsakeN, d4v41, Jinggg, something, PatMen.
In the first half of the season, PRX reached a historic milestone — winning their first-ever international trophy. At VCT Masters Toronto 2025, they stormed through the competition almost flawlessly and defeated European powerhouse Fnatic 3-1 in the grand final. This victory was a turning point for the organization, firmly establishing Paper Rex as a global champion capable of claiming the biggest titles.
They also dominated their regional league, finishing first at VCT Pacific Stage 2 without giving rivals much of a chance. At the Esports World Cup 2025, they secured a 4th-place finish, which still highlighted their consistency in reaching the top four of international events.
The stats speak for themselves: on maps like Bind, Sunset, Lotus, and Haven, Paper Rex plays with maximum confidence, showing a high win rate and executing aggressive yet disciplined strategies. Their only notable weaknesses lie on newer maps — for example, Abyss, where they lost their sole official match, and Corrode, which the team has yet to test in competition.
The start of the VALORANT Champions 2025 playoffs also went in their favor. In their opening playoff clash, Paper Rex faced European giants G2 Esports and managed to prevail in a hard-fought series with a 2-1 scoreline. This victory not only eliminated G2 from the tournament but also solidified PRX’s ambitions for another deep run.
Overall, Paper Rex is a team that perfectly blends discipline and swagger. They have experienced players with deep agent pools, youthful firepower, flexibility, and most importantly, immense confidence after their Masters Toronto triumph. With their first playoff win secured, PRX are once again proving they have every chance to contend for the title at VALORANT Champions 2025.
Fnatic form: What result can be expected from Fnatic?
Fnatic in the 2025 season continue to be one of the strongest teams on the international stage. In the VCT EMEA league, they consistently finished at the top, often defeating opponents like Team Liquid, Natus Vincere, and Karmine Corp. Their biggest regional success came during Stage 1, where Fnatic claimed the title with a 3-1 victory in the finals. On the international scene, the team also showed strong results: they finished 2nd at Masters Toronto, losing in the final to Paper Rex, and reached the final at the Esports World Cup 2025, falling 2-3 to Team Heretics. These results make Fnatic one of the clear favorites for VALORANT Champions 2025.
Each player in the team has an important role: Boaster leads the team and sets the strategy, Alfajer reliably holds positions and wins crucial rounds, Chronicle plays flexibly in different roles and supports the team in tough situations, kaajak adds aggression and can turn rounds, while crashies is consistent and secures key trades. Together, they form a team with both individual skill and teamwork, making Fnatic very dangerous on the map.
Fnatic roster: Boaster, Alfajer, Chronicle, kaajak, crashies
Fnatic’s main strengths are their flexibility and teamwork. They can change strategies from map to map, adapt to their opponents, and stay calm in high-pressure moments. Their experience at Masters Toronto and the Esports World Cup 2025 helps them approach major tournaments with confidence.
The start of the VALORANT Champions 2025 playoffs proved their strength once again. In their opening match, Fnatic faced DRX in a tense best-of-three series. After trading maps, Fnatic showed composure and confidence on the decider, ultimately closing the match 2-1 and advancing further in the playoff bracket. This victory reinforced their status as one of the prime contenders for the championship title.
Head-to-Head History
Fnatic and Paper Rex have faced each other four times in Valorant tournaments, with each match highlighting the fierce competition between the European and Pacific regions. Their head-to-head record stands evenly at two wins each, with Paper Rex slightly ahead in map score at 6–5. The first encounter took place on July 18, 2022, at VCT Masters Copenhagen (Upper Bracket Semifinal), where Paper Rex defeated Fnatic 2–0 and advanced to the Upper Final, eventually finishing third in the tournament. The second clash occurred on June 19, 2023, during VCT Masters Tokyo (Upper Bracket Semifinal), with Fnatic claiming a 2–0 victory and securing a spot in the Grand Final as runners-up. On June 23, 2025, at VCT Masters Toronto (Upper Bracket Final), Paper Rex overcame Fnatic 3–1, progressing to the Grand Final and ultimately winning the championship. Most recently, on July 12, 2025, at VCT Champions 2025 (Upper Semifinal), Fnatic edged out Paper Rex 2–1, advancing to the Upper Final and earning a place in the Grand Final. Both teams have shown remarkable skill and strategic depth, with victories across different formats and stages of major tournaments, making their upcoming Valorant Champions 2025 Playoffs match especially anticipated, as Paper Rex holds a 7–0 streak while Fnatic is currently 3–0 in their last three matches.
Players to Watch
Fnatic:Chronicle — Chronicle has become one of Fnatic’s key players in 2025. He reads the game well, helps the team make the right decisions during rounds, and can quickly react in high-pressure situations.
When Fnatic need to win an important round or map, Chronicle often takes the initiative. He coordinates the team, calls tactics, and decides when to play aggressively or when to hold back. His actions often determine the outcome of crucial moments.
Paper Rex:f0rsakeN – He has long been the face of the team: a versatile duelist who feels equally comfortable on Jett, Yoru, and Chamber. His aggressive playstyle and ability to shift the tempo of a match with a single decision make him the main catalyst of PRX’s game. f0rsakeN can open rounds with bold picks or clutch in the most intense moments. Almost every match he plays is filled with highlight-worthy plays, and his individual brilliance often becomes the decisive factor in Paper Rex’s victories.
Probable Map Picks
For the upcoming match between Paper Rex and Fnatic, map selection is expected to be a key factor in the best-of-three series. Fnatic have shown strong performances on Lotus, Haven, and recently improved on Ascent, making these maps their main strengths. Paper Rex, on the other hand, dominate on Lotus, Sunset, and Bind, but struggle on Ascent. During the veto process, Fnatic are likely to ban Sunset and Corrode to limit Paper Rex’s comfort maps, while Paper Rex may remove maps where Fnatic excel. It is expected that Paper Rex will pick Lotus and Fnatic may choose Haven, leaving the decider for Bind or Icebox. While Fnatic enter the match as favorites, Paper Rex’s map-specific strengths suggest the series could be closely contested and highly exciting.
Anything else catch the eye?
The matchup between Paper Rex and Fnatic at VALORANT Champions 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling contests of the playoffs. Bookmakers consider Paper Rex the favorites, offering odds of 1.55, while Fnatic are underdogs at 2.35, with over 2.5 maps priced at 1.95 and under at 1.79, signaling a potentially close series. Both teams come in with impressive form: Paper Rex claimed the Masters Toronto 2025 title and dominated the VCT Pacific Stage 2, while Fnatic consistently reached finals in major international events, including Masters Toronto and the Esports World Cup 2025. Veteran players like f0rsakeN for Paper Rex and Chronicle for Fnatic are key figures who can turn rounds and dictate momentum. Their head-to-head history is balanced at 2–2, with Paper Rex slightly ahead in map score, further emphasizing how tightly contested this matchup is. Map selection will be crucial, with Fnatic likely banning Sunset and Corrode, and Paper Rex expected to pick Lotus, Fnatic taking Haven, and the decider potentially on Bind or Icebox. With both teams showing tactical depth, individual brilliance, and playoff-winning experience, this clash promises high-level, edge-of-your-seat action.
Match Prediction
The match between Paper Rex and Fnatic promises to be intense and exciting, given the level of preparation of both teams and their past encounters. The series is likely to go beyond two maps, making the over 2.5 maps (O2.5) a safe betting option. The rivalry between Paper Rex and Fnatic throughout the season shows that any map can be unpredictable, which makes betting on a longer series particularly relevant.
Main prediction — Total Over 2.5
