Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza becomes the second Filipino to win the VCT title as Paper Rex (PRX) finally win a global competition after bridesmaid's finish in two previous grand final appearances.
Paper Rex (PRX) has finally broken the runner-up curse as they smother Team FNATIC to claim the VCT Masters Toronto title on Monday, June 23.
This is PRX's first international title in five years after narrowly missing their last two finals appearance in Masters Copenhagen and Valorant Champions 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
FNATIC opened the series with a 4-0 lead in Sunset before PRX breaks through the defenders' map and finish the first half at 8-4 behind f0rsakeN's brilliant 3v5 play.
But FNATIC put up a gallant stand to tie the game at 9-9 before PRX took the map at 13-11.
The Icebox map tested both teams' resolve as the half ended in a tie before FNATIC runaway with 10-6 lead to open the second half. But it was from over for PRX as they rallied from an 8-12 deficit punctuated by Jinggg and d4v41's combo of Omen and Killjoy to force overtime.
Teams were neck and neck until FNATIC came through and churned out a well-fought 17-15 map victory.
Despite their better judgment, FNATIC gave away their permaban map, Pearl, to PRX. Though leading more than half of the match, FNATIC failed to keep the advantage as PRX made a flawless round to go ahead, 11-10. and never looked back to lead the series, 2-1.
Pearl saw PRX taking the lead at the half, 7-5, but it wasn't until the 23rd round that FNATIC took the lead 12-11 before PRX forced the second overtime of the series.
But PRX's determination to break the curse prevailed as the team won the match, 14-12, en route to their first global title.
f0rsakeN was named Finals MVP with 81 kills, 75 deaths, and 32 assists.
Rookie Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza contributed 67 kills, 72 deaths, and 24 assists to become the second Filipino player to win a VCT international title after Fil-Am Zachary "zekken" Patrone of Team Sentinels.