SOUTH KOREA – As excitement builds for the VCT Pacific Kickoff in Seoul, Ilia “something” Petrov took center stage at a recent press conference, delving into the future of Paper Rex as they gear up for the 2025 season. The Southeast Asian powerhouse has consistently proven they are a formidable force, but they aim to elevate their game even further this year.

Reflecting on their previous season, Paper Rex had a rollercoaster experience in 2024. They emerged victorious at VCT Pacific Stage 1, were runners-up at the Kickoff, and finished in a solid second runners-up position at VCT Pacific Stage 2. While they showcased their skills on international platforms by qualifying for major events in Madrid, Shanghai, and Champions, they had a tough time replicating glory, only nabbing a podium finish in Madrid.

“Last year had its ups and downs for us. However, I am optimistic about 2025,” something stated. “Our initial goal is to qualify for [VALORANT Masters] in Bangkok, and from there, we will reassess our strategy.

Significantly, Paper Rex is maintaining its current roster, which something believes gives them a competitive edge: “Sticking with the same five players instills confidence in our gameplay. The only modification we've made is with our assistant coach.

In a strategic move, the coaching staff has once again been streamlined to just one person, with Alexandre “alecks” Sallé leading the team after his contract extension through 2027. “This year, we will operate without an assistant coach,” something confirmed.

As the 2025 season commences, fans are eager to see how the introduction of Tejo—a new agent released with Episode 10 Act 1—will influence playstyles. Concerns over the timing between Tejo’s release and the kickoff were addressed by something, who indicated that the team has already started to train with the agent. "We are preparing for how to use Tejo effectively and also how to counter it, as we predict other teams will prioritize this agent as well."

While Paper Rex has a reputation for its unique “W Gaming style” and unconventional agent compositions, recent tournaments such as the VALORANT Radiant Asia Invitational saw them adopt a more traditional approach. “Experimenting with meta compositions was successful during the OFF//SEASON, and it led us to consider integrating standard strategies moving forward,” something explained.

As the kickoff approaches, something's excitement about potential matchups is palpable. He is particularly looking forward to facing teams like FNATIC, NRG, and Sentinels—teams that are expected to be strong contenders at the international level.

Mark your calendars! The VCT Pacific Kickoff is set to begin on January 18th, and all eyes will be on Paper Rex as they navigate this pivotal moment in their competitive journey.

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