Paper Rex vs G2 Preview: d4v41 and PRX Can Reach Champions Playoffs With One More Win

On Tuesday, 29 September, Paper Rex play G2 Esports in the Group C winners' match at VALORANT Champions Shanghai. The Singapore-based team has a Malaysian in its lineup, Ahmad Khalish Rusyaidee "d4v41", and a win would put PRX into the playoffs. The losing team still has one more chance in the group's decider series.

How the two teams got here

Both teams won their Group C openers on 24 September.

• Paper Rex 2-1 Team Liquid: PRX won Ascent 13-4, lost Haven 7-13 and took Lotus 13-10. On Lotus, d4v41 clinched the series with an ace. He ended the match with 46 kills and a +25 differential, according to Hotspawn. Teammate something was the top fragger with 58 kills, but he also got a formal warning for shooting dead bodies on the first map, which Riot had told teams not to do.
• G2 Esports 2-0 TYLOO: G2 beat VCT China's top seed without much trouble. Their second map was a 13-3 win on Sunset.

The storylines

PRX have had a strong year. According to the 2026 VCT season record, Paper Rex were runners-up at both international Masters events this year. They lost to Nongshim RedForce at Masters Santiago and to Leviatan at Masters London. They also came to Shanghai at the top of the Championship Points table, with their place guaranteed through points. The main thing they have not done yet in 2026 is win a trophy.

The two teams have a recent history. In the Masters Santiago lower-bracket semi-final on 13 March, PRX beat G2 2-1. G2 won Haven 13-11, and PRX then took Breeze 13-9 and Corrode 13-4.

G2's lineup may be about to change. Reports around the event say Babybay and Valyn are expected to leave after Champions. G2 looked relaxed and confident against TYLOO anyway. They were also second in the overall Championship Points standings behind PRX.

Players to watch

• d4v41 (PRX): The Malaysian veteran won the Liquid series for PRX with his Lotus ace. How PRX play the mid-rounds usually depends a lot on him.
• something (PRX): He was the top fragger against Liquid. He will need to stay out of trouble with the referees.
• f0rsakeN and Jinggg (PRX): Both have played in a lot of big series for PRX and can take over a map.
• G2's core: The team has handled Americas pressure well all season. How their duelists cope with PRX's fast pace will likely decide the series.

What's at stake

The format is GSL-style double elimination, and every series is best-of-three.

• Winner: goes through to the playoffs, which begin on 7 October.
• Loser: drops to the Group C decider on 3–4 October. They will play the winner of Team Liquid vs TYLOO, which is on 1 October.

Also on 29 September, Karmine Corp and NRG play the Group D winners' match. Both teams won their openers 2-0.

Key takeaways

• PRX and G2 play the Group C winners' match on Tuesday, 29 September.
• The winner reaches the Champions Shanghai playoffs, and the loser goes to the 3–4 October decider.
• Malaysia's d4v41 clinched PRX's opening win over Liquid with an ace on Lotus.
• PRX beat G2 2-1 at Masters Santiago in March 2026.
• PRX reached the final at both 2026 Masters events and finished runner-up both times.

FAQ

Q: Is there a Malaysian player at Valorant Champions 2026? A: Yes. Paper Rex's d4v41 (Ahmad Khalish Rusyaidee bin Nordin) is Malaysian.

Q: What happens if Paper Rex lose to G2? A: They go to the Group C decider on 3–4 October and play the winner of Team Liquid vs TYLOO. The winner of that series takes the group's second playoff place.

Q: When is the Champions Shanghai grand final? A: 18 October 2026.

Sources: VLR.gg, Hotspawn, games.gg, THESPIKE.GG, Wikipedia (2026 VCT season)