DRX or Talon: Which VCT Pacific Stage 2 Team will join PRX, T1, and RRQ at VALORANT Champions?

The VCT Pacific Stage 2 Playoffs are approaching their climax, with three of the region’s VALORANT Champions Paris representatives already locked in. Paper Rex, T1, and Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ) have all guaranteed their tickets, leaving just one slot still undecided. That final berth comes down to the lower bracket final clash between Talon and RRQ. If Talon win, they qualify directly for Paris. If they lose, DRX — already eliminated — claim the slot through Championship Points.

The games of stage 2 have been adrenaline-fueled, and they will only intensify this weekend as the final Pacific lineup for Champions is decided.

Teams Already Qualified for VALORANT Champions

Paper Rex

Paper Rex once again asserted themselves as Pacific’s powerhouse. Their trademark aggressive style, built on relentless pace and fearless site hits, carried them straight into the Grand Final of Stage 2. Their first game alone secured their qualification for Paris thanks to their win at Masters Toronto and performance during stage 2. Their qualification ensures that one of the tournament favorites will be flying the Pacific banner at Champions.

T1

T1 secured their Champions ticket through consistent performances across both Stages. Their steady accumulation of Championship Points meant that even without a deep Stage 2 playoff run, they had already done enough to guarantee Paris. T1’s disciplined, structure-heavy style has made them one of the most reliable squads in the region, and their ability to consistently close out tight maps has earned them a reputation as one of the Pacific’s most stable forces, best remembered by their close win to lift the Masters Bangkok trophy.

Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ)

RRQ’s emergence as a top-tier Pacific contender has been one of the standout narratives of 2025 thanks to their Stage 1 victory, as well as their incredible lower bracket run taking down three Korean teams in a row: Gen G, NS, and T1. Their resilience and tactical flexibility have turned heads, and while their slot in Paris is already assured, their playoff journey isn’t over. Facing Talon in the lower final gives RRQ a chance to not just play spoiler-sport, but also push into the grand final and improve their international seeding.

The Final Slot from VCT Pacific Stage 2: Talon or DRX?

The last Champions Paris slot for Pacific comes down to one game — and two teams — with very different paths.

Talon Esports

Talon hold their destiny in their own hands. Their Stage 2 playoff run has been marked by resilience and the ability to perform under pressure, highlighted by their earlier series win over DRX. The lower final against RRQ represents a win-and-you’re-in scenario: defeat RRQ, and Talon will qualify directly for Champions. The challenge lies in overcoming an RRQ roster that has already proven itself battle-tested and unshakable.

Over the course of the 2025 VCT season in the Pacific region, Talon Esports and RRQ have faced off only once. That encounter came during the Pacific Stage 1, where RRQ emerged victorious with a 2–0 sweep.

DRX

For DRX, the situation is unusual. They’ve already been eliminated from the playoff bracket, but their Championship Point total keeps them in contention. If Talon lose to RRQ, DRX will qualify for Paris despite not being on stage this weekend. Their consistency over the course of the season, particularly earlier in the year, has kept them in the race even without a Stage 2 breakthrough.

Why Pacific Are Favorites at Champions

Beyond the immediate drama of qualification, the Pacific region enters Champions with a reputation as the world’s strongest. Both Masters events in 2025, Masters Bangkok and Masters Toronto, were won by Pacific squads, cementing the region’s dominance.

• T1 triumphed at Masters Bangkok over G2 3-2 in a close-fought grand final.
• Paper Rex finally claimed a trophy at Masters Toronto, with a rookie to boot, taking down Fnatic 3-1 in the grand final.

This track record has fueled expectations that the Pacific’s Champions representatives will once again be frontrunners.

The Pacific Stage 2 Playoffs conclude with Talon fighting for their destiny at Champions, RRQ seeking a second regional trophy this year, and DRX waiting in the shadows. With Paper Rex already into the Grand Final and T1 and RRQ secure, the Pacific lineup for Paris will be completed this weekend.

With back-to-back Masters champions hailing from the region (three if you count Gen G. at Masters Shanghai in 2024), all eyes will be on the Pacific once again when Champions Paris begins. Whether Talon or DRX take the fourth spot, the region will come to Champions with their trademark aggression, two teams with the chance to achieve the distinction of winning a Masters and Champions in the same year: an achievement which has not yet been completed by any teams in all the years of the VCT.