Paper Rex has done something quietly remarkable at VALORANT Masters London 2026. The Pacific representatives have carved through the upper bracket without dropping to the lower side, beating three quality opponents in succession to secure their spot in the Grand Final on June 21.
In a tournament format where the upper bracket rewards consistency over flash, PRX has been the most consistent team in the building. Their run started with a clean 2-0 sweep of Leviatán on June 12, continued with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Team Vitality on June 15, and culminated in a 2-1 victory over EDward Gaming in the Upper Bracket Final on June 19.
The path through the upper bracket
Their opening match against Leviatán was the cleanest of the three, a best-of-three that never needed a third map. LEV, representing the Americas region, simply couldn’t find answers to PRX’s approach.
The Vitality match on June 15 was a different animal. Team Vitality, one of the EMEA region’s strongest representatives, pushed PRX to three maps in the Upper Bracket Semifinals. PRX dropped a map for the first time in the tournament but closed out the series 2-1.
Then came EDward Gaming in the Upper Bracket Final. EDG, representing China’s growing VALORANT scene, proved to be another three-map test. PRX again lost a map and again recovered, taking the series 2-1 on June 19.
What makes this run notable
VALORANT Masters London 2026 has been running since June 6, bringing together top teams from the Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China regions as part of Riot Games’ VALORANT Champions Tour.
Post-match analysis has pointed to PRX’s strategic map control as a defining factor in their success. The team’s individual player performances have drawn attention on official VALORANT Esports broadcast channels, with viewership numbers reflecting the high stakes of each upper bracket round.
For context, reaching the Grand Final through the upper bracket means PRX will enter the June 21 match with a structural advantage. In most double-elimination formats, the upper bracket finalist needs fewer map wins or gets a bracket reset opportunity.
The Grand Final on June 21 will determine whether PRX can convert their upper bracket dominance into a tournament title. Their opponent will emerge from the lower bracket, meaning they’ll face a team that has already survived elimination pressure.