Paper Rex becomes first team to qualify for VALORANT Champions 2026
The race to VALORANT Champions 2026 has barely begun, and one team has already punched their ticket to the year's grandest stage. The Princes of Pacific—Paper Rex—have become the first team in the world to mathematically secure qualification for Champions 2026, and they did it in emphatic fashion.
The Win That Sealed the Deal
With the nEophyte playoffs still in full swing, PRX's 2-1 victory over Team Vitality in the upper bracket semifinals was the result that made history. The win guaranteed them a top-3 finish at the event, locking in a minimum of 5 VCT points and bringing their tentative season total to 21, comfortably clearing the qualification threshold for Champions 2026. Even if Paper Rex were to stop competing entirely for the rest of the year, their spot at the end-of-year championship is now confirmed.
| Team | Total Points | Kickoff | Masters Santiago | Stage 1 | Masters London |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper Rex | 21 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 5 |
| Nongshim RedForce | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | - |
| T1 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | - |
| FULL SENSE | 7 | 0 | - | 7 | 0 |
| Global Esports | 6 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 |
| Rex Regum Qeon | 5 | 1 | - | 4 | - |
| DRX | 4 | 0 | - | 4 | - |
| DetonatioN FocusMe | 2 | 0 | - | 2 | - |
| Gen.G Esports | 1 | 0 | - | 1 | - |
| Team Secret | 1 | 0 | - | 1 | - |
| ZETA DIVISION | 1 | 0 | - | 1 | - |
| VARREL | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | - |
Not that anyone expects PRX to slow down. Widely regarded as the best team in the world right now, the Singaporean outfit show no signs of coasting.
How the Rest of the World Stacks Up
While Paper Rex celebrate their historic milestone, the qualification race is heating up across other regions. In the Americas, G2 Esports lead the standings with 14 points. From China, EDward Gaming are the closest challengers at 17 points, putting them in a strong position to be the next team to secure their Champions berth. Over in EMEA, FUT Esports currently sit at 10 points, with plenty of ground still to make up.
Eyes on the Upper Bracket Finals
With PRX's London campaign still ongoing and EDG hot on their heels in the points table, the upper bracket finals clash between the two sides is shaping up to be one of the most electric matches of the tournament. Points, prestige, and momentum are all on the line, and for EDG, qualification itself could be within touching distance.
For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.
Featured Image Source: Liu Yicun/Riot Games
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