T1 fall to PRX and miss out on Masters Toronto

In one of the most shocking upsets of the VCT 2025 - Pacific Stage 1 playoffs, defending Masters winners T1 were eliminated by Paper Rex in the Lower Bracket, missing out on qualification for VCT 2025 - Masters Toronto 2025.

T1 entered their elimination matchup with high expectations. After a clean 13-3 win on Fracture, where their defense looked nearly impenetrable, the Korean side appeared to be in full control. However, that dominance quickly evaporated.

Paper Rex responded in kind on Ascent, flipping the series on its head. Star duelist something, who had only managed a single kill in the first map, came alive with 19 frags to power PRX to a 13-4 win.

The final map, Lotus, was even more lopsided. Something and Jinggg combined for 34 kills in a 13-2 rout, ending T1’s run in humiliating fashion.

VCT 2025 - Pacific Stage 1

T1

1

X

2

Paper Rex

Lower Bracket Round 1 of 4, Best of 4 - May 3, 2025 - 11:25AM

13

Fracture

3

4

Ascent

13

2

Lotus

13

T1

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

BuZz

1.10

238

40/40/8

0

1.00

63.9%

151.3

32%

57%

8

6

Meteor

1.00

220

38/38/5

0

1.00

69.2%

140.1

26%

38%

5

8

iZu

0.87

202

33/39/7

-6

0.85

72.4%

132.2

30%

14%

1

6

stax

0.75

153

24/38/16

-14

0.63

66.6%

103.3

32%

20%

1

4

Sylvan

0.75

144

24/36/16

-12

0.67

68.4%

104.4

24%

22%

2

7

Paper Rex

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

Jinggg

1.46

270

46/33/24

+13

1.39

83.2%

185.1

24%

64%

7

4

f0rsakeN

1.27

212

39/30/19

+9

1.30

83.7%

123.9

29%

67%

10

5

PatMen

1.21

204

36/33/27

+3

1.09

77.2%

139.0

27%

100%

1

0

something

1.15

223

36/31/20

+5

1.16

83.3%

138.2

19%

60%

6

4

d4v41

1.01

175

34/32/14

+2

1.06

83.4%

118.6

23%

64%

7

4

Individual Form Dips at the Worst Moment

While PRX’s resurgence was impressive, much of the result can be traced to T1’s internal breakdown. Aside from Yu "BuZz" Byung-chul, who delivered overall in the series, the rest of the team struggled. Four players failed to break double digits on both Ascent and Lotus - an uncharacteristic collapse for a roster filled with proven talent.

T1 head coach Autumn was candid in his post-match reflections.

“We practiced really well. It's a shame that we didn't do as well as we practiced in the tournament… Also, it's a shame that we weren't as good as we could have been with our individual skills.”

Autumn also pointed to challenges beyond performance. He mentioned Riot’s recent changes to the map pool, which shortened T1’s preparation time after their victory in Bangkok. The team also struggled to adapt to the current meta, particularly against Tejo, a character he felt was too strong at the time. “Time did play a factor,” he admitted, noting that the quick turnaround and evolving meta left them scrambling to adjust.

Roster Stability Under Scrutiny

Missing out on Masters Toronto marks the second time T1 has failed to qualify for an international event since franchising in 2023. After a poor performance at VCT 2024 - Masters Shanghai last year, the organization responded by replacing in-game leader Daniel "Rossy" Abedrabbo with DRX veteran Kim "stax" Gu-taek.

Now, with another early elimination, questions about the team’s future are resurfacing. Whether another reshuffle is imminent remains uncertain. Autumn believes this loss was more about morale than composition, expressing hope that the team can address their mindset before Stage 2.

Stax also acknowledged his own underperformance. “I wasn’t able to perform that great during Stage 1,” he admitted. But emphasized that with more preparation time ahead, he hopes fans will stick by them as they look to bounce back.

T1’s defeat is a sobering reminder that staying on top in VALORANT’s ever-evolving landscape requires more than past success. With Masters Toronto out of reach, the team now faces a crucial phase.

Whether through roster changes or renewed mental focus, T1 must find answers quickly, because in the VCT, history counts for little, and second chances are never guaranteed.

All quotes taken from the post-match press conference with Autumn and Stax.

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: Riot Games