Coming in fresh with a new addition, Paper Rex kicked off a new era in style, becoming back-to-back Radiant International Invitational champions. The Southeast Asian squad took home the trophy in its first outing with new recruit Adrian “invy” Reye.

The Radiant International Invitational was a short LAN event hosted in China. The tournament didn’t feature slouches, as some of the best Valorant teams in the world, including Paper Rex, GenG, and G2 Esports, were in attendance. 

Many teams at the event were fielding their updated VCT lineups for the first time against international competition, giving a sneak peek of what’s expected from them for the next VCT season. 

Paper Rex and Gen.G Dominate the Competition

Throughout the event, it was clear to see who the top dogs were. The two Pacific representatives stood tall, taking out the rest of the competition with relative ease. 

Paper Rex were experimenting with their new roster, integrating former Team Secret player invy, who was tasked with filling the shoes of Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza, the rookie that propelled the organization to its first international title at VALORANT Masters Toronto 2025.

On the other hand, GenG had its second rodeo with its new lineup. The team brought back Kim “Lakia” Jong-min and also gave former DRX Academy player Kim “ZynX” Dong-ha his first shot at playing for a Tier 1 team. The 18-year-old ended up being the top performer for the team in terms of Valorant ACS, averaging 215 across the entire event. 

Paper Rex Claim Back-to-Back Titles

The grand final series featured a Pacific derby between Paper Rex and GenG. Historically, GenG had the upper hand, as Paper Rex couldn’t win a single series against them for the past year, having lost six out of six encounters. However, Paper Rex proved they were on the right track with their revamped lineup.

GenG started the series with a strong 13-5 victory on Abyss. However, Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee had other plans. As the oldest member of the team, d4v41 led by example, top-fragging on the next three maps. He posted highlight performances and helped Paper Rex win the series 3-1.

D4V41 STAYS ON CHAMBER#VALORANTRII pic.twitter.com/p56CIVcUrm

— Paper Rex (@pprxteam) December 21, 2025

A 2026 Season Ahead

With how the teams were competing at the Radiant International Invitational, there’s plenty to look forward to in the 2026 VCT season. Paper Rex and GenG have already given fans a taste of what to expect in Pacific. 

can i get Ws in the chat

— PRX invy (@invyzz) December 21, 2025

However, we are yet to see teams from other regions debut their new rosters, so only time will tell.