Paper Rex Eliminates G2 Esports from VALORANT Masters Santiago

13 Mar, 2026, 23:26

Another international tournament, another exit for G2 Esports. The Americas powerhouse was sent packing from VALORANT Masters Santiago after a 1-2 defeat to Paper Rex in the Lower Bracket Semifinal, a result that will sting but perhaps didn’t surprise.

Another Trophyless Run

In the Lower Bracket Semifinal of VALORANT Masters Santiago, two giants of the VALORANT world were fighting for their tournament lives. G2 Esports faced off against Paper Rex, and for the American side, it was disappointment once again.

G2 had a solid start on Paper Rex's pick of Haven. PRX had a rough time finding their footing, and G2 took full advantage. Although Paper Rex managed to pull it back and make things competitive, G2 still secured the win at 13-11.

Moving to G2's pick of Breeze, Paper Rex made a massive resurgence. They opened the map with an explosive five-round run on defense, and even though G2 put up a fight in the second half, PRX closed it out convincingly at 13-9.

The decider on Corrode told a very different story than Haven. Paper Rex were a completely transformed team, dominant from start to finish, keeping their errors to a bare minimum. G2 could only capitalize on the rare mistake, as PRX cruised to a dominant 13-4 win to seal the series.

G2's International Record

There is no doubt about the caliber of a team like G2. They have been one of the most successful teams in the Americas, going as far as winning the domestic three-peat last season, and are widely regarded as the most successful Ascension team to have played in Tier 1. But even with all that pedigree, something still seems to be missing when the stakes go global.

G2 valyn and Babybay packing up after losing to PRX (Image Source: Liu YiCun/Riot Games)

It is easy to dismiss this as a "choker mentality," but G2's international record tells a story worth examining. Across the two seasons they have competed in Tier-1, their performances have largely been confined to their own region. They have qualified for six international tournaments, including this one, and all they have to show for it are a silver and a bronze medal. Yes, they made the top four on four occasions — but that is not exactly a trend worth bragging about when a team of this quality shows up on the international stage.

Paper Rex's Dominant Form

Even though G2 made it close in spots, Paper Rex are operating on an entirely different level right now. Their slow start could be a concern going forward, but once settled, their dominance is near unmatched, as evidenced by the multiple flawless rounds they pulled off in full buy situations, not through eco farming.

With G2 now heading home, Paper Rex will face NRG for the third time this tournament. PRX won their first meeting, but NRG got their revenge in the second. This decider match now determines who will challenge Nongshim RedForce in the Grand Finals.

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Featured Image Source: Liu YiCun/Riot Games