FunPlus Phoenix defeat Paper Rex, claim Masters 2 Title

Time Stamp: July 25, 2022 4:24 PM

Masters 2 Copenhagen’s Grand Finals featured FunPlus Phoenix of EMEA and Paper Rex of APAC facing off on July 24. Paper Rex entered as APAC’s first seed, reaching the Grand Finals from the Upper Bracket. This would give them two map bans heading into the Grand Finals. FunPlus Phoenix came as EMEA’s second seed, fighting through the Groups Stage and Lower Bracket. Despite Paper Rex’s Upper Bracket advantage, FunPlus Phoenix would take the Grand Finals 3-2, claiming the title as Masters 2 Copenhagen Champions.

[Related: LCK Power Rankings: 2022 Summer Split Week 5]

Map 1: Bind
Paper Rex Ban Split & Ascent; Paper Rex pick Bind; FPX start Defense

Although Paper Rex would go to a favorite of theirs, FunPlus Phoenix would be adequately prepared. With careful plans against Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto’s Yoru pick, shutting down Paper Rex completely on their aggressive defense. FPX would lead with eleven rounds on their attacker half, 11-1. FPX would once again win the pistol on their defensive side, putting them on match point. Although Paper Rex would take back the bonus and first rifle rounds, FPX’s counter-aggression would close the map 13-3 in their favor.

Every member on Paper Rex would go negative in KD/A besides  Wang Jing “Jinggg” Jie, who finished the highest at a 14/14/4 K/DA. f0rsakeN would be effectively shut down in his Initiator role, going 6/15/4, and losing the majority of first duels 2-4. FPX’s success would be attributed to their close team proximity and trades, going as high as 94% for Andrey “Shao” Kiprsky. Team Captain and Controller Kyrylo “ANGE1” Karasov would lead with the highest ACS at 321 and a 18/8/6 score.

Map 2: Icebox
FPX’s Map Pick; PRX start Attack

Icebox would have Paper Rex waking up from their Map 1 slump, claiming the pistol and bonus rounds to start the second map. Fast site executes off of f0rsakeN’s Jett and an Ace from Jinggg on Sage would propel Paper Rex to a dominant 9-4 attacker half. FPX would struggle to string together more than two rounds at a time, never able to completely break Paper Rex’s economy as their enemy recovered their buy each round. Paper Rex would continue their snowball from the first half to out muscle their opposition for a 13-7 finish.

Map 3: Fracture
Paper Rex’s pick; FPX start Defense

Fracture would start in Paper Rex’s favor, with site takes bolstered by f0rsakeN’s Neon with his sprint and utility. They would claim the pistol and bonus rounds, but drop the major rifle rounds to FPX. Patience with site retakes and predictions on Paper Rex’s aggression granted them an even 6-6 half. However, FPX would take the pistol and bonus round on their attack side, granting them all the momentum for the rest of the map. Paper Rex would only take the first rifle round on their defense, before falling to FPX 7-13.

Sentinel player Dmitry “SUYGETSU” Ilyshin would be the star of Map 3, with a positive ten kill differential at a 22/12/5 score. Playing on Viper, SUYGETSU would constantly find pivotal multi-kills to take round after round, including the game winning Round 20. Paper Rex’s pace would slow down as their economy stuttered in the second half, with all members again going neutral or negative in kill/death differential. The team’s aggression would bite them in the back, with uneven trades and unchecked lurks leaving them at constant disadvantages.

Map 4: Haven
FPX’s Pick; PRX start Attack

Haven would be a hotly contested map, with the first rounds traded back and forth between both teams. FPX take the pistol, Paper Rex the bonus. FPX take the first rifle, then Paper Rex win the eco afterwards, claiming more and more ground. Jingg on Raze and f0rsakeN on Chamber would lead Paper Rex, with opening kills and trades going their way as they both break 300 ACS. Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee would find major impact with both his Fade utility and a Odin primary to lock down angles and hold light surfaces. This would grant Paper Rex a 7-5 attacker half, with their momentum continuing to their defense. Another pistol round win would give the economy needed to muscle out Haven at a 13-7 final score.

Map 5: Breeze

Breeze would be all about the game of momentum, with both teams firing on all cylinders. Both teams would play directly to their personal strengths, bringing ten unique agents to the final map. FPX would bring an old composition of Jett, Cypher, Sova, Skye and Viper. Paper Rex opted for a double duelist composition of Neon, Yoru, Breach, Astra and Fade. FPX would take the pistol, bonus and first rifle rounds, before Paper Rex struck back. They would string five rounds in a row, before FPX took back control for a 7-5 half in the lead. Paper Rex would strike quick on their defensive half, taking the first four rounds. However, FPX would recover and not let them take another round, claiming six in a row to finish the Grand Finals 13-9, 3-2. FPX would claim victory at Masters 2 after playing through nine total matches in the tournament.

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