Y'all, we need to talk about Paper Rex. If you're in the VALORANT scene, you know the name. You know the chaos. You know the W Gaming. But for me, it's so much more than that. Their story, their recent win, and the aftermath have been a legit emotional rollercoaster that's changed my whole vibe.
Let's get into it.
The Lore: So Close, Yet So Far
I properly hopped on the PRX hype train in 2023, but their legacy of "almost" started even before that. They were the kings of breaking our hearts.
- Masters Copenhagen 2022: A brutal 2-3 loss in the Grand Final.
- Champions 2022: Another Grand Final loss, this time 1-3.
- Masters Tokyo 2023: A heartbreaking 0-3 sweep.
They reached the final stage of the three biggest tournaments in the world and fell at the last hurdle every single time. It was painful. Then came the whole "last dance" saga with Jinggg having to leave for his national service. We all thought that was it, the end of an era. And for a while, it felt like it was.
Fast forward to early 2025, and it was rough. This was the downfall era, no cap. The classic PRX "W Gaming" felt more like "W-keying into a wall." It just wasn't hitting. The magic seemed gone, and I'll be real, I was starting to lose hope.
Then, the roster move that shook the Pacific: mindfreak was subbed out for PetMen. My heart dropped for Aaron. He's the OG, the foundation. He took on the controller role when no one else wanted to, mastering smokes so his teammates could fly. He's always been that quiet, dedicated anchor. You can just tell that behind that cool, focused exterior, he's the heart of the team. It felt like a massive gamble, but you have to trust the process and Alecks' big brain.
The Glow-Up: CHOО CHOO, We Made It
Somehow, they scraped their way through the VCT Pacific lower bracket to qualify for Masters Toronto. No one, and I mean no one, had them pegged as contenders. The analysts wrote them off, streamers doubted them. But one man kept the faith: Sliggy. The conductor of the hype train, telling everyone to get on, track by track, round by round. "CHOO CHOO MOTHERFUCKERS."
And then… they did it.
Watching them lift that trophy in Toronto, I felt something I've never felt from watching esports. It wasn't just hype. I felt… full. Complete. It was this insane dopamine rush, watching the unthinkable happen right before my eyes. All the years of struggle, the near misses, the roster changes, the doubts—it all led to this. My days after that win were genuinely better. The victory vibe was infectious. It made me want to get up, do more, and live bigger. It’s beautiful and wild how a team's success can feel so personal.
(I can’t even imagine what Manchester United fans will feel when they get their big win. The world would just heal, fr.)
The Bittersweet Part: An OG's Next Chapter
Just as we were all riding this incredible high, the news dropped. Aaron "mindfreak" Leonhart was officially moved to the reserve roster. And bro, this feeling is so ass. 😭
It's heartbreaking. This is the guy who has been there from the very beginning. He built Paper Rex brick by brick. Everyone knows he's the clutch king, an absolute beast. It was never a case of "mindfreak is the problem," but "PetMen was the solution they needed." And that almost hurts more.
As a massive mindfreak fan, there's a part of me that's happy for him. He's still in his prime, and he deserves to be a starter, to win a championship on stage, not from the sidelines. It’s just… it’s gonna sting so much seeing him in a different jersey.
This feeling is a mess, tbh. I'm hyped for his future because we all know he's going to get picked up and be incredible. But I'm also devastated because his time with the team he built is over. I'm literally about to cry just thinking about his legacy with PRX.
If you're ever reading this, Aaron, just know we support you, man. Whatever path you take, we're all riding with you. You're a legend, forever and always. 🙏❤️
