Homegrown Heroes Conquer the World
The Singaporean esports squad Paper Rex (PRX) has finally achieved worldwide fame after four years of disappointments and near-misses. On 22 June 2025, they beat Europe’s Fnatic 3–1 in the Grand Final of VALORANT Masters Toronto, clinching their first-ever international championship and USD350,000 (S$449,000) in prize money.
For local fans, this is more than just a trophy — it’s a triumph years in the making. And at the heart of the story is Wang “Jinggg” Jing Jie, the 21-year-old Singaporean star who played through injury to help secure the win.
A Singapore Story: From LAN Rooms to Global Podiums
Founded in 2020 by a group of gaming enthusiasts, Paper Rex was built in Singapore at the crossroads of entertainment, competition, and community. Co-founded by Matt “Djojo” Djojonegoro and Nikhil “nikh” Hathiramani, the organisation quickly rose through the ranks of VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), becoming the only SEA team to consistently qualify for global tournaments.
Their vision? To give every gamer something to get behind.
And that’s exactly what they’ve done — winning 11 international VCT events, including the VCT Pacific League in 2023, and now, at long last, the 2025 Masters in Toronto.
SGs Jinggg: The Face of a New Era
Singaporeans and gamers worldwide have followed Jinggg’s journey since he first burst onto the scene as a teenage prodigy. But few knew the personal battles he fought behind the scenes.
Jinggg and his mother, Pearl, discussed her role in helping him juggle his love of gaming with his academic obligations in an earlier interview with ZULA Unseen. She once unplugged his computer during exam season — but later became one of his strongest supporters, prioritising his well-being over grades.
That same grounding helped Jinggg push through a wrist injury in Toronto. Despite the pain, he dominated on his signature agent, Raze, racking up crucial kills. Only after lifting the trophy did fans learn how close PRX had come to losing him to injury.
His motivation? “I haven’t won an international trophy, which I really, really want,” he had said earlier. Now, that mission is complete.
Mindset Shift, Team Bond, and PatMen’s Impact
PRX’s turnaround this year was no accident. After crumbling under pressure in 2024 and missing the Bangkok Masters, the team recalibrated — emotionally and strategically.
“We’re playing to improve, not to impress,” said Jinggg, reflecting on their mental reset. New life into the squad came from the arrival of the self-assured and outspoken Patrick “PatMen” Mendoza.
Behind the scenes, PRX also brought in performance coaches to address physical health, diet, and mental resilience — a rare but increasingly vital approach in modern esports.
Beyond the Trophy: What This Win Means
This victory isn’t just a feel-good moment. It’s a statement. For Singapore and Southeast Asia, it signals that regional teams can now compete — and win — on the world stage.
PRX head coach Alexandre “Alecks” Salle, a Singapore PR, said the win brought “relief, mostly.” He credited the SEA fanbase and holistic training approach for PRX’s success.
The team will next head to Seoul for Stage 2 of the VCT Pacific League from 15 July to 31 August, before eyeing the VCT Champions in Paris in September.
From Singapore, With Love: Why This Win Matters
Singaporeans have long been sceptical about esports as a career. But Jinggg’s story — rooted in discipline, emotional support, and resilience — is slowly changing perceptions.
PRX didn’t just win a trophy. They broke a narrative: that gaming is frivolous, that success in esports is accidental, that Asia lags behind. This time, Singapore led.
And in true Singapore style, they did it with grit, heart, and a little bit of wrist pain.
Image courtesy of Instagram Posts: jingggxd, pprxteam
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