Discover five of the most exciting moments from VALORANT Masters Toronto 2025, from G2 Esports’ early qualification to Paper Rex’s historic championship win.
TheVALORANT Masters Toronto 2025 has wrapped up, and like every major esportstournament, it left fans with unforgettable moments and jaw-dropping plays.Held as the second Masters event of the VCT 2025 season, this tournament notonly showcased top-tier gameplay but also introduced new elements that willshape the game’s future. Let’s dive into the five most exciting things thathappened during VALORANT Masters Toronto!
Oneof the biggest surprises at Masters Toronto was the early qualification of G2Esports to the prestigious VALORANT Champions 2025, even before Stage 2 began.This is an uncommon feat, as most teams usually secure their Champions spotduring or after Stage 2. However, G2 Esports managed to rack up enough pointsto mathematically guarantee their place in Paris.
Despitefalling short of winning the tournament, G2’s dominant run in Stage 1 placedthem securely in the top 2 of the VCT Americas Championship Points leaderboardwith 19 points. No other teams, especially third-place MIBR, sitting with just7 points—could surpass them, even if G2 lost every match in Stage 2.
Thisachievement is not just a statistical milestone but a testament to G2’sconsistency and strength in the current VCT meta. Their ability to secure aChampions slot this early has set a new benchmark for excellence andpreparation.
Everygreat tournament needs a dark horse story, and VALORANT Masters Torontodelivered with Wolves Esports. The team from China entered the event withlittle international experience and modest expectations from the community.Many believed they would be eliminated early due to the underwhelmingperformances of Chinese teams like EDG in previous events.
ButWolves Esports stunned everyone with their performance. They displayedresilience, composure, and veteran-like execution that defied all odds.Notably, they managed incredible comebacks against seasoned teams like RRQ andGen.G, proving their mental toughness and tactical prowess.
Finishingin third place, Wolves not only walked away with pride but also gained therespect of the global VALORANT community. Their performance sparked worldwideexcitement, with many fans now rooting for their continued presence in futureinternational VCT events. If they maintain this momentum, Wolves Esports couldbecome a serious contender on the global stage.
RiotGames once again spiced things up by revealing a brand-new map during MastersToronto, Corrode. Following the introduction of the agent Waylay in MastersBangkok, Corrode marks another major addition to the game’s content.
Setin a castle-themed French city, Corrode appears to favor close-quartersengagements, making it a haven for shotgun enthusiasts and sneaky rat players.With countless corners and narrow hallways, players must remain hyper-aware tosurvive. Unlike maps with environmental gimmicks like Abyss (with its infamouspits), Corrode keeps things straightforward, offering traditionalgunplay-focused terrain, yet packed with flank potential and thin walls.
Whileit doesn’t bring unique map mechanics, its tight design and tricky angles couldshake up team strategies and agent compositions in ranked and pro play alike.Will Corrode become a fan-favorite or join the ranks of maps players love tohate like Breeze? Time will tell when it hits the ranked queue in Episode V25Act IV.
Inone of the most viral moments of VALORANT Masters Toronto, Paper Rex’s starplayer f0rsakeN delivered a clutch that left the audience roaring. During ahigh-stakes match against Sentinels, he pulled off what fans are calling the“spinning defuse.”
In a1v1 clutch against johnqt, and with the clock ticking down, f0rsakeN took arisk. He dropped a smoke just outside the spike and initiated a full stickdefuse, all while performing a rapid spinning maneuver to confuse his opponent.In a move reminiscent of meme-worthy “Uiiauiia cat” spins, f0rsakeN’srotation actually worked: johnqt’s bullets missed their mark due to theconfusing motion.
Asthe defuse completed and Paper Rex secured the round, fans and casters alikeerupted in celebration. Many are already campaigning for this moment to beimmortalized in-game as a commemorative spray or player card. In a tournamentfull of skillful plays, this spinning defuse stands out as a moment of genius,chaos, and style — true to f0rsakeN’s reputation.
Themost heartwarming and historic moment from Masters Toronto came when Paper Rexfinally clinched their first-ever international VCT trophy. The Southeast Asianpowerhouse had come agonizingly close in previous years, finishing as runners-upat Masters Copenhagen 2022 and Champions 2023.
Butas the saying goes, “third time’s a charm.” In Toronto, Paper Rex defeated EMEAgiants Fnatic in the Grand Final with a dominant 3-1 performance. It wasn’tjust a victory, it was redemption, triumph, and the culmination of years ofhard work.
Thesight of Paper Rex lifting the iconic pink trophy was emotional for fansworldwide, especially those in Southeast Asia who have supported the teamthrough thick and thin. Their journey from promising underdogs to internationalchampions symbolizes the rise of SEA in competitive VALORANT and serves asinspiration for aspiring players in the region.
Image Source: Taiyoro
English 
Thai