VCT Masters London 2026 Day 6: Paper Rex and Vitality Open Playoffs with Statement Victories

The Playoffs stage of VCT Masters London 2026 officially began with two decisive upper-bracket quarterfinals. Pacific champions Paper Rex reaffirmed their title ambitions by sweeping LEVIATÁN, while Team Vitality continued their dominant form with a convincing victory over Team Heretics.

With both winners advancing deeper into the upper bracket, a highly anticipated showdown between Paper Rex and Vitality now awaits.

Paper Rex vs LEVIATÁN

Map 1 – Ascent (PRX 13-1 LEV)

LEVIATÁN entered their own map pick looking to challenge Paper Rex with an aggressive Neon-Phoenix and Chamber composition, but the Pacific representatives completely shut them down from the opening round.

Paper Rex showcased one of the most dominant defensive halves of the tournament so far, constantly disrupting LEVIATÁN's game plan through proactive pushes, fast rotations, and relentless pressure across the map. Whether contesting extremities or collapsing onto site hits, PRX consistently stayed one step ahead.

The result was an overwhelming 11-1 defensive half that left LEVIATÁN with almost no room to recover. After securing the second pistol round, Paper Rex quickly closed the map 13-1.

The entire roster delivered, but d4v41 stood out with an incredible performance, finishing the map with only a single death. Meanwhile, something repeatedly found impact with the Operator as PRX completely controlled the pace of the game.

Map 2 – Lotus (PRX 13-10 LEV)

Unlike the opening map, Lotus developed into a much more competitive battle.

LEVIATÁN found far greater success on attack, securing several clean site executions and maintaining control throughout much of the first half. Despite Paper Rex stealing a few unlikely rounds, including an important eco victory, the Americas squad managed to edge ahead and take a 7-5 halftime lead.

Neon was instrumental in that success, dominating early engagements and creating space for his team throughout the half.

After the side swap, neither team could establish a significant lead. The score remained tightly contested as both squads traded rounds and momentum, eventually reaching a tense 10-10 deadlock.

When the match reached its critical moments, however, Paper Rex found another gear. A crucial eco-round victory pushed them ahead, while f0rsakeN produced a clutch post-plant situation to deny LEVIATÁN any chance of a comeback.

The 13-10 victory completed the 2-0 sweep and secured Paper Rex a place in the upper semifinals.

Team Vitality vs Team Heretics

Map 1 – Breeze (VIT 13-6 TH)

The second quarterfinal featured a rematch of the VCT EMEA Stage 1 Grand Final, but once again it was Vitality who emerged on top.

Much of the pre-match discussion centered around how Team Heretics would adapt following the recent Neon changes, particularly for koshmaras, who had relied heavily on the agent throughout Stage 1.

Vitality quickly seized control of the map behind another stellar performance from Derke. The Finnish star consistently found opening kills, helping his team establish an early advantage that eventually translated into an 8-4 halftime lead.

Although Heretics attempted to recover after the break, Vitality's disciplined defense proved too difficult to break. Their ability to damage Heretics' economy, even in lost rounds, prevented their opponents from ever building sustained momentum.

With complete control over the map, Vitality comfortably secured a 13-6 victory to move within one map of the upper semifinals.

Map 2 – Lotus (VIT 13-7 TH)

Vitality carried their momentum straight into Lotus. A strong pistol-round conversion gave them an immediate advantage, and before long, they had raced out to a 4-0 start. To their credit, Heretics responded with several coordinated executes and individual heroics, briefly slowing Vitality's momentum.

However, every time Heretics appeared ready to mount a comeback, Vitality found the answers. Chronicle continued to anchor crucial rounds, while the team's overall structure consistently denied Heretics any opportunity to string together meaningful momentum.

By halftime, Vitality had once again built an 8-4 cushion. The second half offered one final opportunity for Heretics to fight back. They managed to steal consecutive rounds after dropping the pistol, but a costly loss against a low-buy Vitality setup effectively ended any hopes of a comeback. Sayonara delivered a multi-kill round that pushed Vitality within touching distance of victory.

A few rounds later, Vitality closed out Lotus 13-7, completing another convincing 2-0 sweep.

Derke led the server with 44 kills across the series, while Chronicle provided outstanding support throughout both maps. For Heretics, koshmaras was their brightest performer despite the defeat.

VCT Masters London 2026 Day 6: Looking Ahead

The opening day of the Playoffs delivered exactly what fans expected from two tournament favorites.

Paper Rex looked every bit as dangerous as the team that earned the Pacific first seed, while Vitality continued the dominant form that carried them through EMEA.

The reward is a blockbuster upper-bracket semifinal between the two squads, a clash that could very well preview the VCT Masters London 2026 Grand Final.

Meanwhile, Team Heretics and LEVIATÁN drop to the lower bracket, where they will battle for survival.

Upcoming Matches

The second day of the Masters London Playoffs will feature the remaining two upper-bracket quarterfinal matchups, with four teams looking to join Paper Rex and Vitality in the next round.

Upper-Bracket Quarterfinals

• EDward Gaming vs FUT Esports

• G2 Esports vs Xi Lai Gaming