On Thursday, after
Paper Rex's victory against G2 Esports in this first match of the
VALORANT Champions 2025 playoffs,
Wang "Jinggg" Jing Jie gave
Sheep Esports an interview in which he looks back on the close match they just won, how he manages to step up and become stronger from event to event, takes stock of his year, and more.
How are you feeling after this match?
Wang "Jinggg" Jing Jie: "I feel really relieved and excited as well because the game was thrilling and incredibly close. It could have gone either way, it came down to one or two kills, just a few rounds. So yes, mostly relieved.
On Lotus, you were down 10–6 and came back. What enabled you to turn the match around?
Jinggg: At the start, we were a bit off, and our teamwork wasn’t the best. As the map went on, we realized we needed to play the way we usually do, leaning on our team play, and by the end, everything flowed. Ultimately, we played well as a unit, and that’s why we came back.
PRX had a perfect 2–0 group stage. How did the team stay focused?
Jinggg: There wasn’t anything special. We just played the way we usually do and tried to keep improving over time. We stuck to our own process, nothing specific beyond that.
You’ve been part of Paper Rex for years. How have your experience and mechanics evolved to match this level?
Jinggg: Since joining Paper Rex, my mechanics, game sense, and overall understanding have improved a lot. That happens when you play more tournaments: the level rises, you learn from others, and your mechanics sharpen. I’m glad that for me and everyone on PRX, our mechanics and gameplay have continued to improve as the game evolves, which has helped us stay at the top level.
You won Masters Toronto and Stage 2 Pacific. Do those titles change your approach to Champions?
Jinggg: I don’t think they change our approach. They give us more experience and the understanding that we have what it takes to win. It helps positively by giving us confidence, but in terms of pressure, we know this is a new tournament with many strong teams, and anything can happen. It’s not easy to win two in a row, so we’ll come here, do our best, and hopefully achieve it, but nothing is guaranteed.
Today, you faced Alexander "jawgemo" Mor, a 2023 world champion. Did you have any apprehension about this matchup?
Jinggg: We know how G2 play, we’ve faced them before, so we just made slight tweaks to our game plan. There wasn’t any special preparation; we prepared as usual and went with it.
Photo by Lee Aiksoon/Riot Games
Were there any particular strategies or agent compositions you prepared specifically for them?
Jinggg: Against G2, we used our standard compositions, nothing out of the ordinary.
Paper Rex’s synergy often revolves around fast, high-intensity play. How important is mental resilience in these high-profile matches?
Jinggg: In hype matches like G2 or other top opponents, we’ve learned, especially through losses, that mentality plays a major role. When you see your teammates with a good mindset and giving their best, it lifts you as well. Over the years, we’ve understood that mentality is as important in VALORANT as strategy, and we work to improve it.
Has there been a standout moment from the group stage that energized you or the team?
Jinggg: Nothing specific, but winning the group in two matches without dropping a series shows we still have what it takes. Beating G2 today also shows we’re capable of winning. I’m happy and proud of the team, and hopefully we keep improving as the tournament goes on.
What would lifting the world championship trophy mean to you and to the team?
Jinggg: It would make me very happy and proud of all our hard work. At the start of the year, I didn’t expect this. We lost many games, missed the first tournament, and to qualify for Toronto, we had to win about five matches in a row in the lower bracket. That was a tough road. I believe everything happens for a reason, so we just try to play, enjoy the moment, and hopefully things go our way.
If you had to sum up your year with PRX, what are you most proud of?
Jinggg: Winning Toronto, because it showcased our hard work to everyone. And, overall, we’ve grown closer as a team, which I’m really happy about. So those two things: becoming tighter as a group and improving together, and, of course, winning Toronto.
You are one of the best players in the world. How will you keep improving split after split? Have you reached your peak, or can you go further?
Jinggg: I definitely haven’t reached my peak. I can always be better, and the same goes for everyone on my team. As long as we work hard, and everyone does. I think we’ll keep improving at a very fast pace. To keep getting better split after split, you need discipline. You have to play a lot, understand the game, and practice consistently. Don’t be lazy, because if you are, others who want your spot more will catch up. It’s a lot of hard work and discipline."
Header Credit Photo: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
