The alpha bracket continued in the present day at VCT LOCK//IN in São Paulo with a heavyweight showdown between North America’s Cloud9 and Korea’s DRX. Each groups have lengthy histories in VALORANT, and each carry the hopes of their area on their shoulders in 2023. With simply six groups left on this aspect of the bracket heading into the sport, issues have been coming right down to the wire.
After a chaotic however quick match, DRX got here out forward with a 2-1 victory regardless of getting crushed on the opening map. Their resilience, synergy, and modern methods surfaced at simply the time to ship C9 residence.
The sequence was a rollercoaster from begin to end, with durations of utter dominance from either side, that includes calculated teamplay and pristine particular person mechanics as a number of the greatest gamers on the earth shined on stage.
C9 selected Pearl as the primary map of the sequence, one which has been sturdy for each groups to date at LOCK//IN, they usually made a press release as DRX’s methods appeared to crumble beneath their dominance.
The Korean crew is understood for its sturdy set performs, particularly in post-plant situations. However on Pearl, it seemed like a totally completely different aspect stepped onto the stage. It felt like they may barely execute any of their methods, solely capable of defend their post-plant thrice on their assault.
Although Pearl is named a closely defender-sided map, C9’s retakes have been one thing to behold. They have been coordinated and calculated, they usually didn’t even want yay at his high-fragging greatest, as a substitute letting Xeppaaa proceed his sizzling streak at LOCK//IN.
DRX appeared unable or unwilling to adapt. In the meantime, it seemed like C9 had finished their homework throughout the remainder day, countering their opponents’ identified methods on the map.
C9 took Pearl 13-3. Caster Michael “hypoc” Robins famous that this was “the worst worldwide efficiency we’ve seen from DRX.” Shifting on to Haven, one other map that has traditionally been sturdy for each groups, C9 continued to disregard the excitement about Chamber not being meta, and yay locked within the agent.
DRX began to combat again on the offensive aspect of Haven. Just a few errors coming by way of from C9 allowed them to capitalize, although each spherical was nonetheless right down to the wire.
Slowly, the Koreans started to appear like their outdated selves, with stax and BuZz pulling out some superb performs on Breach and Jett, respectively.
Regardless of a slight comeback from C9, DRX held their floor and continued to work as a crew. The Korean squad took Haven 13-7, tying up the sequence regardless of their dismal displaying on Pearl.
Shifting on to Icebox, they threw in a curveball by locking in Harbor and opting in opposition to utilizing Sage of their composition. Their web site executes began to look even cleaner than they did on Haven.
As soon as Rb clutched an enormous spherical for the crew, DRX appeared to collect and snowball that vitality with each spherical transferring ahead. They went on to demolish C9, taking a whopping 11-1 lead on the finish of the half. Although the North People managed to seize the pistol spherical on their assault, DRX got here proper again to snuff out their hopes.
Stax was totally awake and alive, showcasing arguably the very best Harbor efficiency the skilled scene has seen up so far. Although their technique of leaving out a Sage was a raffle, the innovation of DRX’s in-game chief triumphed with their new composition.
DRX took icebox 13-2, even bettering C9’s earlier rating on Pearl.
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Stax simply gained the MVP fan vote, with casters and analysts praising his mechanics on Harbor and his management alike.
C9, dubbed as North America’s “superteam” coming into LOCK//IN, is now out of the match.
Regardless of their superb displaying and innovation in the present day, DRX nonetheless hasn’t seemed as constant or sturdy as they’ve up to now on the worldwide stage. They may face the winner of Evil Geniuses vs Talon Esports tomorrow, Feb. 19 at 2pm CT.
