With all 12 groups collaborating in VCT Masters Tokyo lastly determined, all that’s left is to crown the champions in every of the three areas. Immediately in VCT Pacific, DRX obtained one step nearer to lifting the league’s trophy, although it wasn’t a simple match.
DRX has by no means fallen out of the highest spot by the common season of VCT Pacific, however their loss to Paper Rex final week despatched them to the decrease bracket closing within the playoffs.
The Korean staff confronted off towards T1, one other staff based mostly in Seoul, who’ve made unbelievable strides within the final half of the common season. Immediately’s match went the gap, however DRX had been capable of narrowly end it off 3-2.
The most important information earlier than the beginning of the match was that DRX can be returning to their authentic five-man roster for the opening map, taking out struggling youngster Foxy9 for veteran Zest.
Within the post-match press convention, the staff stated that taking part in with Zest is of course extra snug for them since they’ve three years of expertise with the identical five-man squad.
Regardless of the celebrations on stage, DRX admitted that they had some points immediately.
“The match ought to have been simpler than how we performed, so I’m upset,” BuZz stated within the post-match press convention by way of a translator.
MaKo additionally talked about the buildup of errors within the recreation, which induced a whole lot of chaos.
“I’m certain the followers had enjoyable,” he stated.
DRX actually went again to their roots for this complete collection, they usually appeared like an improved model of their LOCK//IN selves from earlier this 12 months.
The collection started on Ascent with a traditional mirror composition that has virtually utterly solidified itself because the map’s meta. For DRX, BuZz went again on Jett, with Zest filling the initiator spot and taking part in Sova.
Coming into solely his third match because the LOCK//IN match, Zest appeared like he hadn’t missed a day on stage. His response time was crisp, and he wasn’t letting something catch him off guard.
Arguably the largest clutch of the day got here simply earlier than the beginning of the second half, the place MaKo as soon as once more flaunted his genius with among the best Omen teleports we’ve seen all 12 months. His clutch down 1v2 was simply the cherry on high.
Regardless of being down 9-3 on the half, T1 ended up mounting an enormous comeback and took Ascent, which was DRX’s map choose, 13-11. This map went on to set the tone for your complete collection, because the motion didn’t let up in any respect. DRX broke again on Fracture, taking a 13-11 win of their very own.
After every staff took their opponent’s map choose, DRX was dialed in for Haven, and put up one other glorious 9-3 half. BuZz netted a fully huge ace, and DRX appeared pretty much as good as ever on a map that was once generally known as their predominant stomping floor. They went on to win the map, not letting the curse take maintain, with yet one more 13-11 scoreline.
As anticipated, T1 went with their “pizza slice” composition on Bind, which options Carpe on Gekko. This was the one map within the collection that felt like a one-sided enterprise, as DRX made some significantly uncharacteristic errors right here. From watching the incorrect angle to peeking on the incorrect time, not a single member of DRX ended up with a optimistic KDA on Bind. T1 took the map 13-6, sending the collection to a decider on Pearl.
One in every of T1’s gravest errors immediately might have come earlier than play even began on map 5. Within the aforementioned “pizza slice” technique, which T1 had used simply minutes earlier than to dismantle Korea’s high staff, xeta often performs Viper, and ban performs Harbor. On Pearl, the 2 flipped their agent picks.
Although T1 had been capable of get the spike down regularly, they saved falling quick within the post-plants, with a number of rounds within the second half the place DRX obtained defuses off whereas enemy gamers had been nonetheless alive.
Sayaplayer nonetheless tried his greatest to maintain his staff alive and put up an enormous ace in spherical nineteen, however it was too little, too late. DRX took Pearl 13-9 and superior to the VCT Pacific grand closing, a rematch towards Paper Rex, beginning 2 am CT.
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