DRX Makes Comeback Versus MIBR
Image credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
The second elimination series of the day was between two dark horses, Pacific’s DRX and Americas team MIBR. Despite a slow start for the Pacific squad, DRX ultimately survived 2-1.
As DRX first banned Corrode, MIBR was free to pick its opponent’s previous perma-ban, Sunset. However, this move appeared to be a trap at first. DRX looked astonishingly well-coordinated on Sunset’s defence and shut down the majority of MIBR’s A/B hits. Even MIBR’s macro game play adjustments weren’t enough while DRX’s No ‘freeing’ Ha-junand and Cho ‘Flashback’ Min-hyuk shredded through their enemies. DRX won nine rounds on the defence, including the pistol.
With the 9-3 curse activated, MIBR had its own near-flawless defence. DRX looked disjointed on its one-dimensional set strategies while Erick ‘aspas’ Santos wielded a deadly Operator. Similar to its rival, DRX didn’t play into the strength of its Neon, who excels at taking swift mid-control. The Pacific team only won a single round on its attack, conceding Sunset 10-13.
Aspas continued to deliver deadly shots on Ascent’s defence whenever he could afford a sniper rifle. Additionally, MIBR’s Vyse maintained passive mid-control, allowing players to stack the sites. Despite such efforts, MIBR couldn’t prevent many of DRX’s A executes. Following a thrifty swing round, the Korean squad efficiently cycled through its ultimates to claim seven attack rounds.
On defence, DRX withheld information from MIBR as the team couldn’t fine-tune its attack scaling. It took a quadruple kill from aspas to extend the game into overtime. Ultimately, DRX persevered through hero plays and two pistol round wins from MIBR to survive in the series (15-13).
Unlike MIBR, DRX managed to convert its double pistol win into a victory on the final map, Bind. The first half of the map was a game of hide and seek once DRX’s Flashback purchased a defence Operator. While the Yoru player loved holding deep map space for his team, MIBR tried to punish DRX on its reactive pushes on the extremities.
After an even 6-6 half, DRX took firm control of the game. The Korean roster capitalised on the free space given in A-showers to start a snowball. Moreover, in-game leader (IGL) Kim ‘MaKo’ Myeong-kwan played confidently during post-plant situations. A hero play from aspas and some misused ultimates from DRX could only delay the inevitable (13-10).
VALORANT Champions Continues on October 3rd
With Team Heretics and MIBR eliminated, only DRX and Paper Rex remain in the Playoffs lower-bracket for now. These two teams will fight for survival in the Lower Bracket Semifinal next Friday, October 3rd.
However, the action on Friday kicks off at 12 PM BST with the Upper Bracket Final between EMEA’s Fnatic and Americas team NRG. The winner of this series will advance to the Grand Final on October 5th. The loser, on the other hand, must persevere in October 4th’s Lower Bracket Final.
All final Playoffs matches at VALORANT Champions 2025 will be broadcast via VCT’s official YouTube and Twitch channels.
DRX Makes Comeback Versus MIBR
The second elimination series of the day was between two dark horses, Pacific’s DRX and Americas team MIBR. Despite a slow start for the Pacific squad, DRX ultimately survived 2-1.
As DRX first banned Corrode, MIBR was free to pick its opponent’s previous perma-ban, Sunset. However, this move appeared to be a trap at first. DRX looked astonishingly well-coordinated on Sunset’s defence and shut down the majority of MIBR’s A/B hits. Even MIBR’s macro game play adjustments weren’t enough while DRX’s No ‘freeing’ Ha-junand and Cho ‘Flashback’ Min-hyuk shredded through their enemies. DRX won nine rounds on the defence, including the pistol.
With the 9-3 curse activated, MIBR had its own near-flawless defence. DRX looked disjointed on its one-dimensional set strategies while Erick ‘aspas’ Santos wielded a deadly Operator. Similar to its rival, DRX didn’t play into the strength of its Neon, who excels at taking swift mid-control. The Pacific team only won a single round on its attack, conceding Sunset 10-13.
Aspas continued to deliver deadly shots on Ascent’s defence whenever he could afford a sniper rifle. Additionally, MIBR’s Vyse maintained passive mid-control, allowing players to stack the sites. Despite such efforts, MIBR couldn’t prevent many of DRX’s A executes. Following a thrifty swing round, the Korean squad efficiently cycled through its ultimates to claim seven attack rounds.
On defence, DRX withheld information from MIBR as the team couldn’t fine-tune its attack scaling. It took a quadruple kill from aspas to extend the game into overtime. Ultimately, DRX persevered through hero plays and two pistol round wins from MIBR to survive in the series (15-13).
Unlike MIBR, DRX managed to convert its double pistol win into a victory on the final map, Bind. The first half of the map was a game of hide and seek once DRX’s Flashback purchased a defence Operator. While the Yoru player loved holding deep map space for his team, MIBR tried to punish DRX on its reactive pushes on the extremities.
After an even 6-6 half, DRX took firm control of the game. The Korean roster capitalised on the free space given in A-showers to start a snowball. Moreover, in-game leader (IGL) Kim ‘MaKo’ Myeong-kwan played confidently during post-plant situations. A hero play from aspas and some misused ultimates from DRX could only delay the inevitable (13-10).
VALORANT Champions Continues on October 3rd
With Team Heretics and MIBR eliminated, only DRX and Paper Rex remain in the Playoffs lower-bracket for now. These two teams will fight for survival in the Lower Bracket Semifinal next Friday, October 3rd.
However, the action on Friday kicks off at 12 PM BST with the Upper Bracket Final between EMEA’s Fnatic and Americas team NRG. The winner of this series will advance to the Grand Final on October 5th. The loser, on the other hand, must persevere in October 4th’s Lower Bracket Final.
All final Playoffs matches at VALORANT Champions 2025 will be broadcast via VCT’s official YouTube and Twitch channels.