DRX made history in the Pacific Kickoff to win the team’s first-ever VALORANT title with their 3-2 final win against T1. That win booked them a spot at Masters Bangkok, where a T1 rematch shockingly saw DRX crash out in a 2-0 defeat. Now the side is back in competition, starting off Stage 1 of VCT Pacific with a 2-1 victory over fan favorites Paper Rex. We spoke to their young start HYUNMIN for an interview following the win.
Hotspawn: All three maps saw big swings in the scores today, and PRX coach alecks said that neither team was able to defend properly.
Why do you think that was? Something meta-related?
HYUNMIN: I’m actually not sure. I think the Icebox game we weren’t hitting our shots so we lost. But yeah, it’s actually pretty surprising that both teams couldn’t really defend.
Lee Jones: Map 1 saw an especially drastic comeback with your team going from 0-8 down to 10-8 up.
What were the vibes like during that turnaround?
HYUNMIN: Our team vibes were actually pretty good. We were down 0-8, but it didn’t feel like that at all. And I think we just kept playing our game and then we came back.
Image credit: VLR.gg
What did you make of your own performance today? You were on fire during Map 3.
HYUNMIN: Yeah, I think I’ve popped off on map 3, but I think that’s a good sign and I think we won because we all play great today.
How do you rate PRX at the moment, given they’ve struggled so far this year?
HYUNMIN: PRX is a very strong team and I still believe they’re one of the top teams in Pacific. I think they’re just experimenting with a lot of different comps that they haven’t been trying [before]. So yeah, I think with more time there will actually be a really, really, really good team.
Lee Jones: Well with PRX being a strong team, plus yourselves and Gen.G, your groups in VCT Pacific looks pretty stacked.
What do you think of the group draw?
HYUNMIN: Yeah, I would agree. I would say our group has more stronger teams than the other. But I think they’re equally strong as well.
Lee Jones: You entered VCT this year as an 18-year-old, meaning that you were only 13 when VALORANT was released.
Have you been playing since that age?
HYUNMIN: Oh, yeah. When VALORANT first came out during his beta season, I got an access code and I started playing from then.
Were you always into competitive games like that? Were there any others that you played growing up?
HYUNMIN: Yeah, I started competitive games at a very, very, very young age, especially shooter games. And I think that also helped with becoming a pro VALORANT player.
Were you always following VALORANT esports since you started playing as well?
HYUNMIN: At first, I was just playing the game because it was just honestly super fun. And once I started getting more into the game, I started watching the competitive side and I also wanted to be a part of a pro team. And I’m finally happy that I was able to make that happen.
Were there any players that you looked up to in those early days?
HYUNMIN: Something funny is I actually watched a lot of DRX play — the old Vision Strikers. Being able to play for them is honestly super cool.
Lee Jones: I noticed that your Twitter bio has a Korean and American flag, and you speak fluent English.
Image credit: Riot Games
Would you mind explaining a bit about your background?
HYUNMIN: So I was born in Korea, but I moved to the States — particularly Hawaii — when I was 3 years old. I stayed there for about 15 years until I was 17, 16-ish. I lived in the US more than Korea.
What was the transition to Korea like? Were there any culture shocks?
HYUNMIN: Not really, because at home we will speak Korean in our household and just similar stuff. So there were not really big changes or anything.
Bringing it back to DRX and looking towards the rest of the season, what are the aims from here on out?
HYUNMIN: So far, to qualify for playoffs and of course Masters Toronto as well. And I think the year-long goal is to also qualify for Champs and bring the Champions trophy back home.
Lee Jones: Obviously you’re reigning champions, but T1 won the famous rematch in Bangkok.
Do you feel that you’re the team to beat in Pacific at the moment?
HYUNMIN: I would say we’re a top-four team. I wouldn’t say which, but yeah, I would say we’re in the top four in Pacific so far.
original_hotspawn_Lee Jones
DRX made history in the Pacific Kickoff to win the team’s first-ever VALORANT title with their 3-2 final win against T1. That win booked them a spot at Masters Bangkok, where a T1 rematch shockingly saw DRX crash out in a 2-0 defeat. Now the side is back in competition, starting off Stage 1 of VCT Pacific with a 2-1 victory over fan favorites Paper Rex. We spoke to their young start HYUNMIN for an interview following the win.
Hotspawn: All three maps saw big swings in the scores today, and PRX coach alecks said that neither team was able to defend properly.
Why do you think that was? Something meta-related?
HYUNMIN: I’m actually not sure. I think the Icebox game we weren’t hitting our shots so we lost. But yeah, it’s actually pretty surprising that both teams couldn’t really defend.
Lee Jones: Map 1 saw an especially drastic comeback with your team going from 0-8 down to 10-8 up.
What were the vibes like during that turnaround?
HYUNMIN: Our team vibes were actually pretty good. We were down 0-8, but it didn’t feel like that at all. And I think we just kept playing our game and then we came back.
Image credit: VLR.gg
What did you make of your own performance today? You were on fire during Map 3.
HYUNMIN: Yeah, I think I’ve popped off on map 3, but I think that’s a good sign and I think we won because we all play great today.
How do you rate PRX at the moment, given they’ve struggled so far this year?
HYUNMIN: PRX is a very strong team and I still believe they’re one of the top teams in Pacific. I think they’re just experimenting with a lot of different comps that they haven’t been trying [before]. So yeah, I think with more time there will actually be a really, really, really good team.
Lee Jones: Well with PRX being a strong team, plus yourselves and Gen.G, your groups in VCT Pacific looks pretty stacked.
What do you think of the group draw?
HYUNMIN: Yeah, I would agree. I would say our group has more stronger teams than the other. But I think they’re equally strong as well.
Lee Jones: You entered VCT this year as an 18-year-old, meaning that you were only 13 when VALORANT was released.
Have you been playing since that age?
HYUNMIN: Oh, yeah. When VALORANT first came out during his beta season, I got an access code and I started playing from then.
Were you always into competitive games like that? Were there any others that you played growing up?
HYUNMIN: Yeah, I started competitive games at a very, very, very young age, especially shooter games. And I think that also helped with becoming a pro VALORANT player.
Were you always following VALORANT esports since you started playing as well?
HYUNMIN: At first, I was just playing the game because it was just honestly super fun. And once I started getting more into the game, I started watching the competitive side and I also wanted to be a part of a pro team. And I’m finally happy that I was able to make that happen.
Were there any players that you looked up to in those early days?
HYUNMIN: Something funny is I actually watched a lot of DRX play — the old Vision Strikers. Being able to play for them is honestly super cool.
Lee Jones: I noticed that your Twitter bio has a Korean and American flag, and you speak fluent English.
Image credit: Riot Games
Would you mind explaining a bit about your background?
HYUNMIN: So I was born in Korea, but I moved to the States — particularly Hawaii — when I was 3 years old. I stayed there for about 15 years until I was 17, 16-ish. I lived in the US more than Korea.
What was the transition to Korea like? Were there any culture shocks?
HYUNMIN: Not really, because at home we will speak Korean in our household and just similar stuff. So there were not really big changes or anything.
Bringing it back to DRX and looking towards the rest of the season, what are the aims from here on out?
HYUNMIN: So far, to qualify for playoffs and of course Masters Toronto as well. And I think the year-long goal is to also qualify for Champs and bring the Champions trophy back home.
Lee Jones: Obviously you’re reigning champions, but T1 won the famous rematch in Bangkok.
Do you feel that you’re the team to beat in Pacific at the moment?
HYUNMIN: I would say we’re a top-four team. I wouldn’t say which, but yeah, I would say we’re in the top four in Pacific so far.
original_hotspawn_Lee Jones