DRX & T1 Secure Top 4 in VCT Pacific Kickoff

DRX and T1 have sent the 2024 Pacific Stage 2 winners, Gen.G and Talon, respectively, to the lower bracket of the VCT Pacific Kickoff. They will now face each other in the Upper Final, with the winner securing a spot at Masters Bangkok.

T1 dominated the first map against Talon, comfortably winning Fracture by 13-5. However, Talon struck back on Bind with a decisive 13-4 victory, pushing the series to the third map. Haven was a relatively close contest despite T1 taking an early 8-2 lead. Talon attempted a comeback but ultimately fell short, with T1 securing the map by 13-9.

"I thought we had plenty of practice and came in well-prepared, but there were some stage jitters. We made a lot of mistakes here and there, so sometimes it looked like we weren't performing up to par or putting up our best performances. But sometimes, my toxicity towards my teammates wakes them up and helps them get back online. So, I take that personal sacrifice for the team so that we can perform better," said Stax in the post-match interview.

The DRX vs. Gen.G matchup ended in a 2-0 victory for DRX, though it wasn't entirely one-sided. DRX claimed Abyss  by 13-9, but Gen.G pushed the second map, Bind, to overtime in an intense battle. However, they couldn't convert it into a win.

"When we look back at last year, when we didn’t make it to Masters Shanghai or other global events, it was because we lost to Gen.G. It was always them making a comeback at the last moment while we let the win slip away. During today's overtime, we kept telling ourselves, 'Let’s not repeat history. We can do this. Let’s not lose like last year.' And I’m really, really glad we pushed through and were able to get this win," said BeYN.

DRX vs. T1 will take place on February 7, and the series will be streamed live on the official VCT Pacific Twitch and YouTube channels.