DRX: The Unlikely Underdogs Who Ruled Worlds
DRX, the fourth seed from Korea’s LCK, defied all expectations at this year’s League of Legends World Championship. Despite starting in the play-in stage, which is usually a death sentence for teams, DRX dominated the tournament and emerged as the champions after an impressive 26-game run.
DRX’s victory at Worlds was unprecedented. They were the first team to play in all three stages of the event: play-ins, groups, and knockouts. They were also the first team to make it from the play-in stage to the grand finals, let alone win.
The team’s jungler, Pyosik, played a pivotal role in DRX’s success. Despite a failed Worlds run in 2020 and a last-place season in 2021, Pyosik and his team never lost hope. In an interview with , Pyosik revealed that they always believed in their potential to win Worlds, but never expected to actually achieve it.
Throughout the tournament, DRX were considered underdogs in every match they played. From their showdown with MSI champions Royal Never Give Up in the play-in stage to their games against LEC champions Rogue in groups, DRX always defied the odds.
It wasn’t until their reverse sweep against defending champions Edward Gaming in the quarterfinals that DRX realized their chances of winning the whole tournament. The team’s trust and confidence soared, and they reached their peak performance in the knockout stage.
Despite a dismal record against Gen.G and T1, their fellow LCK league-mates, during the regular season, DRX managed to win when it mattered most. Pyosik revealed that they always believed they could defeat these teams and viewed the regular split as preparation for their success at Worlds.
DRX’s familiarity with T1, their finals opponent, played a crucial role in their victory. They had practiced extensively with T1 during both the regular season and the World Championship, giving them an edge in the finals.
Throughout the season, DRX faced elimination multiple times but never gave up. Their ability to come back from desperate situations and their unwavering trust in each other propelled them to victory.
DRX’s triumph at Worlds proves that records can be deceiving. Despite being perceived as weak compared to their opponents, they proved everyone wrong with their domestic comeback victories.
Looking ahead, all five of DRX’s starters will enter free agency as their contracts expire.
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