DRX Emerges Victorious in VALORANT Champions Group Stage
After a challenging period, DRX is making a strong comeback in the international VALORANT scene. They have successfully advanced from the group stage at Champions in Los Angeles, becoming the first team to do so.
The team recently suffered their worst international finish since 2021, exiting Masters Tokyo in seventh-eighth place. However, they have shown great resilience and motivation at Champions, determined to reclaim their position as one of the top teams in Asia.
In Los Angeles, DRX has played two VALORANT games against tough opponents from the Americas and EMEA region. Despite doubts about their condition, they managed to secure 2-1 victories over LOUD and NAVI, easily progressing through the group stage.
Despite the challenging group, DRX has excelled in the group stage, showcasing their mastery in this phase of the tournament. They now have eight days in Los Angeles to prepare for their next matchup while other teams continue to battle in their respective groups.
One of the key factors contributing to DRX’s success is their in-game leader, Kim “stax” Gu-taek. Despite his youth, stax has proven himself as a veteran in the VALORANT scene. The team has found a solution that allows him to lead effectively and also brings out the best in their individual performances.
DRX’s controller player, Kim “MaKo” Myeong-gwan, mentioned in an interview that the team’s communication has become more active and cohesive. However, the core structure of their communication remains unchanged, according to coach Pyeon “termi” Seon-ho.
These changes have led to improved individual skills within the team.
In their match against NAVI, stax performed exceptionally well, even as he played Skye in an aggressive double-duelist composition. He displayed a remarkable 41 percent headshot percentage on the first map, demonstrating his versatility and contribution to all aspects of gameplay.
Although stax acknowledged a difference in communication, he mentioned that it hasn’t significantly affected his overall stress levels. The added calls and better flow of communication have made the gameplay more comfortable for the team.
DRX has also demonstrated their versatility through player Goo “Rb” Sang-min’s choice to play Yoru on Bind against NAVI. Additionally, they have achieved close scores of 13-15 and 14-12 on Lotus, a map they used to avoid. This improvement shows their dedication and hours of practice.
The Korean VALORANT team is determined to continue their upward trajectory and achieve success at Champions, which has been their goal throughout the year.