by The final day of the Swiss Stage at VALORANT Masters Bangkok was packed with high stakes and historic moments, and from the last two series, T1 and G2 Esports advanced to the playoffs with commanding wins.
In a landmark “win or go home” match, T1 defeated DRX 2-0—delivering their first-ever victory over the storied Korean team in five encounters.
T1 BREAK THE STREAK AND BEAT DRX TO MOVE ON TO PLAYOFFS! #VALORANTMasters pic.twitter.com/NmAXq4ZWpK
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) February 24, 2025
The match was a direct rematch of the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Pacific Kickoff grand final and marked the first international clash between two Korean teams.
While DRX had maintained the upper hand in previous meetings, T1’s decisive performance rewrote the narrative.
The strategic map bans played a crucial role.
DRX opted to ban Lotus, a map on which T1 had been flawless this season, while T1 banned Abyss, denying DRX a long-standing strength.
DRX selected Fracture—a familiar battleground from their previous victories—where T1’s Kim “Meteor” Tae-o silenced critics by registering 28 kills, including six first kills.
His teammate Yu “BuZz” Byung-chul also shined, securing nine first kills to keep the momentum firmly in T1’s favour.
After claiming their opponent’s map pick, the series moved to Pearl, where Meteor switched to Killjoy, a pick that added critical post-plant utility.
With an 8-4 halftime lead and sustained aggression in the second half, T1 closed out the map 13-4.
Emotional scenes unfolded as former DRX players, now in T1’s lineup, celebrated the long-awaited victory, with BuZz exclaiming, “Who’s the best team in Korea now?”
This win not only handed DRX a 5th-6th finish but also marked T1’s debut in an international playoff.
Carrying Americas' hope, @G2VALORANT defeat Team Liquid! #VALORANTMasters pic.twitter.com/WJPAj4acwY
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) February 24, 2025
On the other side of the bracket, G2 Esports delivered a statement performance by dispatching Team Liquid 2-0.
Liquid started strong on Haven, seizing an early pistol round to build a 4-2 lead.
However, G2’s sharp in-game adjustments took over in round seven, and they surged to an 8-4 halftime advantage.
Jonah “JonahP” Pulice emerged as the key player on Haven, contributing a 16/12/9 KDA, 159 ADR, and a 1.53 rating, as G2 secured a convincing 13-5 victory on the map.
Liquid attempted to shift gears on Lotus by opting for Neon, but G2’s tactical execution was too potent.
A decisive round 16 retake on C site broke the game open, and standout performances from Jacob “valyn” Batio (20 kills, 242 ACS, 1.52 rating) and Nathan “leaf” Orf (21 kills, 257 ACS, 1.32 rating) propelled G2 to a 13-7 win, ensuring their playoff spot.
With T1 and G2 now in the playoffs, the stage is set for an international clash of titans.
T1, riding the momentum of their first international win, will face EDward Gaming in an Asia-only match, while G2’s next challenge pits them against Team Vitality.
The VALORANT tournament offers significant rewards—teams in the top four secure US$35,000 and a VCT Point, with the overall winner taking home US$250,000 and 5 VCT Points.
VCT Masters Bangkok semifinals
- EDward Gaming ($1.33) vs T1 ($3.25) @ 5pm ICT
- Team Vitality ($1.72) vs G2 Esports ($2.00) @ 8pm ICT
