by The third day of the VCT Masters Bangkok Swiss Stage offered two playoff spots, with two series taking place between four 1-0 teams.
In the first match, Team Vitality overcame the energetic Korean VALORANT squad DRX 2-1 in a three-map showdown.
Team Vitality secure the first spot in the #VALORANTMasters Bangkok Playoffs with a 2-1 win over DRX! pic.twitter.com/YljzfDdSkp
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) February 22, 2025
The series began with Vitality’s strategic approach: they maintained their perma ban of Pearl while DRX removed Haven, leading to Vitality’s selection of Bind and DRX’s choice of Abyss—DRX’s strongest map this year.
With both teams later removing Fracture and Lotus, the decider was set to be played on Split.
On Bind, Vitality made an early statement, launching a 6-2 run that established a commanding lead.
Their disciplined defence, even without a Sentinel, helped them secure an 8-4 advantage by halftime after switching sides.
Despite DRX’s rookie Song “HYUNMIN” Hyun-min posting an impressive performance, Vitality’s momentum carried them through with a crucial 5-1 run in the latter stages of the half, allowing them to close out the map 13-8.
Abyss proved to be DRX’s moment to shine.
With a renewed strategy that included debuting HYUNMIN’s Yoru and a deliberate shift by in-game leader Kim “MaKo” Myeong-kwan from Astra to Omen to better support his duelists, DRX battled back fiercely.
The rounds traded back and forth, eventually tying the score at 6-6 after Vitality’s attacking half.
In a climactic final round, MaKo orchestrated a brilliant play that pushed DRX over the line to claim a 13-11 win and even the series.
The decider on Split was a test of nerves and adaptability, as both teams had limited experience on the map in 2025.
DRX’s rookie No “freeing” Ha-jun sparked an aggressive start on the attacking side, but the experienced Vitality veterans gradually regained control.
After a first half that ended in a 6-6 tie, Vitality’s excellent team play allowed them to secure four consecutive rounds in their attack half.
Although a brief lapse saw them lose three rounds in a row, they recovered to clinch the map 13-11 and take the series.
Star performer Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev led Vitality with 78 kills—including 19 first bloods—and an impressive 315 ACS, underscoring his dominance throughout the match.
The second promotion series of the day saw EDward Gaming (EDG) edge out G2 Esports in a pulsating 2-1 series that rekindled memories of their previous encounter at VALORANT Champions 2024.
Never count out the World Champs.@EDG_Edward are into playoffs at #VALORANTMasters Bangkok! pic.twitter.com/jb7ZEJyRnS
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) February 22, 2025
G2 began by banning Haven to avoid a map where EDG had previously recorded back-to-back 13-0 wins, while EDG removed Abyss following G2’s strong performance against Trace Esports.
With these choices, G2 picked Pearl and EDG opted for Bind, leaving Fracture as the decider.
The opening map of Pearl was a nail-biter.
G2 relied on their trusted Chamber comp featuring Nathan “leaf” Orf, while EDG deployed an innovative Yoru-Tejo strategy.
EDG’s Zhang “Smoggy” Zhao delivered an early clutch, shutting down a G2 retake attempt and helping his team jump to a 5-2 lead.
Despite a heroic 1v4 clutch from EDG’s Wan “CHICHOO” Shunzhi and a seesaw battle that saw the score tied at 6-6, EDG’s persistence forced the match into overtime.
In the extra period, G2 claimed the first match point, and their defence—bolstered by timely plays from Alexander “jawgemo” Mor—ultimately allowed G2 to close out the map 18-16 in a razor-thin finish.
On Bind, EDG returned to form.
With a lineup built around Tejo, KAY/O, and Vyse, they quickly established a 5-1 advantage following a crucial pistol win.
While G2’s jawgemo produced a standout three-kill round that sparked a brief comeback, EDG’s effective post-plant utility stifled any momentum from their opponents.
The half ended 8-4 in favour of EDG, and they went on to win Bind 13-8.
The series shifted dramatically on Fracture, where EDG dominated from the outset.
Their defence completely shut down G2’s advances, carving out an early 11-1 lead in the first half.
Although G2 managed a minor rally on a force buy, EDG’s aggressive site control and coordinated pushes left little chance for a comeback.
EDG wrapped up the map—and the series—with a decisive 13-4 victory.
With these wins, Team Vitality and EDward Gaming have punched their tickets to the playoffs, setting the stage for an electrifying postseason at Masters Bangkok.
Meanwhile, DRX and G2 now face high-pressure scenarios as they fight to keep their championship hopes alive in the Swiss Stage.
Sundays VCT Masters Bangkok fixtures
- T1 ($1.50) vs Trace Esports ($2.50) @ 5pm ICT
- Team Liquid ($1.83) vs Sentinels ($1.83) @ 8pm ICT
