Image: Riot Games
Meanwhile, Trace Esports and G2 bow out of the competition in 7th-8th place.
The tension was palpable in day three of the VALORANT Champions 2024 Playoffs in Seoul, as teams fought tooth and nail to keep their tournament hopes alive in the lower bracket round 1 on Friday, 16 August. In the first round of Playoff eliminations of the tournament, it was hometown team DRX and EMEA's Fnatic who emerged victorious and knocked out Trace Esports and G2 Esports, respectively, in commanding 2-0 sweeps.
Both DRX and Trace Esports found themselves in the lower bracket of the playoffs after suffering sweeps at the hands of Sentinels and EDward Gaming 2-0, respectively.
Similarly, G2 and Fnatic were also relegated to the lower bracket quarterfinals after being swept 2-0 by Leviatán and Team Heretics. With their tournament lives on the line, DRX and Fnatic needed to deliver, and they did just that. Here’s how the matches went down:
DRX 2-0 Trace Esports
DRX made their intentions clear from the start, delivering a crushing performance against Trace Esports. The first map, Lotus, saw DRX take control with a dominant 10-2 lead at the half. Their offensive prowess was on full display as they stormed through Trace Esports’ defenses, leaving no room for a comeback. The second half continued in the same vein, with DRX securing a 13-3 victory to take the first map.
Moving to Abyss, DRX continued their relentless assault. Their offense outclassed Trace Esports, building a 9-3 lead by halftime. Despite some resistance from Trace Esports in the second half, DRX’s defense held firm, closing out the map 13-5. With this win, DRX advances to the lower bracket quarterfinals, where they will await their next challenge.
Fnatic 2-0 G2 Esports
Fnatic faced off against G2 Esports in a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The first map, Haven, saw Fnatic take an early lead with a 9-3 score at halftime. G2 struggled to find their footing, and Fnatic capitalised on every opportunity, finishing the map with a decisive 13-3 win.
The second map, Bind, proved to be a much closer affair. Fnatic initially pulled ahead with an 8-4 lead, but G2 mounted a strong comeback in the second half, tying the score at 8-8. The match became a back-and-forth battle, with both teams vying for control. However, a timely timeout allowed Fnatic to regroup, and they managed to secure two crucial rounds, eventually reaching match point. In a dramatic final round, Fnatic held their nerve to clinch a 13-11 victory, sealing their spot in the lower bracket quarterfinals.
With their victories, DRX and Fnatic move on to the lower bracket quarterfinals, where they will face the losing teams from the upper bracket semifinals.
Meanwhile, the journey ends for Trace Esports, who bow out of the tournament in 7th-8th place, taking home $50,000 in consolation.
