Images: Riot Games
DRX and Fnatic bow out of Champions in 5th-6th place.
Tensions reached a boiling point at the VALORANT Champions 2024 lower bracket quarterfinals on Sunday, 18 August, as four elite teams clashed in high-stakes matchups to keep their championship dreams alive.Â
After a day of fierce competition, Sentinels and Team Heretics emerged victorious, each securing a crucial 2-1 series win against their opponents Fnatic and DRX, respectively.
DRX and Fnatic previously dropped to the lower bracket after Fnatic’s defeat by Team Heretics in the upper bracket quarterfinals.Â
In the first round of the lower bracket, both DRX and Fnatic dominated their matches—DRX swept Trace Esports, while Fnatic overpowered G2 Esports—securing their spots in the lower bracket quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Sentinels found themselves in the lower bracket after a narrow 2-1 loss to EDWard Gaming, and Team Heretics were sent down after being swept 2-0 by Leviatán.
Here’s how the matches at the lower bracket semifinals went:
Sentinels Outlast Fnatic 2-1
The first match took place on Sunset, where Fnatic started strong on defence, ending the first half with an 8-4 lead. However, Sentinels mounted a fierce comeback after switching sides, ending with a dominant 9-3 in the second half, securing the map 13-11.
The battle continued on Bind, where Sentinels held a narrow 7-5 lead at halftime while on Defence. But Fnatic stormed back in the second half, flipping the script with an 8-2 run, to win the second map 13-9, and forcing a decisive third match.
On Lotus, Sentinels took an early lead with an 8-4 advantage on defence. They continued their strong performance in the second half, finishing with a commanding 5-2 round, ultimately winning the map 13-6 and securing the series 2-1.
Team Heretics overcome DRX in a 2-1 nailbiter
In another thrilling matchup, Team Heretics and DRX fought tooth and nail to stay in the tournament. The action began on Abyss, where DRX took the lead, finishing the first half up 7-5 while on defence. They continued their dominance on offence, winning the map 13-5 after shutting out Heretics in the second half.
However, Team Heretics bounced back on Sunset gaining a small 7-6 lead at halftime while on offence. They then gave no room for their South Korean opponents to breathe, finishing the second half on the defensive with a flawless 6-0 to win the map 13-15 and force a third match.
The final showdown on Icebox saw DRX leading 7-5 after a solid defensive first half. But Team Heretics turned the tables in the second half, winning 8-3 on defence, to win the third map, and the series 13-10.
With these wins, Sentinels and Team Heretics advance to the lower bracket semi-finals, where they will face each other on Friday, 23 August, for a chance to reach the lower bracket finals.
 Meanwhile, Fnatic and DRX bow out of the competition in 5th-6th place, each taking home US $85,000.
