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In one of the biggest surprises of the VALORANT Champions 2025 playoffs, DRX have eliminated three-time VCT Americas champions G2 Esports in a tense 2-1 series. The Pacific side secured yet another top-six finish at Champions, while G2 once again saw their international title hopes cut short.

Despite both teams being staples of the global VALORANT scene for years, this was their first-ever meeting on the Champions stage. The clash wasn’t just about raw firepower, but also a battle of philosophies. DRX leaned on their aggressive double-duelist approach, with HYUNMIN on Waylay and Flashback on Yoru. G2, meanwhile, doubled down on Tejo, with trent playing the agent on every map despite recent nerfs.

A strong start for G2

The series kicked off on Lotus, and it was all G2. jawgemo put on a show with 28 kills, powering his team to a convincing 13-7 win. HYUNMIN struggled to find impact, and DRX looked outpaced by G2’s early confidence.

HYUNMIN responds on Abyss

DRX struck back on their map pick of Abyss. HYUNMIN found his rhythm, leading the charge as DRX jumped to an 8-1 lead on attack. But G2 weren’t going down quietly. Their Tejo-based utility control shut down DRX’s defuses, helping them string together nine straight rounds to flip the map.

Just when it seemed like G2 would snatch the series 2-0, DRX steadied themselves. A crucial round broke G2’s streak, and DRX stormed ahead with five rounds in a row to close it out 13-10. HYUNMIN finished with 30 kills, proving instrumental in levelling the series.

DRX close it out on Bind

With everything on the line, Bind became the decider. DRX’s defence was ironclad, led by Flashback’s deadly Operator and MaKo’s smart calling. By halftime, the Pacific squad were up 10-2. Having learned from their earlier collapse against FNATIC, they refused to let history repeat itself. DRX closed the map 13-7, sealing the series and knocking G2 out of the tournament.

G2’s struggles continue

For G2, the result is another bitter pill. After dominating domestically and finishing second at Masters Bangkok and top four at Masters Toronto, expectations were sky-high. Instead, they exit Champions in 7th-8th place for the second year running, continuing their drought on the international stage. Their 2025 season is officially over, and they’ll now look toward 2026 for another shot at lifting a global trophy.

What’s next for DRX?

For DRX, this victory locks in a fourth consecutive top-six finish at Champions. The perennial fifth-sixth team will now prepare to face the loser of MIBR vs NRG in their next lower bracket match.

Reflecting on the win, MaKo kept his focus grounded. “I’m not actually thinking that far up ahead… I will tackle all the things that come in my way one by one,” he said at the post-match press conference.

As the VALORANT Champions 2025 playoffs continue in Paris, DRX’s fans will be hoping this is finally the year they break through the ceiling and push past their reputation as consistent—but never title-winning—contenders.