In another qualifying match for the playoffs of VCT Champions Paris 2025, NRG would meet DRX in a rematch that has been two years in the making.
The last time these two faced was in VCT Masters Tokyo 2023 in the losers' round one bracket, where DRX lost 2-0 to NRG.
Back then, the two teams looked entirely different, with DRX’s MaKo and NRG’s s0m being the only two left from that matchup in Tokyo.
Now, instead of both teams in the playoffs, they face each other for a playoff spot.
The first map pick went to DRX.
They would choose Haven, where they would have a 7-4 record with a win rate of 64 per cent, which gave them a slight advantage over NRG, who had a record of 6-4 and a win rate of 60 per cent in Haven.
To start the match, NRG would be on the defence while DRX started on the offence.
DRX would go on a good run to start, going on a 4-3 round run.
NRG looked to tie up that match, but couldn't, leading to DRX taking another four rounds, making it 8-3.
NRG would take the final round at the half, only making it 8-4 at halftime.
DRX’s HYUNMIN led at the half with 12 kills, 9 deaths and 3 assists.
NRG would switch sides and be on the attack, while DRX entered the defensive side.
The defensive side would quickly be DRX’s strongest side, as they wouldn’t allow NRG to gather a single round win.
DRX would go on a 5-round win streak to close the match 13-4, and HYUNMIN would take map MVP with a total of 18 kills, 12 deaths and 4 assists.
NRG would have to collect themselves after a blowout loss in this series, especially since they’re so close to heading into the playoffs.
They would feel better, though, heading into map two of this series, as they got to choose.
NRG chose the map Corrode as the second map of the series.
NRG are undefeated on Corrode with a 5-0 record, which was trouble for DRX as they would have a 1-2 record with a win rate of 33 per cent on the map.
This gave NRG the confidence they needed as they started on the defensive side, but since DRX started on the attacking side, they wouldn’t let the numbers discourage them.
DRX would start hot with a 5-round win streak, taking control of the map and swiftly eliminating NRG.
NRG would get some rounds in, sporadically throughout the first half, but DRX would end the half with the lead at 7-5, with Flashback leading DRX with 13 kills, 9 deaths and an assist.
Both teams would switch sides going into the second half, and this is where NRG was able to change the tide of this match in their favour.
NRG would start to make a comeback, but it would be a back-and-forth affair with both teams trading rounds left and right.
DRX would still have the lead in the middle of the second half at 11-8.
Afterwards, NRG would make an extraordinary comeback by winning the next 5 rounds, tying the match, then taking the lead and the map at 11-13
NRG’s mada earned map MVP with 22 kills, 17 deaths and 4 assists.
NRG would tie the series 1-1 and would bring this series to a third map.
The decider map would be Lotus.
NRG would play on Lotus a total of 13 times with a record of 8-5 and a win rate of 62 percent, as for DRX, they had played Lotus a total of 17 times with a record of 9-8, with a win rate of 53 per cent.
DRX would again go on a win streak of 7 rounds while on the attack, before NRG would finally get their defence together with a 4-1 run to end the first half.
It would be an 8-4 lead at the half for DRX, with HYUNMIN leading at the half with 15 kills, 8 deaths and an assist.
They would switch sides in the second half, and NRG would show how strong they are on the offensive side.
NRG would go on a 9-3 run in the second half to take the lead and the match with a score of 13-11.
NRG’s Brawk would take map MVP with 28 kills, 15 deaths and 4 assists.
He would also take match MVP with a total of 47 kills, 42 deaths and 18 assists.
NRG takes that playoff spot they fought so hard to get, while DRX falls in the group stage and into the elimination stage, where they await the winner of Team Liquid vs EDward Gaming.