by in
The highly anticipated VALORANT Masters Bangkok 2025 kicked off with a bang as EDward Gaming (EDG) and DRX asserted their dominance in the opening matches of the Swiss Stage.
The reigning world champions, EDG, took down Team Liquid 2-0 in a thrilling battle, while DRX steamrolled Sentinels with an equally impressive sweep.
Team Liquid and EDward Gaming met on the international stage for the first time in over a year, with Liquid holding a historical edge.
However, the reigning world champions proved to be a different beast, showcasing their consistency and resilience in a gruelling two-map series.
The Champions winners start off with a win at #VALORANTMasters Bangkok! pic.twitter.com/wh5rokJFO6
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) February 20, 2025
On Split, Liquid started strong, taking an early lead on their defensive half.
Despite a closely contested half that ended 6-6, Liquid struggled to convert key moments.
The highlight of the match came in overtime when Zhang “Smoggy” Zhao pulled off a stunning 1v3 defuse, sneaking the spike defusal under Liquid’s noses to bring EDG to match point.
The teams battled through five overtimes before EDG finally secured the 18-16 win off a well-executed B-site hit and a strong mid-hold.
Wan “CHICHOO” Shunzhi led the charge with 36 kills, 287 average combat score (ACS), and a 1.41 rating, narrowly edging out Liquid’s Kamil “kamo” Frąckowiak, who posted 34 kills on Yoru.
On the second map of Pearl, Liquid looked shaken after the extended Split loss, though they started well with a 3-1 lead.
But once EDG gained momentum, they never let go.
Zheng “ZmjjKK” Yongkang’s heroics in the fifth round and a game-changing 4K from Smoggy in the ninth sealed Liquid’s fate.
EDG dominated the second half, winning nine out of ten rounds to close the map 13-6.
CHICHOO once again delivered, leading in ACS, kills, and KAST, solidifying himself as the standout performer of the series.
With this win, EDG sit just one victory away from the playoffs, while Liquid will have to battle through the losers bracket to stay in contention.
.@DRX_VALORANT start strong with a 2-0 over Sentinels at #VALORANTMasters Bangkok. pic.twitter.com/TkXYMVtZRE
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) February 20, 2025
In the second match of the day, Pacific powerhouse DRX made quick work of Sentinels, securing a 2-0 sweep with commanding performances on Lotus and Haven.
DRX entered the series with a game plan centred around Tejo and Yoru, a composition that Sentinels struggled to counter.
The Korean squad overwhelmed Sentinels early, racing to a 9-3 lead in the first half behind No “freeing” Ha-jun’s masterclass on Tejo.
Any hopes of a Sentinels comeback were crushed when free1ng delivered an ace in the second-half pistol round.
DRX closed out the map with a flawless defensive side, securing the win in dominant fashion.
Free1ng finished with an eye-watering 1.90 rating and 310 ACS.
Sentinels put up more of a fight on Haven, securing a 7-5 lead at halftime.
However, DRX’s attacking side proved too strong.
Free1ng continued his stellar form, securing crucial multi-kills, while Cho “Flashback” Min-hyuk emerged as the star on Cypher with 26 kills and a 281 ACS.
Despite a late push from Sentinels, DRX closed out the map 13-10, thanks to a perfectly executed post-plant defence in the final round.
With opening-day victories, EDward Gaming and DRX now sit one win away from securing playoff spots, while Liquid and Sentinels must fight through the elimination bracket.
VALORANT Masters Bangkok will continue on Friday, February 21, when Team Vitality take on T1, followed by a clash between G2 Esports and Trace Esports.
