LOUD punches VCT LOCK//IN grand finals ticket after defeating DRX
Home crowd team LOUD punched their ticket to the Valorant Champions Tour LOCK//IN grand finals after they defeated DRX 3-2 in their best-of-5 series.
THE HOMETOWN TEAM GETS IT DONE 👊@LOUDgg moves on to the Grand Finals! #VCTLOCKIN #LOUDWIN pic.twitter.com/dNSnKlOu3U
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) March 2, 2023
LOUD started their campaign with a swift two-game lead, demolishing DRX in Pearl (13-5) and Icebox (13-8) for games 1 and 2, respectively.
In Game 1, LOUD immediately established their dominance as they reigned the first half 9-3, doing so with a seven-round win streak prior to halftime. They then continued said win streak with three more rounds at the start of the second half, clinching the match point by Round 15. Unfortunately, the agents in green stumbled for two rounds but eventually closed the game out in Round 18 via a wipeout on DRX.
Meanwhile, the second game on Icebox also had a similar first half to Game 1, ending in a 9-3 scoreline but with an eight-round win streak by LOUD to start it off. However, the second half looked like it dangerously belonged to DRX as the South Korean team took five consecutive rounds away from LOUD starting at the bonus round. Fortunately, LOUD shrugged it off and took Rounds 20 and 21 to win the game.
Despite their strong start, LOUD lost to DRX in the next two games, with games 3 and 4 both ending 13-7. Game 3 in Split saw LOUD falter against a vengeful DRX, getting 9-3’ed themselves in the first half. With the tables turned, DRX capitalized on the shaken LOUD squad and took Fracture with a second-half beatdown that saw the Brazilians win only a single round as defenders.
With the series on the line, it was LOUD who ascended to the grand finals as they capped the series with a win on Ascent 13-8.
As the first VCT LOCK//IN grand finalist, LOUD will go against the winner of Natus Vincere and Fnatic’s semifinal matchup. Whoever wins at São Paulo, Brazil will not only win USD $100,000 but will also grant their region an extra slot at Masters 2023.
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