The kings of Korea are on their way to yet another international event.
Despite a disappointing end to their run at Masters: Reykjavik, it came as no surprise to most that DRX DRX Korea Rank #4 Flashback Cho Min-hyuk (조민혁) MaKo Kim Myeong-gwan (김명관) Athan Na Ha-jun (나하준) freeing No Ha-jun (노하준) HYUNMIN Song Hyun-min (송현민) are South Korea's representatives heading into Masters: Copenhagen following their flawless run through KR Stage 2: Challengers, a run in which they didn't even drop a map.
Although their performance on the international stage hasn't netted podium finishes for the superstar team, since their transition over from Vision Strikers Vision Strikers Inactive stax Kim Gu-taek (김구택) Rb Goo Sang-min (구상민) Zest Kim Ki-seok (김기석) BuZz Yu Byung-chul (유병철) MaKo Kim Myeong-gwan (김명관) , DRX have lost a total of three official matches recorded on VLR, two of them taking place outside of Korea's VCT circuit against OpTic Gaming OpTic Gaming Inactive and ZETA DIVISION ZETA DIVISION Japan Rank #2 Dep Yuma Hashimoto SugarZ3ro Shota Watanabe CLZ Hikaru Mizutani SyouTa Shota Aoki Xdll Yuto Mizomori . The only defeat they suffered on Korean soil was against Incheon On Sla2ers Incheon On Sla2ers Korea Rank #29 VaNish XirZz , whom they defeated in both rematches during KR Stage 1: Challengers.
The core of DRX have triumphed over plenty of foes both in and outside of Korea. (Photo: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
After cleaning house in KR Stage 1: Challengers, DRX traveled to Iceland for the group stage of Masters, finding themselves in Group A with Ninjas In Pyjamas Ninjas In Pyjamas Inactive , ZETA DIVISION, and FNATIC FNATIC Europe Rank #3 Sayonara Ștefan Mîtcu stand-in Boaster Jake Howlett kaajak Kajetan Haremski Chronicle Timofey Khromov Alfajer Emir Ali Beder , a team that had taken them down in their last group at Champions. Eager to defeat any opponent in order to qualify for playoffs, DRX stomped ZETA in their opening match, only dropping a total of five out of 31 rounds over two maps.
Now on a roll and one series away from making playoffs, the Korean powerhouse plowed through NIP in two quick maps, advancing out of groups without dropping a map.
Following his return to the active roster, Zest contributed to his team's victories at Iceland. (Photo: Lance Skundrich/Riot Games)
As they inched closer to the trophy, the competition heated up for DRX when they lost their first map in the event to Paper Rex Paper Rex Asia-Pacific Rank #1 mindfreak Aaron Leonhart Jinggg Wang Jing Jie f0rsakeN Jason Susanto d4v41 Khalish Rusyaidee something Ilya Petrov , but managed to bring it back on the next two, knocking down APAC's first seed and advancing to the upper semifinals to face OpTic. Unfortunately for them, the Korean titans fell to the green wall in a thrilling three-map series, two overtime rounds away from securing a match in the upper final.
Now facing elimination, DRX were reunited with ZETA in the lower bracket as the two fought for their tournament lives. Despite sweeping Japan's representatives in their previous encounter, this time around, DRX were unable to put up the same results, falling to ZETA in yet another series that fielded three maps, leaving them just outside of the top four at Reykjavik.
Despite a saddening finish, DRX's Iceland run netted them their best international finish yet. (Photo: Lance Skundrich/Riot Games)
After returning home to South Korea, DRX reminded fans everywhere why they initially rose to fame as they swept the competition in KR Stage 2: Challengers. The squad emerged from the group stage with a perfect 7-0 record and continued to knock down their adversaries in the playoffs, taking down World Game Star World Game Star Korea Rank #25 Wenty Yang Geon-mo (양건모) YUNSEUNG , DAMWON Gaming DAMWON Gaming Inactive Lakia Kim Jong-min (김종민) allow Park Sang-wook (박상욱) exy Park Geun-cheol (박근철) Estrella Park Gun (박건) Esperanza Jeong Jin-cheol (정진철) , and Maru Gaming Maru Gaming Korea Rank #18 ANNYEON An Seo-jin (안서진) Dipa Yoon Ha-jun (윤하준) Xenus Lee Kyung-ho (이경호) mir Hwang Mir (황미르) GANGAZI Choi Min-yong (최민용) without dropping a map.
DRX are in top form for their next international match. (Photo: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
Now bound for Denmark, DRX will attempt to traverse Group B as they are joined by the likes of EMEA and APAC second seeds FunPlus Phoenix FunPlus Phoenix Inactive SUYGETSU Dmitry Ilyushin Zyppan Pontus Eek ANGE1 Kyrylo Karasov Shao Andrey Kiprsky ardiis Ardis Svarenieks and XERXIA Esports XERXIA Esports Asia-Pacific Rank #28 b3ta Puwadon Jaisuekul Siraww Siraphop Honghirun bnwgiggs as well as Japanese representatives NORTHEPTION NORTHEPTION Japan Rank #18 .
Itching to outperform their showing at Reykjavik, DRX head into Copenhagen with immense pressure on their shoulders, but an insatiable hunger for their first international trophy.