DRX DRX Korea Rank #5 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) have made changes to their active roster by promoting Cho "Flashback" Min-hyuk (조민혁) to the main roster while simultaneously moving Goo "Rb" Sang-min (구상민) and Kim "Zest" Ki-seok (김기석) to reserve positions as restricted free agents.
The last time DRX made changes to their starting players was over a year ago, when the organization signed Jung "Foxy9" Jae-sung (정재성) to create a six-man roster. Their most recent restructuring now sees Rb and Zest on the bench for the first time in their competitive Valorant careers.
Over the course of three years, Rb and Zest dominated the regional competition. 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) were known for their massive win streak and were considered APAC's most-feared roster by many. The core struggled internationally, however, and seemed unable to break into high placements on the world stage.
Despite turning things around in 2022 with a third-place finish at Champions, the rebranded DRX were unable to best their previous results. A top-four finish at LOCK//IN was the highlight of the South Korean organization's year, as the troupe departed the playoffs of Masters: Tokyo and 2023's Champions fairly early.
DRX's best international performance was just over a year ago. (Photo: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
Rb and Zest participated in a single OFF//SEASON event after their bout at Champions, the AfreecaTV Valorant League. However, the pair were only able to snag one win against FULL SENSE FULL SENSE Asia-Pacific Rank #5 JohnOlsen Chanawin Nakchain Leviathan Thanyathon Nakmee aLerT Wattanachok Yingnakorn Potter Sutthichai Promsrikaew Sushiboys Panyawat Subsiriroj alongside their team before being eliminated by Sentinels Sentinels North America Rank #4 N4RRATE Marshall Massey bang Sean Bezerra Zellsis Jordan Montemurro zekken Zachary Patrone johnqt Mohamed Amine Ouarid and Paper Rex Paper Rex Asia-Pacific Rank #3 mindfreak Aaron Leonhart Jinggg Wang Jing Jie f0rsakeN Jason Susanto d4v41 Khalish Rusyaidee something Ilya Petrov to end their time as starters.
Flashback showed promise in his career and was signed to DRX Prospects DRX Prospects Korea Unranked despite not playing in any recorded matches under the team. His aide was enlisted by the main roster back in October, where helped his team finish second at the TEN Global Invitational. He would make a reappearance on the Red Bull Home Ground #4 stage, where DRX finished among the top four after falling to eventual-victors FNATIC FNATIC Europe Rank #3 Sayonara Ștefan Mîtcu stand-in Boaster Jake Howlett kaajak Kajetan Haremski Chronicle Timofey Khromov Alfajer Emir Ali Beder .
No longer a six-man roster, DRX still retain a powerful core in Kim "stax" Gu-taek (김구택), Yu "BuZz" Byung-chul (유병철), and Kim "MaKo" Myeong-gwan (김명관) who have all held their own against the best of the best. As the 2024 VCT prepares to kick off, Flashback and the rest of DRX will have plenty of opportunities to re-establish their dominance against formidable foes.
DRX DRX Korea Rank #5 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) is now: