LOUD beat DRX to advance to VCT LOCK IN Grand Finale

The final stretch of VCT 2023 - LOCK//IN is here as the semi finals have arrived. After a gruelling single-elimination best-of-three bracket, only four teams remain in the semi finals of the event. While we are still keeping the single-elimination rule, it's only best-of-five matches from here on out.

The first day of VCT LOCK IN semi finals in Sao Paulo Brazil featured:

• LOUD vs. DRX VS

Remember to check out our VCT Hub for all information about the VCT 2023!

LOUD gets the upper hand with a 2-0

It was the home team that got to a red-hot start in the first semi final of the Sao Paulo event in Brazil. LOUD absolutely outclassed their Korean opponents with a 13-5 victory on Pearl, their own map pick. Their Defense side was impeccable as Erick "aspas" Santos ran rampant on Jett, amounting to a comfortable 9-3 half in their favor. That momentum carried over to the second half as LOUD took the first three rounds of the half, leading do match point. A stoic effort from Myeongkwan "MaKo" Kim on Viper on DRX' Defense side brought them only two rounds before LOUD confidently took Pearl 13-5.

It was then time for DRX' map pick, Icebox. There, we saw a much better-looking DRX, yet LOUD gave it everything they had to snatch it from them in the end. The Brazilian team started their conquest by bagging 8 rounds straight on their Attack side with aspas once more just being a menace. Felipe "Less" de Loyola Basso on Viper was another piece of the puzzle that allowed LOUD to get ahead once more with a 9-3 half on Icebox.

The trend continued as Brazilian fans were getting louder. LOUD took the pistol and the anti-eco to bring them to eleven. DRX finally found their footing on attack just then. Yu "BuZz" Byung-chul was instrumental in the dream chase on Jett and yet, five rounds straight is all that DRX would manage. LOUD picked up the final two rounds to seal the deal on Icebox at 13-8.

DRX begin the chase

Split was a massive turning point for the Korean side. After two maps, it was DRX that started off on the right foot. A 9-3 half for DRX saw MaKo joined by the team's in-game leader Kim "stax" Gu-taek in the conquest to keep the dream alive as both combined for 27 kills in the half. And still, LOUD put up a solid fight on their map pick in the second half. The resistance on Defense was eventually squandered as the two sides traded rounds, eventually leading to a 13-7 triumph by DRX. BuZz came alive on Raze by getting 275 ACS. The Korean side were warming up.

It was inevitable that we'd get a 5-map thriller between LOUD and DRX at this point. DRX showed that Fracture is their map with another 13-7 victory with MaKo going absolute ham on Brimstone with 329 ACS.

The first half saw a very back-and-forth 6-6 scoreline emerge. LOUD was holding on as Saadhak finally showed up on Raze on attack. Despite that, DRX were almost flawless on Attack. Cauan "cauanzin" Pereira showed phenomenal Breach, but his solo efforts were simply not enough to carry the team. DRX squared the series 2-2 after a 13-7 triumph on Fracture.

LOUD deny the reverse sweep

A reverse sweep in a bo5 has never been accomplished on an international VALORANT stage. The Korean superteam came close, but not close enough. LOUD's youngster, cauanzin, kept his cool throughout, attaining a Rating of 1.50 and 268 ACS. The final map summed up the bo5 encounter well. A rather tight first half at 7-5 for LOUD guaranteed the Brazilian side nothing. DRX fought on both ides with MaKo leading the charge on Omen with a Rating of 1.45. And yet, after high-octane action throughout the whole series, it was LOUD that stays alive on home soil. DRX are eliminated from VCT LOCK IN Sao Paulo after a five-map thriller.