DRX prevail over 100 Thieves to book playoff spot, XSET and FPX will meet in next round

VCT 2022 - Champions Istanbul is well underway, with teams across the globe aiming to clinch their tentative playoff spot. The fourth day of the group stage has concluded with the Korean representative, DRX, dismantling 100 Thieves to advance to the upper bracket quarterfinals. XSET and FunPlus Phoenix, on the other hand, came out victorious against their respective opponents to face each other in the winners' match. Here is the recap of the day for those who had no time to catch all the action.

XSET vs XERXIA

In the opening series of the fourth day, XSET went up against the Asia-Pacific representative, XERXIA Esports, with the hopes of advancing to the winners' match. Given their recent performances in the qualifiers, XSET was expected to be the favorite in today's matchup. Nonetheless, XERXIA demonstrated that they wouldn't walk off the stage without wreaking havoc. On Fracture, where XSET could display their full capabilities in terms of the macro game, the action-packed series got underway. Having dropped five rounds in the first half, XSET wasted no time in closing out the map on the attack.

Afterward, the series went to Icebox, where XERXIA prefer to unwind after a difficult match. However, Zachary "zekken" Patrone was in the spotlight to nullify XERXIA's efforts to balance the series, leading his team on the attack when the NA lineup needed a playmaker to put an end to the series. Although XERXIA managed to go head-to-head till the end of the match, they were unable to stand against Zachary "zekken" Patrone on skirmishes.

VCT 2022 - Champions Istanbul

XSET

2

X

0

XERXIA

Group C - Opening Match, Best of 3 - September 3, 2022 - 12:00PM

13

Fracture

11

13

Icebox

10

XSET

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

zekken

1.66

341

56/36/9

+20

1.56

81.0%

217.7

23%

72%

13

5

Cryocells

1.23

254

42/32/7

+10

1.31

76.4%

159.3

28%

85%

11

2

BcJ

0.96

194

31/31/13

0

1.00

72.4%

127.2

20%

33%

2

4

AYRIN

0.91

171

29/34/14

-5

0.85

76.5%

122.6

29%

60%

3

2

dephh

0.71

125

21/33/18

-12

0.64

76.5%

82.1

23%

40%

2

3

XERXIA

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

Crws

1.28

255

43/36/13

+7

1.19

72.4%

166.5

32%

33%

3

6

Foxz

1.04

215

38/38/6

0

1.00

63.7%

132.2

22%

53%

8

7

sScary

0.89

195

31/32/13

-1

0.97

80.7%

135.7

17%

0%

0

4

Surf

0.84

198

32/36/6

-4

0.89

59.7%

136.1

27%

31%

4

9

sushiboys

0.67

144

22/37/15

-15

0.59

65.8%

96.0

19%

17%

1

5

FunPlus Phoenix vs KRÜ Esports

FunPlus Phoenix, one of our staff's favorite teams for the title, took on KRÜ Esports after XSET intimidated their foes with a commanding win over XERXIA to establish themselves as the group leader. However, the European lineup had something to say about their plan as they bounced back from the brink of loss against KRÜ Esports. Nobody could have predicted that the LATAM representative would perform well against FunPlus Phoenix on Icebox, their home venue.

KRÜ Esports squeezed their rivals in the first match led by Juan Pablo "NagZet" Lopez, pulling off nine rounds in the first half. However, FPX once more demonstrated their resilience under pressure, turning the tide in their favor from the second half with the help of their authoritative team play. Four consecutive round wins at the beginning of the second half paved the way for an FPX comeback on Icebox, 14-12.

Despite the fact that FunPlus Phoenix should have performed better in the opening game of the series, they were able to rebound. This time, KRÜ Esports required a miracle to take the series to the third game. In order to collect as many rounds as possible in the first half, KRÜ Esports had to try risk moves that could result in FPX taking the lead on their map pick, Bind. That was exactly what happened when FPX outperformed their opponents on skirmishes. Pontus "Zyppan" Eek and Andrey "Shao" Kiprsky put in a great showing in the second half, completing the match with an outstanding KDA score of +11 and +12, respectively. FunPlus Phoenix has now set their sights on the winners' match, where they will square up against XERXIA to start their playoff run from the upper bracket semifinals.

VCT 2022 - Champions Istanbul

FunPlus Phoenix

2

X

0

KRÜ Esports

Group C - Opening Match, Best of 3 - September 3, 2022 - 3:00PM

14

Icebox

12

13

Bind

10

FunPlus Phoenix

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

Shao

1.39

243

42/26/26

+16

1.62

88.0%

169.9

34%

50%

3

3

Zyppan

1.38

302

50/37/7

+13

1.35

83.9%

202.2

27%

62%

13

8

SUYGETSU

1.02

195

34/30/15

+4

1.13

75.4%

140.6

32%

75%

3

1

ardiis

1.01

186

31/29/21

+2

1.07

77.1%

121.2

20%

71%

5

2

ANGE1

0.82

178

30/37/11

-7

0.81

67.2%

115.0

31%

27%

3

8

KRÜ Esports

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

Mazino

1.12

231

36/35/23

+1

1.03

71.1%

156.4

31%

20%

1

4

NagZet

1.10

214

39/34/10

+5

1.15

73.5%

142.9

30%

60%

9

6

Keznit

0.92

200

32/42/16

-10

0.76

69.2%

131.0

28%

45%

9

11

Klaus

0.80

171

29/38/11

-9

0.76

61.0%

118.0

23%

33%

2

4

delz1k

0.69

146

23/38/17

-15

0.61

68.9%

103.6

27%

25%

1

3

DRX vs 100 Thieves

Since both teams entered the series in decent form, the day would be capped off with a jaw-dropping series between them. Having secured seven rounds in the first half on Breeze, DRX was in the driver's seat heading into the finish line. However, 100 Thieves took them to overtime, where DRX suffocated the map away from the NA representative led by their superstar, Myeongkwan "MaKo" Kim.

DRX made an excellent start to the second match by collecting seven rounds in a row, establishing a huge lead on the attack. Even though 100 Thieves made a valiant effort to rejoin the contest, DRX was able to dash all of their hopes. With their convincing victory over 100 Thieves, DRX became the third team to have qualified for the playoff, where they will continue their run from the upper bracket quarterfinals. 100 Thieves, on the flip side, will have to win their decider match, where they will battle against the winner of the FURIA vs Fnatic series.

VCT 2022 - Champions Istanbul

DRX

2

X

0

100 Thieves

Group D - Winners Match, Best of 3 - September 3, 2022 - 5:45PM

18

Breeze

16

13

Fracture

9

DRX

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

Rb

1.18

243

47/38/11

+9

1.24

76.2%

154.2

27%

56%

10

8

MaKo

1.18

211

41/36/31

+5

1.14

85.2%

149.6

29%

33%

1

2

BuZz

1.10

242

45/42/12

+3

1.07

73.9%

159.8

23%

55%

12

10

stax

1.01

194

40/35/14

+5

1.14

77.7%

131.0

35%

67%

4

2

Zest

0.93

172

33/37/15

-4

0.89

67.9%

108.5

22%

71%

5

2

100 Thieves

player

Rating

ACS

K/D/A

+/-

K/D

KAST

ADR

HS%

FBSR

FB

FD

bang

1.11

222

45/39/22

+6

1.15

76.2%

154.3

33%

38%

3

5

Will

1.04

222

45/41/9

+4

1.10

68.6%

144.5

27%

44%

8

10

Asuna

0.88

187

32/44/20

-12

0.73

67.8%

110.3

23%

29%

4

10

stellar

0.87

176

34/42/19

-8

0.81

70.1%

123.5

35%

45%

5

6

Derrek

0.80

161

32/40/15

-8

0.80

75.4%

112.0

41%

80%

4

1