T1 dominate ZETA DIVISION on home turf at VCT Pacific 2025 Stage 2

Week 2 of VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Pacific Stage 2 delivered a spectacle for Pacific and Korean VALORANT fans as T1 hosted ZETA DIVISION at the Inspire Arena in Incheon, marking the first time T1 played a VCT match in their home ground.

More than a clash between two Pacific rivals, this was a family affair: 2-time Masters winner Kim "Meteor" Tae-O faced his brother, Kim "TenTen" Tae-young of ZETA DIVISION, for the first time on the big stage, giving fans more than just a Pacific rivalry - it was a battle between brothers.

A Homecoming to Remember

Excitement was high for a close match, but T1 reminded the crowd exactly why they are one of the most feared teams in Pacific and also VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Masters Bangkok 2025 champions. Amidst thunderous home support, they dismantled ZETA DIVISION 2-0, with both maps being quite dominant from the the home side.

Meteor spoke post-match about the special meaning of playing in front of home fans:

“It was really meaningful to play in front of so many T1 fans. The fans' support is what gives us the strength to play and it's the reason we’re pro players at all.”

T1 2-0 ZETA DIVISION

ZETA opened the veto by banning Ascent, while T1 banned Lotus. ZETA’s pick, Corrode, saw a tactical surprise. Meteor, usually on Cypher, pivoted to Astra for increased flexibility. This move paid off, as T1 exploded out of the gate, crushing ZETA’s defenses and closing the first half with strong momentum. Despite valiant efforts from Yuma "Dep" Hashimoto, ZETA, overwhelmed by T1’s pace, fell 13-8. The emerging rookie Kang "DH" Dong-ho stole the show with a 1.56 rating and 20 kills.

Back on their own pick, Sunset, T1 returned to their defaults, with Meteor on back Cypher. And the result was a similar dominant performance once again. T1 jumped to a 9-3 halftime lead and never looked back, closing the series with a confident 13-6. IGL Kim "stax" Gu-taek, not to be outdone by the rookie, popped off with a 1.58 rating and 21 kills.

DH Steals the Spotlight

While every member of T1 contributed, it was rookie sensation DH who was named series MVP with a 1.37 overall rating and breakout performances across both maps.

Meteor credited the team’s performance to fan support and renewed internal chemistry:

“We were on a bit of a slump, but hearing T1 chants during the match helped us relax and just enjoy the game1.”

With this win, T1 moves up to 2-1 in the group, their only setback being against Paper Rex. They’ll look to continue their momentum against TALON next week, back at the Sangam Colosseum. It will be another crucial matchup as both squads sit at 2-1 in the standings.

For all things VALORANT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: Riot Games